Cyclo-cross World Cup Hoogerheide: Relentless Mathieu van der Poel wins final round

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) soloed to another victory in the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, winning the final round in Hoogerheide with the World Championships just a week away.

The Dutch rider was able to coast towards the line before taking the 38th World Cup of his career ahead of Joris Nieuwenhuis (Baloise Trek Lions) and Pim Ronhaar (Baloise Trek Lions).

Thibau Nys, also of Baloise Trek Lions, was the only rider close to matching Van der Poel after the world champion attacked on the penultimate lap but a crash on the final lap ended his challenge and the Belgian was forced to settle for fourth.

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"I felt okay but I had to do it in a slightly different way. I'm good but after I attacked I wasn't that fresh as I was during the rest of the season. That's normal though, and it's a good sign," Van der Poel said at the finish.

The Dutch rider added that he expected a fight on his hands next week, when he will look to defend his world title.

"Last year was also a bit different. I only had one race the weekend before Worlds and this weekend I raced yesterday and today, so it was a slightly different approach. Like I said, I just need to rest, and then hopefully next week I'll have my best legs of the season.

All eyes on the champ

With last week's World Cup winner Wout van Aert absent, all the focus turned to Van der Poel but the world champion was a passenger during the opening lap with Lars van der Haar setting the early pace alongside World Cup leader Eli Iserbyt.

There was little to separate the main contenders until Nieuwenhuis launched a stinging attack at the end of the first lap. That sparked Van der Poel and several others into life but a stiff headwind meant a gradual regrouping, with 15 riders still in contention at the end of the second lap.

Several crashes peppered the field with Jens Adams one of the main victims as Ronhaar and his Baloise teammates took turns to set the pace.

At the start of the fourth lap Van der Poel sat back and only accelerated when pressure came from one his rivals, and there was a brief concern for the Alpecin rider when he was pictured talking to his mechanical and at the back of the lead group on lap five.

On lap six Nys struck out for the first time but he was closed down almost instantly as Ronhaar skipped clear in response. Once again, Van der Poel decided to follow rather than lead but on the main climb of the lap the Dutchman finally put the hammer down with only Nys able to respond.

Yet another regrouping followed and with two laps remaining seven riders remained at the front of the race. But on the penultimate lap Van der Poel put in another punishing dig and this time no one could folllow. Nys admirably tried but ended up on the deck but once Van der Poel was clear the outcome was virtually a certainty.