The second clash in this season’s five-race cyclo-cross showdown between Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) once again ended in a win for the Dutch star. Racing at the X2O Trofee in Hofstade, the seven-time world champion made his decisive move on the third lap, opening a gap that he steadily increased all the way to the finish.
Van Aert crossed the line in second but was left to reflect on a costly mistake early on. After taking a different line through a corner on the second lap, he crashed while Van der Poel was right in front of him. That slip forced the Belgian into a long pursuit over the 58-minute race, yet he was never able to bridge the gap.
Afterwards, Van der Poel spoke fondly of the venue and the race. He recalled watching professional races there as a child and said it felt special to return for a cyclo-cross event. He explained that the sandy sections made it difficult for riders to stay together, noting that one small error was enough to create separation. Once he found his rhythm on the fast course, he felt strong and comfortable racing alone.
Thibau Nys was the closest challenger early on, briefly getting onto Van der Poel’s wheel on the second lap. However, he could not match the world champion’s mastery in the sand, lost contact, and was soon caught and passed by a hard-charging Van Aert.
Van der Poel gradually extended his advantage over Van Aert from 17 seconds to 31 seconds between laps three and six, and despite the Belgian’s efforts, the gap had grown to 48 seconds by the end of the nine-lap race. Van Aert said he made a good start and chose the right side of the course to move up, but admitted he struggled to find his rhythm early and made a mistake that delayed him. By the time he reached the front, Van der Poel was already clear. Midway through the race, though, he felt stronger and was able to put in a solid effort.
With victory no longer within reach, Van Aert allowed himself to soak in the atmosphere during the final laps, as more than 17,000 fans turned out for Hofstade’s return to the cyclo-cross calendar after a 17-year absence. He described suffering heavily on the beach section but finding moments of relief elsewhere on the course, which let him enjoy the noise and support from the crowd, calling the experience remarkable even at 31 years old.
Behind the two headline acts, Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin-Deceuninck) claimed third place after a tight battle with Nys. Two heavy crashes in the sandy sections proved costly for Nys, who faded in the sprint for the final podium spot.
Series leader Joris Nieuwenhuis (Ridley) finished sixth, just behind sand specialist Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon) and ahead of Toon Aerts (Deschacht-Hens), with all three sharing the lead at points during the opening lap. Nieuwenhuis still tops the overall X2O Trofee standings after four rounds, holding a 30-second advantage over British champion Cameron Mason (Seven) and a 38-second cushion over Nys.
The next chapter in the Van der Poel–Van Aert rivalry will unfold in a week’s time at the next X2O Trofee round in Loenhout, where Van Aert will hope to eliminate his errors and mount an even stronger challenge to his long-time rival.
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