Wout van Aert (Jumbo Visma) has won his latest head-to-head battle with great rival Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) at Telenet Superprestige in Heusden-Zolder today. World champion Tim Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) was well out-classed by the big two and spent the race trying to win 3rd place, which he lost to Lars van der Haar (Baloise Trek Lions).
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While fans were treated to a great race-long fight between Van Aert and Van der Poel, after they powered clear of the opposition very early in the contest, the big finale was ruined by a double mishap for Van der Poel. First, as he was trying to get away from Van Aert on the incline on the final lap, he briefly lost his balance and fell.
And in the final sprint to the line, Van Aert hit out at the front with Van der Poel tucked in behind him only for Van der Poel to pull his foot out of the pedal and derail his sprint. In the end he was lucky to stay upright and had to watch Van Aert ahead of him celebrating victory. Van der Poel rolled over the line just behind him in 2nd place.
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Behind the winner and runner-up, Dutch champion van der Haar beat Pidcock for 3rd place, after those two finished together. Pidcock made a big effort on the sixth lap, of nine. to pull clear of the group he was racing around within. However, while his efforts initially succeeded, van de Haar and European champion Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) came back at him.
And while Vanthourenhout was distanced in the finale of the race, Van der Haar had too much in the tank for Pidcock, taking the last place on the podium and relegating Pidcock to 4th.
More to follow.
