Super 8 Classic: Mathieu van der Poel bags first win as world champion

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) bagged his first win as world champion, with a fierce sprint from a five-man group at the end of the Super 8 Classic.

The Dutchman, wearing a full white skinsuit with the rainbow bands across the chest, punched the air in delight as he convincingly claimed victory for the first time since his astounding Worlds-winning display in Glasgow last month.

Van der Poel emerged into the finale of the Belgian autumn one-day race in a six-man group that also contained his teammate Gianni Vermeersch, who helped keep the peloton at bay and tee up the sprint.

Another Vermeersch, Lotto Dstny's Florian, made the first jump to launch the sprint from range, but Van der Poel sat comfortably on his wheel before surging through to win at a canter.

Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies) came past Florian Vermeersch to take second place, while Lars Boven, who was promoted from Jumbo-Visma's development squad for this occasion, settled fir a highly-creditable fourth place.

Gianni Vermeersch trailed across the line in fifth, before Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X) led home the bunch just 15 seconds down on the winner.

"It is a nice, but also unexpected victory," said Van der Poel.

"The intention was to be in the break with Gianni after the hill zone and that worked. I must also thank him, because this victory is 50 per cent his. He really helped me after the second hill zone, because then the best of me was gone. In the end he controlled great.

"We also knew as a group that we really had to keep turning, because the peloton was not far back. I have ridden here a few times and have always been caught by the peloton. It is great that I have now taken that first victory in my rainbow jersey."

SUPER 8 Classic

• Dates 16 Sept
• Race Length 203 kms
• Start Brakel
• Finish Boortmeerbeek
• Race Category Elite Men