"My back actually blocked all the time" - Laurens Sweeck faces concerns over back as he loses Superprestige Cup lead

Although he's benefited from Eli Iserbyt's Val di Sole Crash at both the World Cup and Superprestige, Laurens Sweeck has had a bad day in Heusden-Zolder and lost the lead of the latter cup, making for a negative development for the Belgian.

Sweeck started off this Tuesday's race strong and in the chasing group, but the second half of the race saw him under serious problems: “The last three laps my back actually blocked all the time. I also had quite a lot of trouble with that on Monday [in Gavere] and now it cramped. Moreover, the power went out of the legs. Then two more riders joined us and we had to sprint. But there was not much left for me.”

“It was a bit of a shame that Mathieu and Wout rode away from the rest almost immediately. After that, we watched a lot. I think in the end it was yesterday's fatigue that got me down," he continued. He could not sustain the pace and ended up eighth in the day. Although he gained advantage on Eli Iserbyt who returned from injury and crashed at the start of the race, he was overtaken by Lars van der Haar who is the new leader in the cup.

"Lars [van der Haar] now makes a good move in the standings. It's going to be chasing now," Sweeck admits. He lays five points behind the Dutch, and only three in front of Michael Vanthourenhout who's also moved up the standings. Iserbyt sits six points behind Sweeck, who now leads only the World Cup 21 points ahead of Michael Vanthourenhout.

“I will try to regain the lead in the Superprestige. Tomorrow (today's race in Diegem, ed.) there is another chance. It will be difficult, because Lars is doing well. For now, it's just damage limitation. But it's certainly not done yet. We don't just give up," the Belgian concluded.

In consecutive days, the cup will be disputed. Tonight in Diegem further blows can be dealt, but Sweeck will be looking to cut the gap.