"I feel like my injury is a thing of the past" - Laurens Sweeck returns to competition at Overijse Druivencross

Laurens Sweeck crashed hard at the first big cross of the season in Beringen now almost two weeks ago and was forced to miss the first World Cup round in Waterloo where he is the reigning champion. Today he returns to competition in Overijse.

“I still come to the start with some doubts. Over the past few days of training I have increased the intensity again and this has not caused me any problems," Sweeck shared with Sporza. "I feel like my injury is a thing of the past. I think I was able to limit the loss of fitness. I have continued cycling for the past two weeks. It didn't bother me that much on the bike itself, but it did bother me while walking or walking.”

The leg injury was not severe however and not a huge blow to his ambitions. With the first round of the Superprestige Cup today and the X20 Badkamers Trofee yet to start, both remain most likely unaffected. In Overijse he will have a strong field to battle however it will be possible to see where his form stands.

He hopes that the lack of travelling to and from the USA may benefit him: “That might give me a small advantage over the riders who have been to America. We'll see how it goes. Overijse is a difficult circuit that is not 100 percent tailor-made for me. Moreover, I have not really been able to test running after my injury. So I still come to the start with some doubts.”

He will not only face his rivals of last season but new ones, such as Thibau Nys and Gerben Kuypers who have so far won all main races this winter. “It doesn't surprise me that Gerben Kuypers was so good in Ardooie. He also rode very well in Beringen, where he only had some bad luck with a fall and a flat tire."

As for Nys, winner in Beringen and impressively in Waterloo - beating Eli Iserbyt on both occasions, the veteran adds: "Thibau Nys has certainly taken a step forward. His technique has always been very mastered, but now he has also become physically stronger. We had not yet seen what he has shown from him.”