Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) got here out on prime of his first cyclocross showdown with Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) this season, taking a complete solo victory by the sand on the Precise Cross Zilvermeercross in Mol.
The world champion, beginning his second race of the season after dominating in Herentals on the weekend, left Van Aert behind on the third of 10 laps after the pair had established themselves on the entrance throughout the early laps.
“I felt excellent. I rode properly by the sand and that was an important factor right here. Then you possibly can shortly make a distinction,” stated Van der Poel instantly after the race. “I had organized my race and my spherical properly. I used to be capable of get better to journey error-free within the sand. And like I stated, that is an important factor right here. I loved myself.”
His career-long rival Van Aert, who additionally dominated on his season debut in Essen earlier this month, had already proven indicators of weak spot at a number of factors of the circuit, so it was no actual shock to see Van der Poel take the higher hand.
Van Aert was unable to journey absolutely on his pedals up one of many steeper ramps, which Van der Poel was able to driving by on the second lap. Simply the following time around the Dutchman accelerated into the underside of the financial institution and gapped his rival.
“It issues individuals greater than us,” stated Van der Poel on the pair’s rivalry.
“Wout indicated that he’s tackling the winter with out being in one of the best form. That appears good to me in his case. I believe he will certainly make it tough for me in different races and sit on the entrance. He’s going to win just a few this season.”
The Dutchman, who will race a fuller winter calendar than Van Aert as he targets a sixth world title, was on his personal for the rest of the hour-long race, crossing the road 1:16 up on second-placed Van Aert. His dominance of the race noticed him lap all riders as much as tenth place.
Behind the duo, who have been all the time the highest favourites to fill the primary and second spots on the rostrum, it was Van der Poel’s teammate Niels Vandeputte who grabbed third, albeit 2:11 again. One other Alpecin-Deceuninck man, Quinten Hermans, and Toon Vandebosch (Crelan-Corendon) took fourth and fifth locations.
Van Aert and Van der Poel will not have to attend lengthy or one other showdown as each are current on the beginning checklist for tomorrow’s CX World Cup in Antwerp. However they may also have Tom Pidcock for firm, making it the primary face off between the self-discipline’s ‘large three’ this season.
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