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Updated 01/01/2024 at 15:54 GMT
Mathieu van der Poel proved to be in a league of his own with a superb win at the Trofee Baal cyclo-cross event. The Dutchman had dominated the season to date, and that continued on the first day of 2024. Wout van Aert kept tabs early on, but he was brushed aside on the second lap as Van der Poel powered to a solo victory in front of a large crowd. Fem van Empel took victory in the women’s race.
Highlights: Van der Poel wins in Baal to extend unbeaten run
Mathieu van der Poel’s dominance of the 2023/24 cyclo-cross season continued with a brilliant win at Trofee Baal, while Fem van Empel also maintained her strong start to the campaign by taking victory in the women’s race.
Van der Poel arrived on the back of a run of seven consecutive wins, and his position was never threatened as he crossed the finish line in a time of 57:24.
Wout van Aert had high hopes of challenging his big rival on a tough course that was expected to suit, but he was dropped on the second lap.
Van der Poel and Van Aert opened up a gap on the rest of the field early on the opening lap, with Pim Ronhaar the only rider able to keep tabs on the big two.
Dutchman Van der Poel did not give his rival too much leeway, and he seized on a small error from Van Aert on a muddy section to re-take the lead.
The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider worked a lead of a few bike lengths on the second lap, and – sensing a chance – he opened up a 10-second advantage at the end of the lap.
Van Aert lost a chunk of time at the start of the third lap, and was passed for second by Ronhaar as Van der Poel powered on.
By the time he crossed the line for the third time, Van der Poel had extended his advantage to 48 seconds over Van Aert and Ronhaar.
Van Aert kept working away and moved into second place on his own at the end of lap four, but over a minute down on an imperious Van der Poel.
There was no repeat on this occasion though, as Van der Poel crossed the winning line 1:55 ahead of Van Aert.
Ronhaar rounded out the podium in third.
In the women’s race, Van Empel got the better of a titanic tussle with Lucinda Brand.
Van Empel victorious in first race of 2024 as she fends off Brand to win in Baal
Brand appeared to have the world champion’s measure for much of the race, but Van Empel made a decisive move on the final lap and powered away to give Visma-Lease a Bike victory on the first day of the team’s rebrand.
The 18-year-old Canadian Ava Holmgren rounded out the podium, over three minutes down on Van Empel’s winning time of 47:12.
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