Mathieu van der Poel has also won his seventh cyclocross of this season. Despite a crash, the world champion was by far the strongest in the Grand Prix Sven Nys in Baal, Flanders, on New Year’s Day.
Van der Poel suffered most from Emiel Verstrynge in Baal. The Belgian was able to last a long time with Van der Poel, who crashed just before half of the muddy cross and hit his shoulder hard against a fence.
He quickly got to his feet, rode back into Verstrynge’s wheel and accelerated decisively later in the race.
Verstrynge crossed the finish line in second place 37 seconds behind, the Belgian Thibau Nys finished third at 1.16 minutes.
If all goes well, Van der Poel will ride six more cyclo-cross races this year, with the ultimate goal of prolonging his world title on February 1 in Hulst, Zeeland.