"Once is special, twice very special, but a third time, then you end up in a very nice list" - Tim Merlier looking for hat-trick of Belgian National Championships

Tim Merlier is the defending champion at the Belgian National Championships and the sprinter is keen to make it a third career national title.

"Once is special, twice very special, but a third time, then you end up in a very nice list," says Merlier. Only three men have ever taken three or more national titles in Belgium, Tom Steels, Rik Van Steenbergen and Stijn Devolder. "That is now my goal."

As mentioned, Merlier was victorious last year despite not being in the best of shape. "Then I started with a hole in my arm and after 2 months of antibiotics. Now I came out of the Tour of Switzerland well. I am good to very good," he explains. "We also got something similar at the Belgian Championships in Ghent and we succeeded. It is still a long time after that until the finish, so you can still put a lot right."

"I hope they don't just mark my card. You have Remco Evenepoel, Ilan Van Wilder is in good shape and Yves Lampaert really wants to win in his own region," he concludes.