Wout Van Aert is already wanting ahead to his subsequent battle with Mathieu Van der Poel after misfortune ended his podium hopes on the UCI Cyclocross World Cup spherical in Hulst.
In his final experience earlier than Jumbo-Visma turns into Visma–Lease a Bike the Belgian battled again from twenty seventh to complete fifth – and was ticking off the laps faster than his rival on the final 4 laps.
Van der Poel has now received all 4 of the rivals’ conferences and they subsequent compete in Baal on January 1, earlier than additionally clashing in Koksijde on January 4.
Van Aert was throughout the main group in Hulst when Dutch rider Pim Ronhaar got here side-by-side with him on a technical off-camber and the Belgian slid out.
The Jumbo Visa rider required a motorbike change and was battling from 36 seconds down and in twenty seventh place on the second lap.
As Van der Poel attacked on the entrance a lap later Van Aert suffered a puncture and located himself 1:22 behind the chief.
Nevertheless, the Belgian rallied preventing his method by way of the sector and was the quickest rider on the course for 3 consecutive laps.
Finally, Van Aert got here residence fifth reducing his deficit to 43 seconds behind the race winner and 23 seconds off the rostrum.
“The beginning did not go very properly, so I needed to make up some locations shortly,” stated Van Aert in a workforce press launch.
“Sadly, within the battle for the positions, I crashed. In the long run, my chain turned out to be damaged.
“I misplaced quite a lot of time. After I was lastly capable of begin my pursuit, I had a puncture and needed to experience half a lap with a flat tire. With that, the battle for the rostrum locations was over.”
In Van der Poel’s absence, Van Aert has received in each Heusden-Zolder and Essen however the Belgian is but to beat his rival.
Coming into this ‘cross season the previous world cyclo-cross champion admitted his preparation had been totally different this winter amid bold street racing objectives subsequent 12 months.
“I felt superb the previous few days,” Van Aert added. “Sadly, it has not labored out in the present day.
“Nevertheless, I continued to battle and didn’t grasp my head after the assorted inconveniences. Luckily, the subsequent alternative will quickly current itself.”
Van Aert had hoped to provide departing sponsor Jumbo a last victory earlier than donning a brand new package in Baal on January 1.
Earlier than the race, he stated: “It’s a sponsor who has been in biking for a really very long time, who has introduced our workforce to the place we at the moment are.
“I, like all of the members of the workforce, I am tremendous grateful for that. It’s actually an additional motivation to complete – additionally within the Netherlands – with an excellent outcome.”
Fellow World Tour star Tom Pidcock was additionally hoping to problem Van der Poel in Hulst earlier than seeing his problem finish on the primary nook.
The Ineos Grenadiers rider collided with fellow Briton and former team-mate Cameron Mason leading to a damaged rear derailleur.
Pidcock was compelled to run to the pits and was final of the 99-man discipline 1:46 down on the race pack.
The Briton went on a decided fightback which included a questionable headbutt to create house to move Swedish rider Ville Merlov.
Pidcock finally got here by way of to complete twenty fifth after matching the lap occasions of the highest 10 riders in three of the eight laps.
