Sven Nys on Wout van Aert: "When I saw Wout's training hours in the week before Benidorm, I fell off my chair"

The stakes are very high for these World Championships, specially when it comes to the expected battle between Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert at the men's Elite race. Sven Nys has commented on what his countryman has done in preparation for the race.

“When I saw Wout's training hours in the week before Benidorm, I fell off my chair. Ask any other crosser and they will say you fell on your head," Nys said in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad. Nys was on the ground at Hoogerheide today witnessing his son Thibau conquer the men's under-23 race.

However in all categories he'll have his Baloise - Trek Lions riders competing. In the men's Elite race van Aert and van der Poel are expected to battle for the win, and Nys has commented on their longevity in the sport, which may suffer due to the constant pressure and drama around them: “Add to that the constant pressure. Even in your daily life. Set foot outside and it's on Twitter these days. Everyone gives their opinion about everything."

"Grab Mathieu again. First that board at the Games, then that hotel story in Australia… It's piling up. Will they last until the age of 38? It is possible, but I would be surprised," he commented.