Mathieu van der Poel wins Brussels Universities Cyclocross

(Image credit: Bettini Photo)

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) won the Brussels Universities Cyclocross on Sunday. The world champion soloed to victory ahead of a trio who battled for second place with Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) taking second, Corne van Kessel (Telenet Baloise Lions) in third, and Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen–Bingoal) in fourth.

Iserbyt leads the DVV Verzekeringen Trofee series with just one race to go at the Krawatencross in Lille, France, held on February 8.

Some of the favourites such as Toon Aerts, Laurens Sweeck, Wout van Aert and Quinten Hermans sat out this round of the series in favour of resting ahead of the Belgian Championships next weekend.

Vanthourenhout had a strong start and led the opening lap, closely followed by Van der Poel and Van Kessel. By the third lap, Iserbyt and Tim Merlier moved through the field and caught up to the chase group.

Van der Poel made his winning attack midway through the eight-lap race and built his lead out to 30 seconds as he crossed the line with the victory.

Iserbyt, Van Kessel and Vanthourenhout locked into a battle for second place through the final lap. Iserbyt crossed the finish line 30 seconds after Van der Poel and claimed second place. Van Kessel finished eight seconds later in third place and Vanthourenhout finished an additional four seconds back in fourth.

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Results
Pos.	Rider Name (Country) Team	Result
1	Mathieu Van Der Poel (Ned) Alpecin-Fenix	1:01:23
2	Eli Iserbyt (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal	0:00:30
3	Corne Van Kessel (Ned)	0:00:38
4	Michael Vanthourenhout (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal	0:00:42
5	Jens Adams (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal	0:01:29
6	Tom Meeusen (Bel)	0:01:43
7	Tim Merlier (Bel) Creafin – Fristads	0:01:56
8	Gianni Vermeersch (Bel) Creafin – Fristads	0:02:05
9	Lars Van Der Haar (Ned) Telenet Baloise Lions	0:02:16
10	Vincent Baestaens (Bel) Group Hens - Maes Containers	0:02:46
11	Stephen Hyde (USA) Cannondale Cyclocrossworld	0:02:57
12	Thijs Aerts (Bel) Telenet Baloise Lions	0:03:22
13	Jim Aernouts (Bel) Telenet Baloise Lions	0:03:36
14	Yannick Peeters (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal	0:03:54
15	Nicolas Cleppe (Bel) Telenet Baloise Lions	0:04:30
16	Sieben Wouters (Ned)	0:05:31
17	Curtis White (USA) Cannondale Cyclocrossworld	0:06:23
18	Thomas Verheyen (Bel)	0:07:45
19	Edwin De Wit (Bel)
20	Max Judelson (USA)
21	Brannan Fix (USA)
22	Julien Roussel (Fra)
23	Yelle Leaerts (Bel)
24	Gianni Quintelier (Bel)
25	Gauthier Heymes (Fra)

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Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.

Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.

She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.