It was a revenge for three days ago, when Van Aert in the nine rounds of the Silver Lake Cross had the longest breath. In the mud of Gavere, Van der Poel was clearly driven to assert himself. Immediately after the starting shot, the 27-year-old Alpecin-Deceuninck rider had to go after Pidcock who had driven away. This also set off alarm bells in the peloton. Van der Poel ditch went on and on with the British rider and drove away himself. However, it was not a huge solo, because after a lap he saw Pidcock’s world champion jersey and the Belgian flag on Van Aert’s back shoot past.
What then emerged was the wet dream of every cyclocross fan: the three big stars in a direct battle against each other for four rounds. Van der Poel was the first to get away by attacking on a muddy descent full of mud and flattened leaves. Surprisingly enough, he didn’t crash and took an 8 second lead. A lap later, Pidcock had given everything to get back in the wheel and Van Aert was only seconds behind. At that moment, just before the last lap, the Dutchman decided to deal the final blow and accelerate again. It turned out to be enough for a lonely last round and a third World Cup victory of the season. Van Aert crossed the line in second place, also well ahead of the Briton Pidcock. Dutch Champion Lars van der Haar finished fifth.
Van der Poel defeated Van Aert earlier in December in the Scheldecross in the World Cup. Van Aert then won the World Cup race in Dublin, but Van der Poel did not start there.
Signed with the women Shirin van Anrooij for her second World Cup win of the season. In the absence of the injured classification leader Fem van Empel, the 20-year-old Van Anrooij convincingly stayed ahead of the remaining competition. Read all about it here.