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Van der Poel makes it 12 wins this season in Koppenbergcross

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Dutch champion tops Aerts, Van der Haar in Oudenaarde

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Mathieu van der Poel collapses after winning Koppenbergcross

Mathieu van der Poel collapses after winning Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Jens Adams climbs the Koppenberg

Jens Adams climbs the Koppenberg (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Michael Vanthourenhout

Michael Vanthourenhout (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Dieter Sweeck

Dieter Sweeck (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Tom Meeusen

Tom Meeusen (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Michael Boros and Kevin Pauwels climb the Koppenberg

Michael Boros and Kevin Pauwels climb the Koppenberg (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Mathieu van der Poel on the ground after winning Koppenbergcross

Mathieu van der Poel on the ground after winning Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Mathieu van der Poel on the ground after winning Koppenbergcross

Mathieu van der Poel on the ground after winning Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Mathieu van der Poel and Jens Adams show the pain of Koppenbergcross

Mathieu van der Poel and Jens Adams show the pain of Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Daan Soete after the finish of Koppenbergcross

Daan Soete after the finish of Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Mathieu van der Poel on the ground after winning Koppenbergcross

Mathieu van der Poel on the ground after winning Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Vincent Baestaens

Vincent Baestaens (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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The elite men's podium at Koppenbergcross

The elite men's podium at Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Toon Aerts at Koppenbergcross

Toon Aerts at Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Lars van der Haar and Mathieu van der Poel

Lars van der Haar and Mathieu van der Poel (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Yu Takenuchi at Koppenbergcross

Yu Takenuchi at Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Michael Vanthourenhout at Koppenbergcross

Michael Vanthourenhout at Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Tim Merlier

Tim Merlier (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Daan Soete at Koppenbergcross

Daan Soete at Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Michael Boros at Koppenbergcross

Michael Boros at Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Rob Peeters climbs the Koppenberg

Rob Peeters climbs the Koppenberg (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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The elite men climb the Koppenberg at Koppenbergcross

The elite men climb the Koppenberg at Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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The elite men climb the Koppenberg at Koppenbergcross

The elite men climb the Koppenberg at Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Koppenbergcross runner-up Toon Aerts

Koppenbergcross runner-up Toon Aerts (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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An exhausted Mathieu van der Poel wins Koppenbergcross

An exhausted Mathieu van der Poel wins Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Koppenbergcross runner-up Toon Aerts

Koppenbergcross runner-up Toon Aerts (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Mathieu van der Poel en route to winning Koppenbergcross

Mathieu van der Poel en route to winning Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Mathieu van der Poel en route to winning Koppenbergcross

Mathieu van der Poel en route to winning Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Mathieu van der Poel en route to winning Koppenbergcross

Mathieu van der Poel en route to winning Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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The Koppenbergcross podium: Toon Aerts, Mathieu van der Poel and Lars van der Haar (Ned) Telenet-Fidea

The Koppenbergcross podium: Toon Aerts, Mathieu van der Poel and Lars van der Haar (Ned) Telenet-Fidea (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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The Koppenbergcross podium: Toon Aerts, Mathieu van der Poel and Lars van der Haar (Ned) Telenet-Fidea

The Koppenbergcross podium: Toon Aerts, Mathieu van der Poel and Lars van der Haar (Ned) Telenet-Fidea (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Toon Aerts, Mathieu van der Poel and Kevin Pauwels

Toon Aerts, Mathieu van der Poel and Kevin Pauwels (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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World champion Wout Van Aert at Koppenbergcross

World champion Wout Van Aert at Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Mathieu van der Poel in the lead at Koppenbergcross

Mathieu van der Poel in the lead at Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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The men get underway at Koppenbergcross

The men get underway at Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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World champion Wout Van Aert at Koppenbergcross

World champion Wout Van Aert at Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Laurens Sweeck

Laurens Sweeck (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Mathieu van der Poel en route to winning Koppenbergcross

Mathieu van der Poel en route to winning Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Mathieu van der Poel en route to winning Koppenbergcross

Mathieu van der Poel en route to winning Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Michael Vanthourenhout

Michael Vanthourenhout (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Toon Aerts leads Mathieu van der Peol

Toon Aerts leads Mathieu van der Peol (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Lars van der Haar

Lars van der Haar (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Michael Vanthourenhout

Michael Vanthourenhout (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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World champion Wout Van Aert at Koppenbergcross

World champion Wout Van Aert at Koppenbergcross (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
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Mathieu van der Poel on the Koppenbergcross podium

Mathieu van der Poel on the Koppenbergcross podium (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)

Mathieu van der Poel (Beobank-Corendon) continued his domination of the European 'cross circuit, taking out his 12th victory of the season in the Koppenbergcross. While his previous wins have been near start-to-finish solo attacks, this time the Dutchman was pushed to his limits by runner-up Toon Aerts (Telenet-Fidea) and third-placed Lars van der Haar.

Van der Poel attacked early in the race, but had repeated issues with his pedals, and was caught by Aerts, Van der Haar and world champion Wout Van Aert (Crelan-Charles). The quartet had a stalemate until Van der Haar made a move mid-race.

Van Aert buried himself to bring the Telenet-Fidea rider back, but then struggled on the cobbled ascent of the Koppenberg and was distanced from the others.

Van der Poel bided his time, only making his move in the last half lap, distancing the scrappy European champion, but the effort cost him and the Dutch champion collapsed after the finish line and still struggled to catch his breath in the post-race interview.

Full Results

#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Beobank-Corendon1:07:49
2Toon Aerts (Bel) Telenet Fidea Lions0:00:12
3Lars van der Haar (Ned) Telenet Fidea Lions0:00:24
4Wout Van Aert (Bel) Crelan - Charles0:01:14
5Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Marlux - Napoleon Games Cycling Team0:01:29
6Jens Adams (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen-Vastgoedservice0:01:30
7Corne van Kessel (Ned) Telenet Fidea Lions0:01:36
8Michael Vanthourenhout (Bel) Marlux - Napoleon Games Cycling Team0:01:42
9Klaas Vantornout (Bel) Marlux - Napoleon Games Cycling Team0:01:49
10Laurens Sweeck (Bel) Era Real Estate - Circus0:01:50
11Michael Boros (Cze) Pauwels Sauzen - Vastgoedservice
12Daan Soete (Bel) Telenet Fidea Lions0:01:54
13Tom Meeusen (Bel) Beobank-Corendon0:02:38
14Tim Merlier (Bel) Crelan - Charles0:03:27
15Ian Field (GBr) Hargroves Cycles Race Team0:03:37
16Jonas Degroote (Bel) Team Mahieu - Kona - Vandermeeren0:03:57
17Joeri Adams (Bel) Kalas - H.Essers Cycling Team0:04:03
18Gianni Vermeersch (Bel) Steylaerts-Betfirst0:04:17
19Gosse van der Meer (Ned) Tarteletto Isorex0:04:42
20Wietse Bosmans (Bel) Era Real Estate - Circus0:05:14
21Philipp Walsleben (Ger) Beobank Coredon0:05:50
22Jim Aernouts (Bel) Telenet Fidea Lions0:06:06
23Nicolas Pruvost (Fra) Eseg Douai0:06:43
24Julien Kaise (Bel) T.Palm - Pôle Continental Wallon
25Andrew Juiliano (USA) Grit World Racing p/b Shimano
26Jelle De Bock (Bel) Arrow Cycling Team
27Pascal Colaert (Bel) Dovy Keukens - FCC
28Yu Takenouchi (Jpn) Toyoframe
29Michael Butler (GBr) Hargroves Cycles Ridley RT
30Alexander Forrester (GBr) Www.Zepnat.com - Lazer Helmets
31Felix Fuentes Sanchez (Spa) Stecchino MTB Club
32Manuel Martin Jimenez (Spa) Stecchino MTB Club
DNFVincent Baestaens (Bel) VZW Koninklijke Stoempersclub
DNFDieter Vanthourenhout (Bel) Marlux - Napoleon Games Cycling Team
DNFRob Peeters (Bel) Pauwels Sauzen-Vastgoedservice
DNFDiether Sweeck (Bel) Era Real Estate - Circus
DNFJens Vandekinderen (Bel) Kalas - H.Essers Cycling Team
DNFDario Tielen (Bel)
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