Back full of Belgian fans of course in Liévin. As West Flemish people, we look forward to Wyseure, Iserbyt and certainly Michael Vanthourenhout. But most fans simply expect MvdP to be able to add its seventh world title.
The start says a lot. Van der Poel ensures that he is immediately in the front. Van Aert starts on the fourth row and only comes through 37th. Start it.
Van der Poel has already started in the first round. Vanthourenhout, ORTS and Sweeck can feel that it will not be effective for today. And then he left. After three minutes the rest is there for bacon and beans.
After one round, the gap is already twenty seconds on Sweeck, which is somewhat detached from Vanthourenhout, Orts and Nieuwenhuys. But a slipper from Sweeck ensures that the pursuers come together again. And at the end of round two, Van Aert can also join that group.
Nieuwenhuys and Nys realize that this might be their only time to get away, now that Van Aert has to catch their breath, but after round three Van Aert also continues, on the way to the silver that seemed almost destined to him today. Nieuwenhuys and Nys are the two men who are allowed to cherish bronze ambitions. Not Michael Vanthourenhout who is increasingly sinking further towards place eight. Wyseure then drives around tenth, Iserbyt a little further.
In the meantime, Van der Poel continues and brings in his main goal of this winter. A seventh world title in cyclocross, on the same level with Eric de Vlaeminck. Hats off for Wout van Aert, he picks the silver. As a European and Belgian champion, Thibau Nys should not be missing on stage for Nieuwenhuys.
And then there will be a zipper Belgians. With Vanthourenhout in position seven and Wyseeure in eight place. Iserbyt will end thirteenth. Very distant places of honor for our West Flemish people.