Van Aert mows down Van der Poel in head-to-head battle at Zilvermeercross

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Pidcock secures final spot on podium under the lights at Exact Cross Mol

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Belgian Wout Van Aert pictured in action during the mens elite race of the Zilvermeer Mol cyclocross cycling event race 58 in the Exact Cross competition Friday 23 December 2022 in MolBELGA PHOTO JASPER JACOBS Photo by JASPER JACOBS BELGA MAG Belga via AFP Photo by JASPER JACOBSBELGA MAGAFP via Getty Images
Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) smashes competitors on final two laps to win ZilvermeerCross in Mol on Friday night(Image credit: JASPER JACOBSBELGA / MAGAFP via Getty Images)

Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) conquered a wet and sandy course in Mol to win Zilvermeercross on Friday evening. He saved his fastest lap times for the final two circuits to outdistance Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) by 56 seconds. 

It was another classic battle between Van Aert and Van der Poel in a head-to-head battle, with the Jumbo-Visma rider returning to the fray after a road camp. Van Aert, in just his third ‘cross start, had scored the World Cup win in Dublin two weeks ago while Van der Poel made his fifth start, including a pair of World Cup wins. 

"I didn't expect to win here," Van Aert said afterwards. "Maybe that makes this victory all the more sweet. 

"The first part was mostly about probing and identifying good and bad lines. The second part went a lot better, and I created a gap. I can only be satisfied with today. 

"It's a good start to a hectic period. As a young child, I rode championships here. It's a beautiful course in my home region. I have a lot of great memories here. That makes this win even more brilliant."

The men’s field was strung out after the first of nine laps, the favourites at the front on a mild day with rain falling in Mol for evening races. Two circuits later, attrition led to five riders stealing the show. Van Aert took a fall in the sand before the third lap was completed, but did not lose sight of Van der Poel, Hermans close behind. Then Pidcock and Sweeck had to dismount and run in the same section, losing ground. 

With three laps to go, Van Aert and Van der Poel created separation with Hermans and the two matched efforts. But with two to go, Van Aert gained his advantage in the sand.

It was the fourth time Van Aert found the top step of the podium at Zilvermeercross, winning last time out in the 2020-2021 season. That outing he took victory in the sand and snow in a battle against Laurens Sweeck, as Van der Poel and other big name riders were absent in the race, held in early January. Zilvermeercross was not held last season.

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Jackie Tyson
Jackie Tyson
North American Production editor

Jackie has been involved in professional sports for more than 30 years in news reporting, sports marketing and public relations. She founded Peloton Sports in 1998, a sports marketing and public relations agency, which managed projects for Tour de Georgia, Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah and USA Cycling. She also founded Bike Alpharetta Inc, a Georgia non-profit to promote safe cycling. She is proud to have worked in professional baseball for six years - from selling advertising to pulling the tarp for several minor league teams. She has climbed l'Alpe d'Huez three times (not fast). Her favorite road and gravel rides are around horse farms in north Georgia (USA) and around lavender fields in Provence (France), and some mtb rides in Park City, Utah (USA).

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