On Sunday, Klaas Vantornout will try to defend his Belgian champion's jersey in Lille. After a miserable year, he is back in form just in time for the race. "I have fun with my sport again. That was the key," Vantornout tells Sporza.

Last weekend Klaas Vantornout showed his Belgian drikleur for the final time. "This time I will lose the jersey with a little less regret because it was already the second time.

"If you are good, it is very nice to wear the jersey, but this year I experienced the other side of the coin. I had expected to have a bad weekend but not one half of the season. If you are bad, it is not at all fun to wear the jersey.

"But if you had told me 10 years ago that I would be Belgian champion twice, I would have thought that you were crazy. I'm not a rider that wins much, not a super talent. But I have proven that you can get far with hard work and dedication."

Can Vantornout who has not been on the podium yet this season, also become Belgian champion for a third time? "I've been happy with what I have achieved, but I'm not going to throw in th towel.

"There are riders with more talent than me who never became Belgian champion. I don't have that pressure. There are riders that are blocked by stress but I love the thrill of the Belgian Championships. I can rise above myself."

After a miserable start to the season, Vantornout's form seems to be getting better and better. "I am now back at my normal level. I enjoy my sport again. That was the key for me.

"I still plan to get something out of my season while other riders might already be satiated."