Cyclo-cross World Champion Wout Van Aert began the season well, with two World Cup victories and holds a comfortable margin in that series, but back-to-back defeats by a surging Mathieu van der Poel this weekend would have any champion worried.
Van Aert says he is not panicking. He still holds a strong margin in the DVV Verzekeringen Trofee thanks to last month's commanding performance in Oudenaarde's Koppenbergcross, the World Cup, and the UCI overall rankings.
"Mathieu is currently just better," Van Aert said, "but I can also see a few percent [to improve]. I'm not panicking, I've also had many victories over him."
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In Saturday's World Cup in Zeven, Germany, Van Aert went on the offensive early in the race as Van der Poel struggled with a broken spoke from the first sand section. The Dutch champion had to chase back almost half a minute before catching and dropping his Belgian rival.
"I managed to put him in trouble for half the race," Van Aert said. "Once he moved into the lead I realized after three corners what would happen. It was as if he rode on other tires. I was unable to follow him. He was the strongest."
Van der Poel soloed away to the win in Zeven by 21 seconds. On Sunday in Hamme at the Flandriencross, there was no stopping the Dutchman. Despite a hard, fast course, Van der Poel got away on the second lap and Van Aert could not catch him, even with help from his compatriot Laurens Sweeck.
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