Mathieu van der Poel starts the year winning unopposed in Baal

The classic GP Sven Nys, a traditional event every January, part of the X2O circuit, ends with a new exhibition by Mathieu van der Poel who is on his way to a perfect season. In the women's category, a nice duel between Fem van Empel and Lucinda Brand fell on the side of the former, thus being the first victory for Visma-Lease a Bike under this new name.

Van der Poel and Van Empel win the GP Sven Nys

The year starts and already, from the first day, the competition does not stop with a classic every January 1st like the GP Sven Nys which takes place in the Belgian town of Baal where the cyclocross legend has a cycling center that integrates this circuit.

Mathieu van der Poel went to one of the meccas of cyclocross with the doubt of how the controversy of spitting at some Belgian fans a few days ago would affect him and if the atmosphere would be hostile for him. However, being a race integrated within the X2O circuit, it has a more knowledgeable audience than the one present at the World Cup and at all times received the support of Belgian fans.

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A race marked by the tremendous mud with several walking areas and very delicate fast sections. But nothing, not even that put Mathieu van der Poel in trouble who is on his way to complete a perfect season.

The race started with Van der Poel tensing from the get-go and only Wout van Aert being able to hold on to his wheel although, halfway through the first lap, Pim Ronhaar also managed to reach the duo. On the other hand, Tom Pidcock started late and had to deal with the extra difficulty of having to recover in the mud although he also managed to reach what could be classified as the main chasing group although the British rider found the race heavy and would not finish in the Top10.

Meanwhile, up front, Mathieu van der Poel bided his time just enough to, halfway through the second lap, start the engine again at a time when Van Aert was a bit stuck to put some distance and repeat the movie we've been seeing race after race in this 2023/24 season.

Although Wout van Aert did not give up at any time and in each image it was clear that he was giving everything, it seemed as if Mathieu had something to prove in today's race so the difference at the finish line was practically up to 2 minutes after his tremendous exhibition. For his part, Wout again showed resignation in the interviews after the race admitting that right now the Dutchman's level is unreachable for him.

Completing the podium was Pim Ronhaar who at times tried to put Van Aert in check although, in the end, the quality on the CX bike of the Visma-Lease a Bike rider was too much for him despite feeling like a fish in water on a circuit of these characteristics.

Dutch duel

Much more attractive was the women's race although, from the first meters, it was clear that it was going to be a two-horse race as Fem Van Empel and Lucina Brand quickly stood out from the rest of the riders, achieving an advantage, already from the first pass through the finish line, that exceeded one minute.

From there we would live a continuous back and forth with both riders letting go and recovering the advantage. Van Empel was favored by the wide sections of running with the bike on the shoulder while in the technical descents it was Lucinda Brand who led the way.

We would have to wait until the 4th and last lap for, halfway through it, Fem van Empel took advantage of a long walking section in which she managed to open a small gap that would be definitive and made her reach the finish line victorious, without pressure, after several races in which she had not shown the superiority of the beginning of the season. It is also true that in this Baal race neither Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado nor Puck Pietersee were present who have been the cyclists who have been challenging Van Empel.

Men's Classification

1. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 57’24’’
2. Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) +1’54’’
3. Pim Ronhaar (Baloise-Trek Lions) +2’44’’
4. Lars van der Haar (Baloise-Trek Lions) +2’44’’
5. Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) +3’47’’
6. Thibaut Nys (Baloise-Trek Lions) +3’49’’
7. Emiel Verstrynge (Crelan-Corenddon) +3’59’’
8. Cameron Mason (Cyclocross Reds) +4’02’’
9. Jens Adams +4’08’’
10. Joris Nieuwwenhuis (Baloise-Trek Lions) +4’16’’

Women's Classification

1. Fem van Empel (Visma-Lease a Bike) 47’12’’
2. Lucinda Brandd (Baloise-Trek Lions) +25’’
3. Ava Holmgren (Lidl-Trek) +3’15’’
4. Sanne Cant (Crelan-Coredon) +3’59’’
5. Clara Honsinger +4’13’’
6. Alessandra Keller +4’55’’
7. Denise Betsema (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal) +5’00’’
8. Anna Kay (Cyclocross Reds) +6’08’’
9. Issabella Holmgren (Lidl-Trek) +6’51’’
10. Rafaelle Carrier +7’34’’