Monday, December 26, 2022 at 16.07

Mathieu van der Poel has taken revenge for his second place in Exact Cross Mol. After a thrilling cross, the Dutchman beat long-time rival Wout van Aert and world champion Tom Pidcock at World Cup Gavere.

After meeting each other on Friday at Exact Cross Mol, Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel are back to competing against each other on Boxing Day. Now in the World Cup Gavere. Tom Pidcock and World Cup leader Laurens Sweeck are also back. Michael Vanthourenhout and Lars van der Haar, who skipped cyclocross at Mol, also featured this time around.

The Big Three at the meeting place
Toon Vandebosch was the first to enter the field. Lars van der Haar and Laurens Sweeck followed in second and third, while Tom Pidcock also got off to a good start. However, they were soon overtaken by Mathieu van der Poel, who started on the third line. He took over the lead and gave a lot of gas. Van Aert was a bit farther away, but passed several riders on the long climb. The Belgian champions are third, behind the leading duo: Van der Poel and Pidcock. Big Three was at the appointment.

Van Aert was unable to make the connection immediately, partly due to an obstruction at the switch post. After one round, he escaped in nine seconds. It wasn’t long before, along with Michael Vanthourenhout, he was still able to get to Van der Poel. The latter should have let Pidcock chase the flat tire. After a new bike, the Dutchman tried again, forcing Vanthourenhout to surrender. However, the distance with Pidcock is still not closed.

Van der Poel alone
After two of six rounds, Pidcock was nine counts ahead of Van Aert and Van der Poel. However, on the long climb, one of the key points of the lap, the two rejoined the Briton, who was the only one left on the bike. Van der Poel had the momentum and was cruising over the top. Van Aert and Pidcock were under considerable pressure and after three rounds, amidst crosses, faced a fourteen second deficit.

In the fourth round, Pidcock gave a lot of gas which caused Van Aert several times to get into trouble and Van der Poel was far from safe. In fact, in the fifth round the Briton joined the Dutchman. Pidcock immediately took over, but on the long climb he struggled again. Results above: Van der Poel in the lead, Van Aert just behind, Pidcock in third. It was still a small gap back then, but the difference increased a lot at the start of the last lap.

Van der Poel was early on the cross, with Van Aert still close by – photo: Cor Vos

Last round
However, Van Aert did not give up. After a fifteen second deficit, he returned to the count of ten. However, on a long climb, the Belgian experienced pedal problems, causing Van der Poel to run out of power again. The latter then survive sovereignly. Van Aert had to settle for second place, Pidcock in third.

World Cup Gavere
Male results
1. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) in 57m14s
2. Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) at 27 seconds
3. Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers) at 54 seconds
4. Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) at 1 min 53 sec
5. Lars van der Haar (Baloise Trek Lions) at 2m20s
6. Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Fristads) at 2:55
7. Thibau Nys (Baloise Trek Lions) with a speed of 3 minutes 50 seconds
8. Show Vandebosch (Alpecin-Deceuninck) at 3 minutes 57 seconds
9. Cameron Mason (Trinity Racing) at 4m02s
10. Gerben Kuypers at 4m10s