Van der Poel also wins the Diegem Superprestige

Van der Poel takes the victory in the Diegem Superprestige. The Dutchman patiently waited for his moment, launched an attack in the sand that no one was able to answer and the gap with those behind him kept getting bigger. Pidcock and Iserbyt maintained a pulse that fell on the side of the Briton after a risky maneuver at the end of the race.

 

Van der Poel wins in the Diegem Superprestige with another dose of superiority

The night race in Diegem started with a more toned Pidcock than on other occasions. The Briton avoided mistakes at the start, established himself from the beginning within the first group and Van der Poel positioned himself behind him. The Dutchman showed power by being the only leading rider who covered the sand area without dismounting, which allowed him to advance some positions.

Vanthourenhout moved to the front, Iserbyt revealed him and Vanthourenhout took the helm again. The European champion maintained the government with hegemony; at times it seemed that the group was stretching and losing units, although moments later it added members.

After several lower-profile movements, Pidcock was the first to try his luck. The Rider took the lead and forced a redoubling of efforts. The change of pace reduced the leading group to Pidcock, Vanthourenhoput, Iserbyt, Van der Poel and Nys. Despite the hole they had opened on the mud, the asphalt gave the opportunity for stragglers to rejoin their wheels.

Vanthourenhout took the first position and again assumed the responsibility of leadership. The Belgian's good passage through the sand prevented Van der Poel from overtaking him, while Pidcock suffered more than necessary and lost several seconds with the group.

The race progressed without major changes. Van der Poel remained in the background and, when superiority put him ahead, he opened up to leave the baton to whoever wanted to pick it up. Shortly after Pidcock returned to the lead.

The sand came again and so did Van der Poel's attack. The rainbow opened gas with a move that left the rest of the group members without a response at that moment. Vanthourenhout again completed a great passage through the sand, although it was not enough to keep the Dutchman's wake.

The planks spurred on a Van der Poel who had turned on the watt machine. The gap kept getting bigger and, despite Vanthourenhout's attempts to maintain visual contact, he soon lost sight of it.

The distance was eight seconds at the finish line. Pidcock, Iserbyt and Vanthourenhout allied themselves as good survivors and faced the hunt for the Orange Beast.

Vanthourenhout got off the boat shortly after starting the lap and Pidcock and Iserbyt were left alone in the hard task of recovering the lost time to a Van der Poel who by then was already unleashed. The Dutchman continued to pull hard in search of a quiet end to the race.

Iserbyt dropped Pidcock, although the Briton pulled out all the stops to reduce the distance and reconnect with the Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal rider's wheel.

The fight for second place was developing with increasing tension. The equality between the contenders for the second podium spot hardened the battle. Despite the apparent intensity of the exercise, Van der Poel continued to add meters of advantage until reaching a lead of 38 seconds at the penultimate lap.

The pulse between Iserbyt and Pidcock continued and both began to understand that the conflict could only be resolved in the last lap. The balance remained unchanged until the sand: Pidcock gave up time again and before Iserbyt's good step. The Belgian opened a gap and the Rider only had to pedal hard in an area without difficulties to return to the fight for the second place.

Pidcock's insistence found reward just in the last two curves. The Briton took risks to connect with Iserbyt, went out of the slipstream with the bike crossed and won the position on the inside of the braking. The maneuver on the edge of the crash worked out well and he held the position.

Van der Poel rode carefree towards the finish line and raised his arms to certify a new victory in the Diegem Superprestige. Five wins in five races this season.

Pidcock resisted and crossed in second position, while Iserbyt took the third and the general of the competition.

Results Elite Men's - Diegem Superprestige

1. Mathieu Van der Poel 55'27"
2. Thomas Pidcock +49"
3. Eli Iserbyt +53’’
4. Michael Vanthourenhout +58"
5. Joris Nieuwenhuis +1'
6. Quinten Hermans +1'26"
7. Emiel Vestrynge +1'40"
8. Lander Loockx +1'43"
9. Ward Huybs +1'44"
10. Michael Boros +1'45"