Mathieu van der Poel (30) has won the Zilvermeercross for the fifth time. The Dutch cyclo-cross rider was again the strongest on Friday in difficult winter conditions in Mol, Belgium. His Belgian competitor Wout van Aert (31) was able to stay on his trail for six laps, but dropped out after a crash.
The Zilvermeercross has been on the calendar since 2014. In the past, Van der Poel and Van Aert often competed for the win in Mol. The Dutchman has won five times in the past eleven years, Van Aert four times. In the first days of 2026 it again became a battle between the two best cyclo-cross riders.
In a race with 57 riders, the world champion took the lead in the third lap. After Van der Poel crashed, Van Aert was able to join him again one lap later. However, Van Aert crashed in the sixth round and had to give up shortly afterwards. Van der Poel then rode solo to the finish, in the falling snow, after 1 hour and 5 minutes.
‘Very cold’
The winner looked back on a very tough cyclo-cross with a satisfied feeling. “It was very cold,” Van der Poel said in a short interview. “What would have happened if Van Aert had not fallen? You never know.”
If all goes well, Van der Poel will ride five more cyclo-cross races this year, with the ultimate goal of extending his world title on February 1 in Hulst, Zeeland.