Jasper De Baist grew up racing track, but after getting sick at the 2016 Olympics and ending his omnium attempt on the first day of racing, he turned his focus to the road at Lotto Soudal. Now racing with Roger Kluge at Ghent Six Day, de Baist said he may return to the track and target the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Speaking to Sporza from 't Kuipke, de Baist said that the idea of a return to track racing is made attractive by the possibility of Kenny de Ketele, whom de Baist won the Ghent Six Day in 2014, becoming the head coach of the Belgian national team He noted.

"I wouldn't rule out investing in track with an eye on Paris," de Baist said. 'It's no secret that Kenny could be a national team coach. I think we have a chance to work together. But first I would like to see who will actually take the national team coaching position. There is room for discussion."

He still intends to race on the road, but with the 2024 Games approaching, the combination of events is easier to achieve than at the previous Olympics in Brazil and Japan.

"The fact that the next Games are really close to home makes it easier in terms of travel, jet lag, and planning. But it all starts with the discussion of who will be the national coach and whether or not everything will be on the same page, even with my employer. That way, a lot of things become possible."

De Baist said he will not target Paris as revenge for his disappointment at the 2016 Olympics, where he suffered from enteritis and struggled behind the opener in the Omnium, which was eventually won by Elia Viviani. 'I don't have any good memories. I don't want to run with the feeling of revenge. But I would be happy to return to the Games."

De Baist is finding the sudden shift from the road season to the Six Days in Ghent, which he won with Leif Lampater in 2013 and again with De Ketele in 2014, difficult, but the team finished the fourth day in third place, with leaders Michael Molkov and ran the same laps as Lasse Norman Hansen.

"This is my tenth time on a track bike in the last two years," de Baist said. 'I have to suffer a bit in the six days in Ghent, but I can still participate. So I think I have a chance to ride more on the track, train more, pick up some races, and build up. Because track cycling has changed in the last five to seven years. Sprinting has become more important. That is not a disadvantage. But I have to adjust a little bit. At the moment I'm not ahead of the other guys."