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.
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 |

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Daniel Ostanek is production editor at Cyclingnews, having joined in 2017 as a freelance contributor and later being hired as staff writer. Prior to joining the team, he had written for most major publications in the cycling world, including CyclingWeekly, Rouleur, and CyclingTips.
Daniel has reported from the world's top races, including the Tour de France and the spring Classics, and has interviewed many of the sport's biggest stars, including Wout van Aert, Remco Evenepoel, Demi Vollering, and Anna van der Breggen.
As well as original reporting, news and feature writing, and production work, Daniel also runs The Leadout newsletter and oversees How to Watch guides throughout the season. His favourite races are Strade Bianche and the Volta a Portugal, and he rides a Colnago C40.
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