Extreme conditions in Mol’s cross, but the world champion always wins. Van Aert falls and retires: he will have to undergo surgery
Even the snow does not stop Mathieu Van der Poel, who in Mol, Belgium, achieved his eighth cross-country success of the season in truly extreme conditions which, however, did not prevent him from dominating: he won 32 of the last 33 races in which he took part. This time his great rival Wout Van Aert appeared to be in really good form, as he was dueling with Mvdp but crashed with two laps to go and was forced to retire: it had never happened to him in pro cross-country not to finish a race. The Belgian broke his ankle: he will be operated on Saturday in Herentals, his cross country season is over.