Van der Poel solos to victory in Middelkerke
Dutchman secures third Superprestige title






















Mathieu van der Poel (Corendon-Circus) soloed to victory in the final round of the Superprestige Trophy in Middelkerke. Tim Merlier (Crelan-Charles) finished second, 18 seconds down, after a race-long battle with Michael Vanthourenhout (Marlux-Bingoal) who ceded the sprint and took third at 18 seconds.
With his main rival Wout Van Aert ending his season last weekend, van der Poel needed only to finish in the points to secure his third Superprestige title. His sixth win in eight rounds of the series ensured he did just that.
Hanging back at the start, van der Poel rode around eight places back for much of the first lap as Vanthourenhout and Merlier took up the reigns at the front.
By lap two a clear lead group had emerged, consisting of Vanthourenhout, Merlier, van der Poel and his brother David (Corendon-Circus). Vanthourenhout tried a move, but on the next lap van der Poel was away, simply riding off the front as he has so many times before.
Aside from a minor spill on lap four, that was the race for van der Poel. Out on his own he didn't have to push to widen a gap, instead holding it at around 25 seconds for much of the race.
Meanwhile back in the chase group, Vanthourenhout and Merlier had left David van der Poel behind. With van der Poel 20 seconds up the road and the next group 20 seconds further back it was clear that the duo would compete for the remaining podium spots.
There were mistakes from each man in the closing laps - Merlier lost control on the final corner of lap six, while Vanthourenhout slipped in the thick mud towards the end of lap seven - but the pair couldn't be separated.
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Not until the home straight, at least. Merlier opened it up while Vanthourenhout gave a token effort, happy to take a podium place. After win number 29 of the season, van der Poel was already waiting for his trophy.
Full Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Corendon - Circus | 1:00:17 |
2 | Tim Merlier (Bel) Crelan - Charles | 0:00:15 |
3 | Michael Vanthourenhout (Bel) Marlux - Bingoal | 0:00:19 |
4 | Tom Meeusen (Bel) Corendon - Circus | 0:00:34 |
5 | Lars Van Der Haar (Ned) Telenet Fidea Lions | 0:00:39 |
6 | Laurens Sweeck (Bel) Era-Circus | 0:00:48 |
7 | Toon Aerts (Bel) Telenet Fidea Lions | 0:01:00 |
8 | David van der Poel (Ned) Corendon - Circus | 0:01:13 |
9 | Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Marlux - Bingoal | 0:01:23 |
10 | Jim Aernouts (Bel) Telenet Fidea Lions | 0:01:40 |
11 | Jens Adams (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice | 0:01:59 |
12 | Wietse Bosmans (Bel) Era-Circus | 0:02:13 |
13 | Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) Marlux - Bingoal | 0:02:36 |
14 | Quinten Hermans (Bel) Telenet Fidea Lions | 0:02:40 |
15 | Gianni Vermeersch (Bel) Steylaerts - Betfirst | 0:02:43 |
16 | Corne Van Kessel (Ned) Telenet Fidea Lions | 0:02:49 |
17 | Felipe Orts Lloret (Spa) Ginestar - Delikia | 0:03:05 |
18 | Daan Soete (Bel) Telenet Fidea Lions | 0:03:35 |
19 | Marcel Meisen (Ger) Steylaerts - Betfirst | 0:03:52 |
20 | Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Marlux - Bingoal | 0:04:01 |
21 | Rob Peeters (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 | Joeri Adams (Bel) | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
23 | Stan Godrie (Ned) Crelan - Charles | 0:04:20 |
24 | Michael Boroš (Cze) Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
25 | Gioele Bertolini (Ita) | 0:04:57 |
26 | Braam Merlier (Bel) Steylaerts - Betfirst | 0:05:13 |
27 | Ismael Esteban Aguero (Spa) Ginestar - Delikia | 0:05:30 |
28 | Joris Nieuwenhuis (Ned) | 0:05:50 |
29 | Patrick Van Leeuwen (Ned) | 0:05:58 |
30 | Daan Hoeyberghs (Bel) Steylaerts - Betfirst | 0:06:01 |
31 | Kenneth Van Compernolle (Bel) Tarteletto - Isorex | 0:06:07 |
32 | Jonas Degroote (Bel) | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Hendrik Sweeck (Bel) | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Dario Tielen (Bel) | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Ingmar Uytdewilligen (Bel) Tarteletto - Isorex | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Tobin Ortenblad (USA) | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Gosse Van Der Meer (Ned) | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
39 | Niels Koyen (Bel) | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
40 | Edwin De Wit (Bel) | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | Eric Thompson (USA) | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
42 | Jelle De Bock (Bel) | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
43 | Tyler Cloutier (USA) | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | Vincent Oger (Bel) | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Vincent Baestaens (Bel) | Row 44 - Cell 2 |

Dani Ostanek is Senior News Writer at Cyclingnews, having joined in 2017 as a freelance contributor, later being hired full-time. Her favourite races include Strade Bianche, the Tour de France Femmes, Paris-Roubaix, and Tro-Bro Léon.
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
Sidney McGill, Luke Walter win UCI cyclocross openers in US, while road season winds down with Alex Volstad and Lucas Bourgoyne tops at Bucks County Classic
Unbound Gravel XL winner completes 2,400km ride to support mental health care; USCX series begins fifth season at Go Cross CX in Virginia September 13-14 - North American Roundup -
Tour Féminin de l'Ardeche: Lotte Kopecky sprints to opening stage win and takes first leader's jersey
Eleonora Ciabocco trails World Champion in two-up dash to the line while Mischa Bredewold rides to third place -
'It's a crazy situation and it will be getting worse' - First-person account on how stage 16 of Vuelta a España descended into chaos
A second part-suspension of a Vuelta stage takes place as pro-Palestine protesters over-run the originally planned finish area -
'There is no Plan B' - Vuelta a España boss Javier Guillen insists race will continue to Madrid despite continued protests
Race director insists protesters should stop blocking roads, points to Israel's ongoing participation in other international events