The second of five cyclo-cross duels between Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) this season ended in victory again for the Dutchman at the X2O Trofee Hofstade, with the seven-time world champion opening up a gap on the third lap and extending it all the way to the finish.
Van Aert was second on Monday’s race, but will no doubt rue a crash on the second lap after choosing an alternate route around a corner from his long-term rival and sliding out. Having been sat in his wheel at the moment he went down, Van Aert was forced to chase down Van der Poel for the entire 58 minutes of racing, but never remade contact.
Van Aert’s disadvantage was eked by Van der Poel’s excellence out from 17 seconds to 31 seconds between the end of lap three and lap six, and – despite the Belgian’s best efforts – by the end of all nine laps it was 48 seconds.
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