Picture 1 of 4
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) secured his seventh profession title on the Superprestige Diegem, racing almost half the race solo and profitable by 49 seconds forward of runner-up Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) and third-placed Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal).
“It was a brilliant good race. It was a great night time,” stated Van der Poel, who famous that he was not pondering an excessive amount of about document wins in Diegem. “I simply tried to win as a lot as attainable once I begin [a race]. For certain, I’ve a great document right here in Diegem. I felt good right now, so I am proud of the end result.”
Van der Poel, who gained the editions from 2014-2019, made his profitable assault via the sandpit on the fifth lap, and nobody may observe the world champion as he orbited the quick and technical circuit with ease.
Iserbyt, who has gained the primary three rounds, has all however secured the general collection victory earlier than the ultimate spherical in Noordzeecross.
The way it unfolded
The penultimate spherical of the Superprestige collection in Diegem was held beneath the night floodlights in entrance of large crowds who got here out to look at the nighttime race.
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) had a robust begin, nevertheless it was Kevin Kuhn (Circus-Reuz-Technord) who took the holeshot onto the grass and led a bunch of roughly 12 riders. Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) rapidly related with the again of that group earlier than the circuit’s climb.
Sequence chief Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) moved to the entrance firstly of the second lap with teammate Michael Vanthourenhout on his wheel adopted by Thibau Nys (Baloise Trek Lions), Van der Poel, Joris Nieuwenhuis (Baloise Trek Lions), Emiel Verstrynge (Crelan-Corendon) and Pidcock.
The gusts of winds and the tight, twisty circuit made it much more difficult for riders to achieve separation from the big group.
Van der Poel and Pidcock took the lead, carrying velocity out of the sandpit on the third lap. The Ineos Grenadiers rider put strain on to attempt to cut back the group to only 5 riders together with Van der Poel, Iserbyt, Vanthourenout and Nys.
Van der Poel made a blistering assault via the sandpit and carried a lot velocity popping out of it that he had already opened a small hole.Â
Vanthourenout tried to go along with the transfer, however the world champion was already gone. Iserbyt and Pidcock desperately chased, however the pair had been eight seconds out of attain as they raced via the beginning of the fifth lap (of eight).
Van der Poel hit the sandpit with a 10-second margin on Iserbyt and Pidcock and gained a further three seconds popping out of the pit.
He dismounted, ran up the steep stairs after which raced via the end line with a 16-second hole firstly of the sixth lap, 38 seconds firstly of the penultimate lap seven and 54 seconds firstly of the ultimate lap.
An unlucky slide-out on the off-camber part noticed Nys crash, and he appeared to have injured his knee. He was compelled to desert the race.
Van der Poel soared to his seventh profession victory in Diegem as Pidcock and Iserbyt locked within the battle for second and third place.
Outcomes
Outcomes powered by FirstCycling
