Van der Poel wins with absolute dominance the 2023 CX Gavere World Cup

Mathieu van der Poel meets expectations and wins again with absolute dominance and against the best Van Aert of the season at the 2023 Gavere CX World Cup. In the women's race, Puck Pieterse wins and ends Van Empel's dominance.

Van der Poel proclaims himself Supreme Leader in Gavere, Van Aert shows his best version and Pidcock stars in another epic comeback

The race started without falls and soon all the favorites were at the front of the test in Gavere. All but a Tom Pidcock who was again showing signs of weakness at the start.

Those who did not fail were Van Aert and Van der Poel. The world champion stayed behind the first 5 during the initial half lap, but it was after a timid attack by Van Aert when Van der Poel changed the pace and went first and alone before the first lap ended.

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And although Van der Poel's power seemed the same as in previous races, Van Aert's attitude and pace seemed much more combative to the delight of all fans.

The second lap started and behind the duel between Van Aert and Van der Poel, it was Joris Nieuwenhuis and Lars van der Haar who were fighting for the last step of the podium. For his part, Tom Pidcock was again starting his particular comeback while recovering pace and positions from position 8.

The victory was going to be for the first to complete the 7 laps, and with 4 to go Van der Poel was showing himself as unreachable as in previous races. His advantage with the second, Van Aert, was already half a minute and the bad news for the Jumbo-Visma did not end there. The Balois Trek Lions cyclists, Nieuwenhuis and Van der Haar, were increasingly stalking him.

Van der Poel's face reflected total concentration even though his advantage only increased with each lap. But the excitement of the race was behind with 2 laps to go.

Van Aert's effort in Gavere was irreproachable. His face of suffering on the bike was paying off and despite managing to secure the second place, with one lap to go his most direct threat seemed to be now in Tom Pidcock, who once again was making an epic second half of the race and had managed to climb to the fourth position.

Ahead of Pidcock and in the last virtual position of the podium was Nieuwenhuis, who was signing his best position in this race to date.

The last lap bell rang in Gavere with Van der Poel already thinking about a new victory while Tom Pidcock continued to offer the spectacle of the day. The British rider was fighting hand in hand with Nieuwenhuis for the third place until the end.

The solo arrival at the finish line of Mathieu van der Poel as the winner of the 2023 Gavere CX World Cup only confirmed that his current form is still far above his rivals. Van Aert arrived second after fighting against himself all race and showing his best version.

The excitement for the third place remained until the end, but Pidcock fulfilled and beat Nieuwenhuis in the last straight.

Results Elite Men's CX World Cup Gavere 2023

1. VAN DER POEL Mathieu (ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK) 
2. VAN AERT Wout (JUMBO-VISMA) +36
3. PIDCOCK Thomas (INEOS GRENADIERS) +58
4. NIEUWENHUIS Joris (BALOISE TREK LIONS) +1:07
5. VAN DER HAAR Lars (BALOISE TREK LIONS) +1:36
6. ISERBYT Eli (PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL) +2:27
7. VANTHOURENHOUT Michael (PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL)+2:31
8. RONHAAR Pim (BALOISE TREK LIONS) +2:37
9. VERSTRYNGE Emiel (CRELAN-CORENDON) +3:05
10. MASON Cameron (CYCLOCROSS REDS)

Puck Pieterse wins and ends Fem van Empel's dominance

In the women's race, the Dutchwoman Puck Pieterse took care of ending most of the pre-race bets.

In the tenth round of the 2023-2024 UCI CX World Cup in Gavere, Belgium, Puck Pieterse achieved her first victory of the season, ending Fem van Empel's unbeaten streak. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado closed the podium and managed to stay leader of the overall classification.

Results Elite Women's CX World Cup Gavere 2023

1. PIETERSE Puck (FENIX-DECEUNINCK) 55:09
2. VAN EMPEL Fem (TEAM JUMBO-VISMA) +28
3. ALVARADO Ceylin del Carmen (ALPECIN-DECEUNINCK) +47
4. BRAND Lucinda (BALOISE TREK LIONS) +1:38
5. VAS Kata Blanka (TEAM SD WORX) +2:18
6. BACKSTEDT Zoe (CANYON//SRAM RACING) +3:07
7. CASASOLA Sara (FAS AIRPORT SERVICES - GUERCIOTTI) +3:23
8. VAN DER HEIJDEN Inge (CRELAN-CORENDON)+3:35
9. BETSEMA Denise (PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL) +3:44
10. BAKKER Manon (CRELAN-CORENDON) +3:49