Three-time elite males’s cyclocross world champion Wout van Aert was in superior kind within the Dendermonde mud as he gained the World Cup spherical solo by one minute and 20 seconds. The Visma-Lease a Bike rider confirmed he was “forward of schedule” for his highway season ambitions as he went back-to-back with victories on the weekend, triumphing the day past after a last-lap battle with Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Cibel Clementines) in Gullegem.
“It means so much that I managed to win twice this weekend. I stunned myself. It’s already an enormous enhance in the direction of the upcoming highway season. In phrases of feeling, I’m proper on observe,” Van Aert mentioned.
“It means so much to me that’s for certain,” he added. “I’m forward of the schedule that I had in my thoughts.”
Fans had eagerly anticipated a second assembly of the season between Van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), the 2 final squaring off at Azencross in Loenhout the place the Dutchman gained his fourth race in six days and Van Aert settled for fourth. However, the rematch wouldn’t be doable.
After a fifth consecutive victory at World Cup Besançon, Van der Poel eliminated scheduled races in Baal, Koksijde and Dendermonde as a consequence of a rib damage. “On heavier off-road terrain, I’m nonetheless experiencing an excessive amount of ache in my rib. I’ve no alternative however to stay affected person,” Van der Poel mentioned about lacking one other World Cup spherical.
The moist and muddy floor of Dendermonde has grow to be a favorite for the uncooked energy of Van Aert. He has now gained three of the 4 occasions on the Belgium course however forward of the occasion puzzled aloud if his rival had made a sensible choice to skip the cruel race situations, making a cheeky message for his absent cyclocross rival.
“When I regarded out of the window this morning, I assumed, ‘gosh, if solely I had a small rib damage.’ It’s humorous, in fact,” he instructed Sporza.
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“These aren’t the nicest situations to come back down right here. It’s a disgrace that the climate is so dangerous. But that fits me: wind, rain and slogging. It’s going to be enjoyable.”
Van Aert was right to be in a assured temper as he charged to the entrance from his mid-field gridding after which powered to a transparent victory. The Belgian had time to pose for footage earlier than 22-year-old teenager Emiel Verstrynge completed runner-up, 1:20 behind, and his Crelan-Corendon teammate Joran Wyseure positioned third.
“These are the cyclocross races you bear in mind,” mentioned a mud-covered Van Aert. “When you’re doing it, generally you query why. But it’s so troublesome to remain concentrated and pull it off, nice enjoyable. These are the times I used to need to be a ‘cross racer for.”
The Visma-Lease a Bike rider additionally had a message for the adoring residence crowd who braved the moist situations to look at his efficiency.
“On a day like immediately, seeing so many individuals coming outdoors and feeling that I’ve so many supporters. That actually does one thing to me.
“At the end line I had an enormous lead, but it surely wasn’t simple. After the beginning I made a decision to not take any pointless dangers. On this course, you’ve gotten time to cross others. The key was to seek out my rhythm as shortly as doable and keep away from making errors. It bought robust within the remaining laps, however the hole was sufficient in the long run.”
Van Aert and Van der Poel will now each journey to highway coaching camps with their respective groups and miss their respective nationwide cyclocross championships subsequent weekend.
The following week, Van Aert plans to be on the World Cup spherical in Benidorm, earlier than finishing his cyclocross marketing campaign for the winter with a gathering towards Van der Poel at Maasmechelen.
After crashing out of the Vuelta a España firstly of September, Van Aert solely returned to aggressive motion at Loenhout on December 27. On that event, he crashed on the final lap whereas competing for a podium spot, settling for fourth.
After profitable in Gullegem and Dendermonde this weekend, the 30-year-old feels he’s heading in the right direction for his highway targets later this 12 months.
“It’s an actual confidence enhance to maintain working in the direction of the highway season,” he mentioned. “The form of course immediately [in Dendermonde] is one thing that could be very removed from the highway. Like yesterday [in Gullegem], or Loenhout, which can be explosive, then that’s an excellent higher incentive.
“We added this ‘cross to my program to see the place I used to be sitting. That seems to be good. I’m not going to make the rest of it, in fact. I’m very glad with it.”