Van der Poel falls flat in world championship defence

Mathieu van der Poel went into the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championship to defend his title as the hot favourite, having won the last four World Cup rounds in a row, but after a mishap-filled race in Zolder the Dutch rider missed the podium, finishing fifth. His rival Wout Van Aert (Belgium) won the rainbow jersey with an impressive effort, having had to chase back to the front after tangling with Van der Poel halfway into the race.