Gegenheimer headed into the sixth and final leg of the series with a mere one point deficit to Spain’s Alberto Mingorance.

It effectively meant the best placed rider in Belgium would secure the overall title, putting pressure on each to make it through the early rounds.

Gegenheimer did so impressively as he booked his place in the final, while Mingorance missed out on the final four.

As a result, Gegenheimer headed into the final safe in the knowledge that overall victory was assured, but the German still sought to secure a final race win.

France’s Hugo Briatta would ultimately come through to take his first World Cup win in a time of 2min 14.690sec, with Gegenheimer two seconds off the pace.

The podium was rounded off by Lorenzo Serres of France.

Serres' performance proved enough to see him finish as the series runner-up behind Gegenheimer, with Mingorance eventually finishing third overall.

Lizzy Witlox sealed her third victory of the season in the women’s competition, winning the final in a time of 2:32.950.

The Dutch rider was followed across the line by Aline Seitz of Switzerland and France’s Perrine Clauzel.

Ingrid Bøe Jacobsen of Norway settled for the runner-up position behind Witlox in the World Cup standings.

Clauzel was the third place finisher in the series.