In what must’ve been the most entertaining cyclo-cross race of the season Wout Van Aert (Belgium) fought back from mid-race mishap to capture the rainbow jersey on home soil in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium. Van Aert was able to shake off Lars van der Haar (Netherlands) at the final climb and finish solo on the former F1 car racing circuit in front of thousands of fans. Defending World champion Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands) sat up just before the finish while riding in third place and he was passed by Kevin Pauwels (Belgium) and veteran Sven Nys (Belgium). Nys rode his final World championships race.
It was an emotional winner who topped the podium and listened to the Brabançonne, flanked by Van der Haar and Pauwels. It’s the first World title in the elite men category for 21 year-old Van Aert.
“Nothing compares to this feeling. Last year’s defeat is forgotten now,” Van Aert said in the post-race interview with Sporza.
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The top favourites were on show straight from the start with Van der Poel, Van Aert and Van der Haar blasting away from the rest of the field in the opening lap. Radomir Simunek (Czech Republic) was the first chaser at more than ten seconds. Outsider Kevin Pauwels (Belgium) was twenty seconds down on the three leaders but, out numbered, Van Aert went to the front and slowed up so that several more riders were able to bridge back up. Halfway through the eight-lap race there were ten riders in contention for the rainbow jersey.
That’s when an incident with the top favourites blew the race apart. Van der Haar led towards the difficult off-camber section when Van der Poel moved in front of Van Aert. But the defending champion failed to get up the first uphill corner and hopped off his bike, stepping into the front wheel of Van Aert. It took some time before the duo got going again. Meanwhile Van der Haar accelerated away in front, leaving Pauwels, Nys and the others behind. Van der Haar was in for a long solo ride with the Belgian fans showing their worst side, throwing beer cups at the Dutch rider.
“Beer? Yes and spit. That’s no fun because you don’t want to head home with hepatitis B. I had cups thrown at me all over the place. There was so much booing that I realized they were afraid,” Van der Haar said, smiling.
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