Museeuw: "Do you want a second Pantani?"

Johan Museeuw, whose use of doping products in 2003 was recently established by a Belgian public prosecutor still maintains his innocence. At the moment, the 'Lion of Flanders' refuses to answer any questions from the media about the allegations made against him in the Landuyt case, but might start a public debate at a time of his choice.

"I don't want to and cannot talk about the content of the court's files," he explained. "I know that I haven't done anything wrong and have nothing to hide. If this goes on, I'll open up a debate at the right moment, and at the right place to defend myself. But I cannot do this now."

Museeuw, who won Paris-Roubaix three times, also feels mistreated by the media. "What is the meaning of all these so-called revelations of the last few days - which to me, contain nothing new - in comparison to what has been reported before?" he asked. "Do you want to create a second Pantani in this country? It could just be too much for me too. At the moment, I feel the media treats me worse than Marc Dutroux," referring to a convicted serial child abuser and murderer, whose case plunged Belgium in a deep social and political crisis in the late nineties.