Van der Poel solos to Hoogerheide victory

In a race organized by cycling legend Adrie van der Poel, his son Mathieu van der Poel (BKCP-Powerplus) who gave a a demonstration of near perfect cyclo-cross racing and emphatically showed he is the favourite for next weekend's World Cyclo- Cross Championships in Tabor, in the Czech Republic.

The 20 year-old Dutch national champion rode away from the rest of the field during the opening lap and completed a race-long solo ride on the technical course. Van der Poel had time to grab a Netherlands flag and wave it in the air as he crossed the line.

“It was really nice. The crowds were just screaming all the time. It was very hard but it was so much fun, especially because it was my dad’s race,” Van der Poel said after the race.

“After a hard week of training it could go either way. I didn’t have the intention to ride alone all race long but then I figured that with a couple of fast laps I could be safe.”

Fellow youngster Wout Van Aert (Vastgoedservice-Golden Palace) accelerated late in the race from a large chase group and captured second place more than a minute behind Van der Poel.

Gianni Vermeersch (Sunweb-Napoleon Games) took third as he battled for a spot in the Belgian selection for next week’s World Championships in Tabor. It was his first ever World Cup podium and most probably earned him selection for Tabor.

Vermeersch's teammate Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Napoleon Games) finished in the same time, celebrating his fourth place because it sealed his second overall victory in the World Cup series. Pauwels’ closest rival for the World Cup was Lars van der Haar (Giant-Alpecin) but he finished fifth in Hoogerheide and so could only consolidated his second place in the World Cup standings. Corné van Kessel (Telenet-Fidea) narrowly held on to his third place overall ahead of Philipp Walsleben (BKCP-Powerplus) despite a distant 27th place in Hoogerheide.

Further back US-champion Jeremy Powers finished thirteenth at 3:34, which was just enough to claim an impressive ninth place in the final World Cup standings.

Fast start

After a fast sprint away from the start line, Tom Meeusen (Telenet-Fidea) grabbed the hole shot in the sand and mud after a tough week in which he was kept out and later put back in the Belgian selection for the World Championships as a consequence of his involvement in an investigation into possible illegal ozone treatment.

When Meeusen faded Van der Poel decisively took command. Behind him Pauwels suddenly slipped away, standing sideways and blocking the way for the other riders. Van der Poel realized there was an opportunity to do something although he knew it was very early in the race.

“It was way too early but then I had 15 seconds I think. I saw the lap times and thought that I could make it. When they told me that I had 30 seconds I knew I could make it but it was really hard. My chain dropped at one point but it was my own fault. There was one lap where I fell three times. After that I was happy I re-found my good legs.”

Behind nobody was willing or able to close the gap on van der Poel. Halfway through the second lap Vermeersch surged forward, mainly trying to win the battle for the Belgian selection from teammate Tim Merlier, Jens Adams (Vastgoedservice-Golden Palace) and Bart Wellens (Telenet-Fidea).

It took five laps before Vermeersch was pulled back by Van Aert and Pauwels. Further back Lars van der Haar distanced Sven Nys (Crelan-AA Drink) and Francis Mourey (FDJ) in the battle for fifth place.

Van Aert easily gapped the Sunweb-duo towards second place late on but all of these battles occurred well behind race leader Van der Poel.

The Dutchman's victory confirmed he is one of the favourites for the World championships. He has opted to ride the elite race despite being eligible for the under 23 race.

“I hope so. I had a really good day today. Hopefully not a week too early. If I have these legs in the World Championships I’m one of the favourites I think.”

Full Results

Swipe to scroll horizontally
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Mathieu Van Der Poel (Ned) BKCP-Powerplus1:08:38
2Wout Van Aert (Bel) Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace Continental Team0:01:04
3Gianni Vermeersch (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team0:01:21
4Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team0:01:22
5Lars Van Der Haar (Ned) Team Giant - Alpecin0:01:37
6Sven Nys (Bel) Crelan-AA Drink0:01:56
7Francis Mourey (Fra) FDJ0:02:18
8Tim Merlier (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team0:02:52
9Jens Adams (Bel) Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace Continental Team0:02:57
10Fabien Canal (Fra) Armee De Terre E-Sportsante0:03:04
11Julien Taramarcaz (Swi) Corendon-Kwadro0:03:05
12David Menut (Fra) Auber 930:03:26
13Jeremy Powers (USA) Rapha-Focus0:03:34
14Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP-Powerplus0:03:41
15Marco Fontana Aurelio (Ita)0:03:42
16Twan Van Den Brand (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo Piels0:03:50
17Marcel Meisen (Ger) Corendon-Kwadro0:03:58
18Tom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet - Fidea Cycling Team0:04:07
19Radomir Simunek (Cze) Corendon-Kwadro0:04:14
20Gert-Jan Bosman (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo PielsRow 19 - Cell 2
21Niels Wubben (Ned) Telenet - Fidea Cycling Team0:04:15
22Bart Wellens (Bel) Telenet - Fidea Cycling Team0:04:19
23Michael Boros (Cze)0:04:30
24Jim Aernouts (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team0:04:41
25Tomas Paprstka (Cze)0:04:55
26Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) Telenet - Fidea Cycling Team0:05:08
27Corne Van Kessel (Ned) Telenet - Fidea Cycling Team0:05:16
28David Van Der Poel (Ned) BKCP-Powerplus0:05:17
29Luca Braidot (Ita)0:05:58
30Sascha Weber (Ger)0:07:13
31Jonathan Page (USA)-1Lap
32Arnaud Grand (Swi)Row 31 - Cell 2
33Ian Field (GBr)Row 32 - Cell 2
34Javier Ruiz De Larrinaga Ibanez (Spa)Row 33 - Cell 2
35Marcel Wildhaber (Swi)Row 34 - Cell 2
36Gutierrez Hernandez Gutierrez (Spa)Row 35 - Cell 2
37Stephen Hyde (USA)Row 36 - Cell 2
38Ole Quast (Ger)Row 37 - Cell 2
39Clement Lhotellerie (Fra)Row 38 - Cell 2
40Mariusz Gil (Pol)Row 39 - Cell 2
41James Driscoll (USA)-2Laps
42Yoann Corbihan (Fra)Row 41 - Cell 2
43Martin Haring (Svk) Ck Banska BystricaRow 42 - Cell 2
44Alois Falenta (Fra)Row 43 - Cell 2
45Lubomir Petrus (Cze) BKCP-PowerplusRow 44 - Cell 2
46Andreas Moser (Swi)-3Laps
47Bryan Falaschi (Ita)Row 46 - Cell 2
48Severin Saegesser (Swi)Row 47 - Cell 2
49Matej Lasak (Cze)Row 48 - Cell 2
50Zach Mcdonald (USA)Row 49 - Cell 2
51Nicolas Samparisi (Ita)Row 50 - Cell 2
52Marco Ponta (Ita)Row 51 - Cell 2
53Inigo Gomez Elorriaga (Spa)Row 52 - Cell 2
54Joachim Parbo (Den)-4Laps
55Aaron Schooler (Can)Row 54 - Cell 2
56Vladimir Kyzivat (Cze)Row 55 - Cell 2
57Vaclav Metlicka (Svk)Row 56 - Cell 2
58Mike Garrigan (Can)-5Laps
59Kazuhiro Yamamoto (Jpn)Row 58 - Cell 2
60Joseba Leon Gutierrez (Spa)Row 59 - Cell 2
61Garry Millburn (Aus)Row 60 - Cell 2
62Mark Mcconnell (Can)Row 61 - Cell 2
63Paul Redenbach (Aus)-6Laps
64Yu Takenouchi (Jpn) Veranclassic - EkoiRow 63 - Cell 2
65Mario Matijevic (Cro)Row 64 - Cell 2
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Final World Cup standings
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResultHeader Cell - Column 3
1Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team430pts
2Lars van der Haar (Ned) Team Giant - Alpecin345Row 1 - Cell 3
3Corné Van Kessel (Ned) Telenet - Fidea Cycling Team307Row 2 - Cell 3
4Philipp Walsleben (Ger) BKCP-Powerplus306Row 3 - Cell 3
5Tom Meeusen (Bel) Telenet - Fidea Cycling Team290Row 4 - Cell 3
6Jens Adams (Bel)256Row 5 - Cell 3
7Gianni Vermeersch (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team255Row 6 - Cell 3
8Francis Mourey (Fra) FDJ212Row 7 - Cell 3
9Jeremy Powers (USA)210Row 8 - Cell 3
10Julien Taramarcaz (Swi) Corendon-Kwadro209Row 9 - Cell 3
11Bart Wellens (Bel) Telenet - Fidea Cycling Team209Row 10 - Cell 3
12Fabien Canal (Fra) Armee De Terre E-Sportsante206Row 11 - Cell 3
13Rob Peeters (Bel)201Row 12 - Cell 3
14Tim Merlier (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team194Row 13 - Cell 3
15Sascha Weber (Ger)191Row 14 - Cell 3
16Jim Aernouts (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team191Row 15 - Cell 3
17Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team185Row 16 - Cell 3
18David Van Der Poel (Ned) BKCP-Powerplus179Row 17 - Cell 3
19Marcel Meisen (Ger) Corendon-Kwadro179Row 18 - Cell 3
20Niels Wubben (Ned) Telenet - Fidea Cycling Team177Row 19 - Cell 3
21Michael Boros (Cze)170Row 20 - Cell 3
22Bart Aernouts (Bel) Corendon-Kwadro169Row 21 - Cell 3
23Thijs Van Amerongen (Ned) Telenet - Fidea Cycling Team154Row 22 - Cell 3
24Wout Van Aert (Bel)150Row 23 - Cell 3
25Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) BKCP-Powerplus145Row 24 - Cell 3
26Javier De Larrinage Ibanez (Spa)136Row 25 - Cell 3
27Marcel Wildhaber (Swi)135Row 26 - Cell 3
28Sven Nys (Bel)132Row 27 - Cell 3
29Twan van den Brand (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo Piels130Row 28 - Cell 3
30Jonathan Page (USA)126Row 29 - Cell 3
31Ian Field (GBr)124Row 30 - Cell 3
32Tomas Paprstka (Cze)119Row 31 - Cell 3
33Mariusz Gil (Pol)110Row 32 - Cell 3
34Simon Zahner (Swi)102Row 33 - Cell 3
35Radomir Simunek (Cze) Corendon-Kwadro84Row 34 - Cell 3
36Gert-Jan Bosman (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo Piels83Row 35 - Cell 3
37Lubomir Petrus (Cze) BKCP-Powerplus83Row 36 - Cell 3
38Laurens Sweeck (Bel) Corendon-Kwadro78Row 37 - Cell 3
39Toon Aerts (Bel) Telenet - Fidea Cycling Team71Row 38 - Cell 3
40Arnaud Grand (Swi)65Row 39 - Cell 3
41Clement Lhotellerie (Fra)63Row 40 - Cell 3
42Kenneth Hansen (Den)62Row 41 - Cell 3
43Josep Betalu (Spa)56Row 42 - Cell 3
44Andreas Moser (Swi)53Row 43 - Cell 3
45Ole Quast (Ger)52Row 44 - Cell 3
46Martin Bina (Cze) Corendon-Kwadro44Row 45 - Cell 3
47Martin Haring (Svk) Ck Banska Bystrica43Row 46 - Cell 3
48David Menut (Fra) Auber 9339Row 47 - Cell 3
49Severin Saegesser (Swi)38Row 48 - Cell 3
50Marco Fontana Aurelio (Ita)36Row 49 - Cell 3
51Aitor Hernandez Gutierrez (Spa)36Row 50 - Cell 3
52Lukas Winterberg (Swi)36Row 51 - Cell 3
53Michael Vanthourenhout (Bel) Sunweb - Napoleon Games Cycling Team33Row 52 - Cell 3
54Enrico Franzoi (Ita)31Row 53 - Cell 3
55Bryan Falaschi (Ita)30Row 54 - Cell 3
56Flavien Dassonville (Fra) Auber 9330Row 55 - Cell 3
57Eddy Van Ijzendoorn (Ned)29Row 56 - Cell 3
58Jakub Skala (Cze)28Row 57 - Cell 3
59Yu Takenouchi (Jpn) Veranclassic - Ekoi28Row 58 - Cell 3
60Vladimir Kyzivat (Cze)26Row 59 - Cell 3
61Patrick Van Leeuwen (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo Piels25Row 60 - Cell 3
62Marco Bianco (Ita)23Row 61 - Cell 3
63Luca Braidot (Ita)22Row 62 - Cell 3
64Alois Falenta (Fra)21Row 63 - Cell 3
65Jack Clarkson (GBr)19Row 64 - Cell 3
66Melvin Rulliere (Fra) Veranclassic - Ekoi19Row 65 - Cell 3
67Matej Lasak (Cze)19Row 66 - Cell 3
68Jeremy Durrin (USA)15Row 67 - Cell 3
69Stephen Hyde (USA)14Row 68 - Cell 3
70Steven James (GBr)13Row 69 - Cell 3
71Felix Barba Frutos (Spa)11Row 70 - Cell 3
72Ben Sumner (GBr)11Row 71 - Cell 3
73Ben Berden (Bel)11Row 72 - Cell 3
74Aaron Schooler (Can)11Row 73 - Cell 3
75James Driscoll (USA)10Row 74 - Cell 3
76Martin Gujan (Swi)10Row 75 - Cell 3
77Agustin Navarro Vidal (Spa)10Row 76 - Cell 3
78Joachim Parbo (Den)10Row 77 - Cell 3
79Yoann Corbihan (Fra)9Row 78 - Cell 3
80Alex Paton (GBr)9Row 79 - Cell 3
81Ramon Sagues Portabella (Spa)9Row 80 - Cell 3
82Jody Crawforth (GBr)8Row 81 - Cell 3
83Robert Marion (USA)7Row 82 - Cell 3
84Michael Schweizer (Ger)7Row 83 - Cell 3
85Gusty Bausch (Lux)7Row 84 - Cell 3
86Angus Edmond (NZl)7Row 85 - Cell 3
87Asier Arregui Dominguez (Spa)6Row 86 - Cell 3
88Nicholas Barnes (GBr)6Row 87 - Cell 3
89Yannick Mayer (Ger) Bike Aid5Row 88 - Cell 3
90Michael Wildhaber (Swi)5Row 89 - Cell 3
91Elia Silvestri (Ita)5Row 90 - Cell 3
92Jack Ravenscroft (GBr)4Row 91 - Cell 3
93Felix Drumm (Ger)4Row 92 - Cell 3
94David Montgomery (Irl)3Row 93 - Cell 3
95Mark Mcconnell (Can)3Row 94 - Cell 3
96Glen Kinning (Irl)2Row 95 - Cell 3
97Zach Mcdonald (USA)1Row 96 - Cell 3
98Ulrich Theobald (Ger)1Row 97 - Cell 3
99Cameron Jette (Can)1Row 98 - Cell 3

 

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