The Dutch Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), five-time cyclocross world champion, beat the Belgian alone and wide. Wout Van Aert (Jumbo Visma) in their first confrontation of the season on the sand at ‘Exact Cross Zilvermeercross’ of Mol (Belgium).
Van der Poel, who also dominated last weekend at Herentals, left Van Aert in third with 10 laps of the course and from then on began a victorious march.
The Dutchman, who will compete in a more complete winter calendar than Van Aert, crossed the finish line with a time of 58.29, ahead of his biggest rival by 1.17 minutes. Another Belgian, Niels Vandeputte, reached 2.12.
This Saturday, in Antwerp, there will be a special World Cup event, as Van der Poel, Van Aert and the British Tom Pidcock will meet on the course.
Van der Poel noted after his second consecutive victory of the cyclocross season that he was feeling very good and highlighted that he was happy on the Mol sand circuit.
“I felt very good, especially on the sand. I didn’t make too many mistakes, which is the most important thing on this surface. I had fun and I felt very strong,” said the five-time world champion of the specialty. and also a rainbow on the road.
Although Van Aert did not offer his best version, Van der Poel is convinced that the Belgian “will make it very difficult in other races and will win some cyclocross races this season.”
Van der Poel, unfazed, did 7 of the 10 laps of the Mol route alone and was 1.17 minutes ahead of Van Aert, a reflection of absolute superiority.
Source: La Verdad
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