Van Aert fights to the end to win the Superprestige of Heusden-Zolder

Van Aert takes the victory in the Superprestige of Heusden-Zolder. The race was open until the end and the Belgian had to give his all to raise his arms to the sky of the Flemish town. Van Aert and Iserbyt battled for the win until the Jumbo rider stepped up a gear at the end of the last lap and dashed the hopes of his compatriot.

Van Aert wins the Superprestige of Heusden-Zolder after defeating a great Iserbyt

The race started with the absence of Felipe Orts due to a "technical decision", as the Spanish rider himself reported yesterday. Van Aert lost some positions at the start, but managed to place himself seventh when he first stepped on the sand of Heusden-Zolder. Nieuwenhuis took the lead of the race and set a pace that stretched and selected the group.

Interestingly, it should be noted that Van Aert chose for today the Áspero gravel model, instead of the R5-CX cyclocross.

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The first lap allowed a first filter and ended with six outstanding riders: Nieuewnhuis, Del Grosso, Iserbyt, Vandeputte, Van Aert and Khun.

However, the difference with the army of bikes coming from behind disappeared when crossing the finish line. Several riders regrouped at the front and transformed the select leading group into a compact peloton, revealing that the speed of those in front was still moderate.

The kilometers passed and the riders reached the halfway point of the race when Del Grosso pushed the pace and managed to open a gap with his until then companions at the front of the race, which had been reduced to six units again. Van Aert followed tucked behind Iserbyt, who took charge of catching up with Del Grosso.

Doubts about Van Aert were growing. The Belgian maintained a secondary role and, although he pedaled smoothly without showing signs of weakness, he had not taken the initiative or tried his luck with an attack that, at that stage of the game, was already in many pools.

Wyseure joined the group of outstanding riders. After a moment when it seemed that Van Aert, Del Grosso and Wyseure himself were losing time, reality imposed itself again when the three regained the wake of the train piloted by Iserbyt.

Van Aert moved up positions and placed himself behind Iserbyt as a clear threat. The Jumbo-Visma rider dispelled any doubts when he overtook Iserbyt and took the lead of the race for the first time.

The leadership of Van Aert did not translate into a huge gallop; the pace hardened but everyone kept their chances. After the brief experience leading the race, he handed over to Nieuwenhuis and Iserbyt.

The Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal rider squeezed his quadriceps and forced the divorce of some of the until then present.

And now yes. Van Aert took the baton again and unleashed a change of pace that no one could answer. Only Iserbyt could fill himself with hope again before a small mistake by Van Aert. The mistake allowed him to cut back some of the lost time and the climb proved successful when Iserbyt sprinted and caught his compatriot.

Van Aert and Iserbyt shared the spotlight from then on. The leadership fell on Van Aert's legs most of the time, while Iserbyt resisted bravely behind. If Van Aert was able to open a small gap in the most winding part, Iserbyt recovered ground on the straights and on the passage through the planks.

Last lap. The two Belgians continued to reign in Heusden-Zolder, although in the end the crown was going to crown. Iserbyt tried and forced Van Aert to respond. The balance remained in balance until Van Aert took advantage of a straight -in the final stretch of the lap- to open a gap. Iserbyt resisted but the hole was enough for him not to be able to climb it anymore.

Van Aert reached the finish line and raised his arms to win the Superprestige of Heusden-Zolder. The Belgian finds victory again after stringing together three second places and will take a break before facing the World Cup in Hulst this Saturday.

Iserbyt completed a fantastic performance in which he put a titan like Van Aert against the ropes. The epic resisted a good part of the race, although in the end he had to settle for the second position. For his part, Nieuwenhuis showed his great form again with the third position.

Elite Men's Results - Heusden-Zolder Superprestige 

1. Wout Van Aert 57'05"
2. Eli Iserbyt +8’’
3. Joris Nieuwenhuis +34"
4. Niels Vandeputte +38"
5. Tibor Del Grosso +44"
6. Joran Wyseure +46"
7. Ward Huybs +1'01"
8. Kevin Kuhn +1'05"
9. Thijs Aerts +1'06"
10. Aaron Dockx +1'06"