Three-time elite males’s cyclocross world champion Wout van Aert was in superior type within the Dendermonde mud as he received 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 street season ambitions as he went back-to-back with victories on the weekend, triumphing the day before today after a last-lap battle with Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen-Cibel Clementines) in Gullegem.
“It means quite a bit that I managed to win twice this weekend. I stunned myself. It is already an enormous increase in direction of the upcoming street season. When it comes to feeling, I am proper on monitor,” Van Aert mentioned.
“It means quite a bit to me that’s for positive,” he added. “I’m forward of the schedule that I had in my thoughts.”
Followers 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 received his fourth race in six days and Van Aert settled for fourth. Nonetheless, the rematch wouldn’t be attainable.
After a fifth consecutive victory at World Cup Besançon, Van der Poel eliminated scheduled races in Baal, Koksijde and Dendermonde resulting from 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 turn into a favorite for the uncooked energy of Van Aert. He has now received three of the 4 occasions on the Belgium course however forward of the occasion questioned aloud if his rival had made a sensible determination to skip the tough race circumstances, making a cheeky message for his absent cyclocross rival.
“After I regarded out of the window this morning, I assumed, ‘gosh, if solely I had a small rib damage.’ It is humorous, after all,” he informed Sporza.
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“These aren’t the nicest circumstances to return down right here. It is a disgrace that the climate is so unhealthy. However that fits me: wind, rain and slogging. It should 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 photos 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 find yourself doing it, generally you query why. Nevertheless it’s so troublesome to remain concentrated and pull it off, nice enjoyable. These are the times I used to wish to be a ‘cross racer for.”
The Visma-Lease a Bike rider additionally had a message for the adoring house crowd who braved the moist circumstances to look at his efficiency.
“On a day like as we speak, seeing so many individuals coming exterior and feeling that I’ve so many supporters. That actually does one thing to me.
“On 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 will have time to move others. The important thing was to search out my rhythm as rapidly as attainable and keep away from making errors. It bought powerful within the last laps, however the hole was sufficient in the long run.”
Van Aert and Van der Poel will now each journey to street coaching camps with their respective groups and miss their respective nationwide cyclocross championships subsequent weekend.
The next 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 in opposition to Van der Poel at Maasmechelen.
After crashing out of the Vuelta a España in the beginning 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 on the right track for his street objectives later this yr.
“It’s an actual confidence increase to maintain working in direction of the street season,” he mentioned. “The form of course as we speak [in Dendermonde] is one thing that could be very removed from the street. Like yesterday [in Gullegem], or Loenhout, which can also 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 am not going to make anything of it, after all. I’m very glad with it.”