An unfortunate fall prevented Mathieu van der Poel from winning the Benidorm World Cup cyclocross on Sunday. During the penultimate lap, the rider from Hoogerheide collided with a pole on the side of the course and fell. The reigning world champion suffered a rare defeat. The Belgian Wout van Aert took advantage.
Michael Vanthourenhout finished second in Benidorm and Thibau Nys completed the Belgian podium. Eli Iserbyt finished fourth and secured the overall victory in the World Cup classification. Van der Poel finished fifth in his eleventh race of this season. During the previous ten crosses he was untouchable. He is the big favorite to win the world championship, which will be held in Tábor, Czech Republic, in two weeks.
Impressive catch-up race
Van der Poel did not start the cyclocross in Spain well. Immediately after the start he had a breakdown, there were problems with the chain of his bicycle. The world champion stepped down briefly and resumed the race in 28th position in a stretched field. After an impressive catch-up race, Van der Poel joined the leading group in the fifth of nine laps with Van Aert, Tom Pidcock and Vanthourenhout.
Van der Poel then allowed himself a lap to catch his breath. He then launched an attack that only Van Aert could follow. But both rivals allowed Pidcock and Vanthourenhout to come back. We had to wait for another attack from Van der Poel. But the world champion hit a pole on the side of the course in the penultimate lap, fell and Van Aert immediately accelerated.
‘Undefeated series was more something for the journalists’
“I made a mistake and drove straight into a post,” Van der Poel said afterwards. “I also felt my legs, but normally I could have still competed for the win. Not an eleventh victory, not a perfect winner. But my unbeaten run was more something for journalists. I want to win a specific race and that is in two weeks at the world championship.”
Van Aert was happy that he could still end his season as a cyclo-cross rider with a victory. “But my plan is set. I will not participate in the World Cup,” said the Belgian, who fell in the last round and lost his saddle. “I can feel my pulse,” said Van Aert. “But it is especially nice that I won another match.”