Wiggins and Cavendish not the only favourites for the Ghent Six Day, says defending champion

When the Ghent Six Day starts on Tuesday, all British eyes will turn to Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish to see if they can go one better than their second place in the London Six Day in October. However, according to one rival, they are not necessarily the team to beat.

Iljo Keisse, one of the defending champions of the event, says that although the British pairing are sure to put up a fight, he fancies a Belgian victory.

>>> Ghent Six Day: everything you need to know

"Everyone is saying that Wiggins and Cavendish are the duo to beat, but I'm tipping Kenny De Ketele and Moreno De Pauw," Keisse told Sporza. "They have already ridden together for a long time and can automatically rely on each other's response and experience.

"Of course Wiggins and Cavendish will fire as world champions. I know Cav is very eager and wants to go full throttle, and with Wiggins he has a very strong man at his side."

With Michael Morkov absent, Keisse is defending his title with Olympic omnium champion Elia Viviani, and says that the experience will take some getting used to for the Italian.

"It's the first time that Viviani has ridden the Ghent Six Day. Therefore it will take a bit of getting used to at first. The important thing is that he is familiar by the weekend, because that's when the real prizes are handed out."