Mathieu van der Poel took his eleventh victory of the winter with another dominant ride at the Flandriencross race in Hamme, Belgium, on Sunday, leading the race from start to finish.
The European champion travelled to Belgium overnight after winning the Tabor World Cup race in the Czech Republic on Saturday but looked as strong and fast as ever.
He was first into the dirt section after the fast start and already had a gap after half a lap. Only his Corendon-Circus teammate Tom Meeusen was able to stay with him and bravely hung on to his wheel for a fast 45 minutes of racing.
Meeusen eventually cracked as Van der Poel blasted away to victory, and his rivals were left fighting for the podium places, but hung on for a well-deserved second place. Diether Sweeck (Pauwels Sauzen-Vastgoedservice) won the sprint for third place but was 1:50 down on Van der Poel.
World champion Wout van Aert was not in action after preferring not to rush back to Belgium from Tabor. That did not stop the debate about Van Aert's season and if he can ever beat Van der Poel.
Results
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mathieu Van Der Poel (Ned) Corendon - Circus | 0:58:57 |
| 2 | Tom Meeusen (Bel) Corendon - Circus | 0:00:44 |
| 3 | Laurens Sweeck (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice | 0:01:50 |
| 4 | Gianni Vermeersch (Bel) Steylaerts - 777 | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
| 5 | Michael Vanthourenhout (Bel) Marlux - Bingoal | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
| 6 | Joris Nieuwenhuis (Ned) | 0:01:52 |
| 7 | Corne Van Kessel (Ned) Telenet Fidea Lions | 0:01:53 |
| 8 | Toon Aerts (Bel) Telenet Fidea Lions | 0:02:01 |
| 9 | Lars Van Der Haar (Ned) Telenet Fidea Lions | 0:02:02 |
| 10 | Jens Adams (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice | 0:02:06 |
| 11 | Thomas Pidcock (GBr) Tp Racing | 0:02:10 |
| 12 | Jim Aernouts (Bel) Telenet Fidea Lions | 0:02:41 |
| 13 | Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Marlux - Bingoal | 0:02:51 |
| 14 | Dieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) Marlux - Bingoal | 0:03:14 |
| 15 | Tim Merlier (Bel) Crelan - Charles | 0:03:15 |
| 16 | Thijs Aerts (Bel) Telenet Fidea Lions | 0:04:48 |
| 17 | Stan Godrie (Ned) Crelan - Charles | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
| 18 | Joshua Dubau (Fra) | 0:04:49 |
| 19 | Lucas Dubau (Fra) | 0:05:12 |
| 20 | Dario Tielen (Bel) | 0:05:20 |
| 21 | Thomas Joseph (Bel) Marlux - Bingoal | 0:06:11 |
| -2 LAPS | Yelle Leaerts (Bel) | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
| -2 LAPS | Edwin De Wit (Bel) | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
| -3 LAPS | Wouter Goosen (Bel) | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
| -3 LAPS | Isaac Mundy (GBr) | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
| -3 LAPS | Niels Koyen (Bel) | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
| -5 LAPS | David Duggan (GBr) | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
| DNF | Wietse Bosmans (Bel) Steylaerts - 777 | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
-
Grasshopper Adventure Series: Brennan Wertz delivers knock-out punch in three-up sprint for third consecutive win at Huffmaster
Alia Shafi opens new gravel season with sprint victory against Grasshopper veterans Flavia Oliveira Parks and Jen Tavé -
Sean Kelly's Classics Column: Sometimes, you have to be a glass-cranker
The nine-time Monument winner analyses a crash-filled Opening Weekend and questions whether Van der Poel's rivals could've done more -
'I’m excited to get stuck in myself again and finally race' – Tadej Pogačar primes for season debut at Strade Bianche with Isaac del Toro in support
UAE Team Emirates-XRG confirm team for Italian one-day race, with Tim Wellens out due to injury sustained at Opening Weekend -
Olympic silver medalist Haley Batten wins debut at Belgium Waffle Ride Arizona while Russell Finsterwald surges in two-up sprint for elite men's victory
Final singletrack section proves decisive for last year's BWR series overall winner as he shuts down long-range attack by Andrew L'Esperance
