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In his extremely anticipated return to cyclocross, Mathieu van der Poel wasted no time asserting his dominance, delivering a commanding efficiency on the Zonhoven World Cup on Sunday. The World Champion seized the lead early on the primary lap, showcasing his mastery of the moist, sandy course, whereas the remainder of the sphere battled for the remaining podium locations.
Van der Poel moved his option to second place earlier than the sandy drop the place he descended like a stone straight down overtaking Toon Aerts (Deschacht-Hens-FSP) who had taken the entrance at first. This was the final time that Aerts or any of the opposite riders would see Van der Poel all the best way to the ending line and onto the stage.
The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider had ample time to rejoice his victory, securing a report fifth win at Zonhoven and crossing the road 1:30 forward of his nearest competitor.
European champion Thibau Nys (Baloise Trek Lions) pulled away from the chase group on the third lap holding a late race chase to take second place forward of Joran Wyseure (Crelan-Corendon), who claimed third.
“Probably the greatest [race] and perhaps the one I did not count on, so it is very nice,” Van der Poel stated of his victory on his first cyclocross race of the season.
The Dutch rider repeated that he didn’t count on the race to unfold because it did on condition that he had modified his preparation for his shortened cyclocross racing schedule.
“I did a unique method to my first race, a bit much less, interval and extra like endurance rides to attempt to get by way of this busy interval, a bit more energizing than I did final yr, however yeah, I felt actually good from the start truly.”
“Additionally the approach was, was actually good right this moment, so I am completely satisfied.”
The way it unfolded
After a morning storm had delayed the sooner races, the 66-rider discipline lined up for the much-anticipated return of Van der Poel. Aerts was the quickest off the grid, taking the holeshot and inserting himself on the entrance with Van der Poel selecting his manner up earlier than the primary time down the steep sandy drop. Van der Poel confirmed his mastery on the descent, the place the sand was barely packed down as a result of rain.
By the tip of the primary lap, Van der Poel had established a 21-second lead, a lead that might proceed to develop every lap. The combat by way of for podium spots and prime 10 continued by way of the race because the Dutch star confirmed a masterclass of driving.
A chase group of seven riders, together with Pim Ronhaar, Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal), Aerts, Wyseure, Nys, Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendan) and Mees Hendrikx (Heizomat Radteam) shaped by the second lap. Paying the value for his crashes yesterday on the Hulst World Cup, World Cup chief Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) fell behind and needed to chase for the rest of the eight-lap race.
Nys, with the help of his teammate Ronhaar, was capable of separate himself from the group earlier than the midway mark and would proceed on solo til the tip, although he needed to maintain off a late surge.
Vanthourenhout briefly joined the chase group which splintered beneath stress. By the sixth lap, Van der Haar and Wyseure have been along with Iserbyt and Aerts chasing not far behind.
Aerts and Syweure took benefit of errors on the penultimate lap, first by Iserbyt who selected a unique line, hit the obstacles, and misplaced time, after which by Van der Haar who needed to unclip to drag barely away and get nearer to Nys.
By the ultimate lap, Wyseure got here round Aerts to take third place, his greatest World Cup outcome.
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