"I'm glad I still have the leader's jersey" - Eli Iserbyt looks through positives on another hard day at Overijse

Eli Iserbyt started the Overijse World Cup looking close to his best level, but on a day with difficult conditions, not suited to the World Cup leader, he once again shed points to his main rivals and could not have a good result at the end of the day as he crossed the line in seventh place.

“I fought back with myself in the second half of the cross. Then it's a tough race. I didn't really have any problems at first, everything went well. But I had to leave a gap and had a leak just after the material station (pit stop, ed.). After that the best was gone and the morale was a bit gone," Iserbyt told Wielerflits. "It is a day with two sides. I'm glad I still have the leader's jersey. This is a classification that has not yet been lost, but it was not easy today."

As has been the case on several occasions in recent years, the Belgian struggled through the sluggish slow races where big gaps emerge from the start. He's ridden in the front together with eventual winner Michael Vanthourenhout in the opening laps, but when Tom Pidcock arrived at the head of the race and pushed the pace he couldn't match. With a long race still ahead, he was overtaken by many of his rivals, eventually losing out space to Laurens Sweeck who finished fourth and shortened the gap even further.

“I already had to force with that flat tire and I had to walk more than usual. Then it came back, that feeling and the less strength in my left leg,” he continued. “Then your leg drags along… Anyway, I remain positive and was able to participate well in the first half. That is good to build up to next week."

“I don't know how fast it will get better," he added, still feeling the effects of his nerve injury. "You always expect as soon as possible, but maybe I should give me two, three or four weeks. You want to show the best of yourself. There are worse things in life, but from a sporting point of view it is not great. It takes a lot mentally."

"I can still win the World Cup and the X2O Trophy, the Superprestige will be a bit more difficult. It is important to limit damage," the Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal rider mentioned, as he keeps the pursuit of all three cups this season.

"Everything then comes together. But I get a lot of support from the team, the team manager and my environment. That's what I'm attracted to. You have to be patient and then I can flourish in better times. It could be worse, I know, but I hope things will get better soon," Iserbyt concluded.