CDM Zonhoven: Van der Poel impetuous, Van Aert steamroller

Zonhoven is a historic track: the Zonhoven Cyclocross, also known as the Zonhoven World Cup, takes place in the province of Limburg, Belgium. Run for the first time in the period 1958-1966, the event was organized again from 2005 until 2020 for eleven consecutive editions in the Superprestige calendar. In the 2020-2021 season, however, it was included for the first time in the World Cup calendar.

A RIDE ON THE TRACK

It takes place in De Kuil, the Zonhoven natural park, and is characterized by a track with a sandy bottom: lots and lots of sand that requires a lot of power but also technique. A very challenging test. At the start, in the men's race, Mathieu Van Der Poel and Wout Van Aert: all eyes are on them. Tom Pidcock, as mentioned in the past, closed the cyclo-cross season to prepare for the road and MTB events.

The race started with an initial forcing by Laurens Sweeck, who was immediately overtaken by Van Der Poel in the sandy section who wants to take the technical section ahead. It's a shame that a mistake causes him to crash and Van Aert takes advantage of it by immediately opening a slight gap. Van Der Poel returns, overtakes Van Aert and makes another mistake.

From here on out, and we're only on lap 3, Van Der Poel drops his pace and maybe loses his head: Van Aert attacks and immediately takes a big gap. Behind Vanthourenhout and Sweeck are the authors of an excellent race and are back on Van der Poel.

The final laps are a solo race by Wout Van Aert who releases impressive watts on the sand, and in the stretches on foot, and the pursuers can do nothing, who continue to lose ground until they reach a gap of one minute. Wout Van Aert makes an impression! While Van der Poel will report at the end of the race have suffered from back pain.

Behind Mathieu Van Der Poel he recovers and easily leaves Vanthourenhout and Sweeck in place, who will fight for the 3rd step of the podium until the end. Van Aert wins with a lead of 1'23” over Van der Poel. Sweeck closes the podium on Vanthourenhout, with Sweeck increasing the lead on Vanthourenhout in the overall World Cup.

That's no good. She's not doing the way I like. My back hurts again and it's a bit frustrating. The only thing I was thinking about in the race is my back hurting, and in cyclocross you have to be 100% focused on the course, and I haven't been able to. I can maybe do half a turn at the pace I want but then I have to slow down because of the pain, it's super frustrating – Mathieu Van der Poel

Gioele Bertolini (Selle Italia Guerciotti Elite), the only Italian in the race, finished in 30th place.

MEN'S ELITE RANKING

1	VAN AERT Wout	JUMBO VISMA	58:49
2	VAN DER POEL Mathieu	ALPECIN - DECEUNINCK	1:23
3	SWEECK Laurens	CRELAN - FRISTADS	1:31
4	VANTHOURENHOUT Michael	PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL	2:02
5	HERMANS Quinten	ALPECIN - DECEUNINCK	2:08
6	VAN DER HAIR Lars	BALOISE TREK LIONS	2:17
7	VANDEPUTTE Niels	ALPECIN - DECEUNINCK	2:37
8	ADAMS Jens		2:49
9	KUHN Kevin	TORMANS CYCLO CROSS TEAM	3:01
10	VAN KESSEL Corné	DESCHACHT - HENS - MAES	3:14

WOMEN RACE

Among the women, Dutch Shirin Van Anrooij dominates: too strong in the stretches of sand. No mistakes for her, impeccable in the technical traits and a lot of power in the raises. Puck Pieterse and Fem Van Empel could do nothing, the latter author of many mistakes in the sand sections.

First of the Italians Eva Lechner, who finished in 20th place.

FEMALE ELITE RANKING

1	VAN ANROOIJ Shirin	BALOISE TREK LIONS	51:44
2	PIETERSE Puck	ALPECIN - DECEUNINCK	0:37
3	VAN EMPEL Fem	JUMBO VISMA	0:54
4	BRAND Lucinda	BALOISE TREK LIONS	1:46
5	ALVARADO Ceylin Del Carmen	ALPECIN - DECEUNINCK	2:10
6	VAN DER HEIJDEN Eng	777	2:27
7	WORST Annemarie	777	2:41
8	VAS Blanka Kata		2:59
9	BURQUIER Line		3:35
10	VERDONSCHOT Laura		3:41

RANKING OTHER CATEGORIES

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