I have had two bad falls this year. For all of that I have been otherwise content. I rode a good Paris-Nice, but I had to ride more for Frank Vandenbroucke than for myself. I had good form in Paris-Roubaix. I have held 7 National Championships and I want another.
Steels has a long history of winning Belgian titles.
Steels is hoping he races hard but retains some reserves for the Tour which starts next weekend. He has been careful. He realised that he had to rest a little after a very bad experience on the steep cols of the Tour of Switzerland. Last year he won the race from the front. There is a very small chance only that the peloton will split on Sunday.