It’s back to 2023. Mathieu Van der Poel has resumed his good habits. Wout Van Aert hung on a little (a little less than 2 laps) before giving in and letting this devil of Mathieu Van der Poel slip away.
The Dutchman, cyclo-cross world champion (also winner on the road), dominated the 4th stage of the X²O Trofee this Monday, in Baal, Belgium. Powerful, spectacular, he relegated Wout Van Aert to 1’55”. Thomas Pidcock had to settle for 12th place at 5’53”.
Mathieu van der Poel extended his invincibility this winter in cyclo-cross on Monday by signing his eighth victory in eight races.
“It was very technical with these deep and extremely difficult ruts,” commented the untouchable Van der Poel, quoted by the trophy organizers.
At the start of the race, the Dutchman resisted the high pace set by Van Aert before losing it in the second lap thanks to a particularly muddy passage which forced the Belgian to dismount, losing ground which he could never catch up.
“Wout immediately set a fast pace to try to put pressure on me. I took over and I don’t know if he made a mistake, but I suddenly had a nice gap again,” he said.
Van Aert, whose 2024 season will be centered on the spring classics with an impasse on the Tour de France, could only recognize the gulf that separates him from MVDP this winter in the mud and hollow roads. “If you waste two minutes, you have to admit that he was much better,” he said.
