A Single Error Hands Van der Poel Another Cyclocross Win

Mathieu van der Poel is hitting the repeat button so far in this cyclocross season.

He arrives in his Lamborghini, signs a few autographs, lines up, and patiently picks his way to victory.

No race is without its mishaps and challenges, but MVDP made easy work Friday to win the World Cup stop at Gavere for his fifth straight of the season.

“I deliberately waited and gambled on one fast lap, hoping that would be enough. Otherwise, it probably would have ended in a sprint,” Van Der Poel told Sporza.

Like many races this season, Van der Poel is content to wait until the closing laps to make the winning difference.

Van der Poel and Thibau Nys battled until the younger rival slipped out of his pedal.

That’s all Van Der Poel needed to drive home his fifth straight win of the cyclocross season.

“Three laps to go, I decided to ride a lap at full speed,” Van Der Poel said. “I think he made a mistake, and that gave me some room. Thibau was very strong on this course.”

Nys hit second, with Tibor Del Grasso taking third in the World Cup round.

“I slipped out of my pedal twice, but I don’t think I would have been able to follow him anyway,” Nys told Het Nieuwsblad. “Fatigue was starting to take its toll. Combined with the cold, that meant I lost feeling in my feet. Maybe that’s why I didn’t know what I was doing anymore.”

Wout Van Aert, sitting on the sidelines Friday, returns to action Sunday at Dendermonde. Van Der Poel and Van Aert will clash again at Loenhout on December 29.

Lucinda Brand also barnstormed to her 14th win in 16 starts in the women’s race.

Amandine Fouquenet, a winner at Zolder three days ago, kicked to second, with Puck Pieterse third in the race.

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Results powered by FirstCycling.com