Van der Poel wins the first battle against Van Aert in Loenhout

The most anticipated duel of each winter had to wait until December 27. The reunion at the Exact Cross in Loenhout between the two best specialists on the circuit, the Dutch Mathieu van der Poel and the Belgian Wout van Aert, was resolved with the predictable triumph of the world champion in the return to competition of the Visma | Lease a Bike man, who nevertheless showed a very good level after more than three months without taking part in a race.

Mathieu van der Poel extended his winning streak at the Exact Cross in Loenhout

Unlike this past Thursday in Gavere, Van der Poel did not take long to launch his attack and break the head of the group of favorites into a thousand pieces, where, in addition to Van Aert, there were names like Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon), Thibau Nys (Baloise Trek Lions), Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) or Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin-Deceuninck). Despite small differences, the rainbow jersey was already ahead of the rest of the rivals in the first pass through the finish line.

However, Sweeck, again very accurate and with a lot of finesse in the different technical sections, managed not to lose sight of Van der Poel and ride less than 5" during the next two laps, even managing to get on his wheel before completing the third lap. However, every time the circuit demanded a little more physically, Van der Poel would open up distance again over his rival most determined this Friday.

FOUR WINS IN A ROW

Mathieu van der Poel makes it four in a row as Wout van Aert finishes fourth on his return to racing at Exact Cross Loenhout pic.twitter.com/Coj4uOYnzd

— Eurosport (@eurosport) December 27, 2024

The rope broke halfway through the race

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Persistent in his effort, Van der Poel broke Sweeck's resistance right in the middle of the Azencross. The winner in Essen within this Exact Cross could not keep up with the pace of the number 1 bib, who despite an untimely fall in the sixth lap, near the pit lane, had no problems securing his fourth victory of the season in as many races.

A little further back, Wout van Aert and Thibau Nys were engaged in an entertaining battle for the podium. The pulse of the European champion, from less to more in Loenhout, seemed to make a struggling Van Aert suffer from a lack of competition rhythm but who, as usual, pulled from the heart and determination to stick to the wheel of a Nys who even caught up to Sweeck near the bell lap.

A fall left Van Aert without a podium

The three Belgians offered a magnificent spectacle in the final lap, with many alternatives and changes at the front trying to avoid the sprint for second place. However, near the end, a fall at the entrance of a fast right-hand corner stripped Van Aert of his chances of climbing onto the podium, seeing himself relegated to fourth place. Despite Sweeck's attempts, Nys imposed his speed to finish second.

The paths of Van der Poel and Van Aert will not cross again until next year, as they will not coincide until the Dendermonde World Cup on January 5. Before that, the world champion will participate this Sunday the 29th in Besançon, also in the World Cup; in the GP Sven Nys on New Year's Day and in the Vlaamse Duinencross in Koksijde on January 3. On the other hand, Van Aert will not race again until the Gullegem Superprestige on the 4th.

Exact Cross in Loenhout Classification

1st Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 58'11
2nd Thibau Nys (Baloise Trek Lions) at 14"
3rd Laurens Sweeck (Crelan-Corendon) at 15"
4th Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike) at 36"
5th Niels Vandeputte (Alpecin-Deceuninck) at 1'09"
6th Jens Adams (Athletes for Hope) at 1'15"
7th Thomas Mein (Hope Factory Racing) at 1'27"
8th Lander Loockx (TDT-Unibet Cycling Team) at 1'34"
9th Tim Merlier (Soudal-Quick Step) at 1'54"
10th Thijs Aerts (Charles Liégeois Roastery) at 2'04"

Marion Norbert Riberolle leads Crelan's double in the Azencross

The Crelan-Corendon team enjoyed an almost perfect day in the women's category thanks to the double by the Belgians Marion Norbert Riberolle and Sanne Cant. The first, signing a very solid and consistent campaign with many top ten finishes, got rid of her teammate in the final stretch of the race to achieve her best success of the season. The young British rider Imogen Wolff (Visma | Lease a Bike) completed the podium with a valuable third place in Loenhout.

Exact Cross in Loenhout Classification

1st Marion Norbert Riberolle (Crelan-Corendon) 48'49"
2nd Sanne Cant (Crelan-Corendon) at 23"
3rd Imogen Wolff (Visma | Lease a Bike) at 50"
4th Larissa Hartog (WV Schijndel) at 52"
5th Julie Brouwers (Charles Liégeois Roastery) at 53"
6th Anna Kay (Proximus-Cyclis) at 57"
7th Jamie de Beer (Heizomat Radteam) at 1'01"
8th Lauren Molengraaf (Charles Liégeois Roastery) at 1'07"
9th Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck) at 1'17"
10th Marthe Truyen (Fenix-Deceuninck) at 1'51"