Van der Poel survives misfortune to win the Huslt CX World Cup

Van der Poel takes the victory in the Hulst CX World Cup. The first lap dashed the hopes of Pidcock and Van Aert, who were involved in comebacks that bordered on the epic in the case of the Belgian. The rainbow was left alone and galloped wildly to build a lead that would allow him to face the end of the race with ease.

Van der Poel is left without rivals and wins the Hulst CX World Cup

The race began with an incident that claimed the chances of Pidcock. The also British Cameron Mason -who also caused yesterday's collision at the Exact Cross in Loenhout- knocked down the first domino of the domino effect that caused several falls in the middle of the table.

Pidcock was the worst off and once again showed his usual bad luck at the starts: broken lever and completely unhinged rear derailleur. The Rider feigned to abandon but in a burst of honor started to run to look for the assistance area and change his bike.

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The front runners escaped the misfortunes of the first turns. Iserbyt took the lead, followed by Kamp, Sweeck, Del Grosso and company. Van der Poel positioned himself with the first ones, although several stumbles delayed him in front of Van Aert, who was lurking around the eleventh position.

The script still hid more surprises in the first lap: Van Aert fell and an untimely chain drop sunk his chances of victory. The Belgian lost 36 seconds with the incident and fell to the 27th position.

Felipe Orts was another victim of the Dutch track, although the Spanish champion was able to continue without losing too much time.

Ahead, the leading group was formed by Del Grosso, Van der Haar, Van der Poel and Ronhaar. The race vanguard began to put distance between them and their pursuers, while Van Aert entrusted himself to the impossible and Pidcock tried to overtake the hundred riders who had preceded him.

The rainbow shone for the first time when the sun peeked through the clouds of Hulst: Van der Poel took the lead with a change of pace that stretched the leading group. The Orange Beast, tired of holding back its legs, revved up the pedals and opened a gap of a few meters.

The pursuers entered the next phase of the race: without Van der Poel in the group, the fight was now between them. Ronhaar and Van der Haar stood out as the biggest and both got involved in what promised to be a battle of attrition.

For his part, Van Aert lost another minute on the lap -due to a problem with the bike, which he changed as he passed through the assistance- and Pidcock was 53rd in his desperate need to climb positions.

The ride of Van der Poel seemed to have no end and, despite stepping down in intensity, he continued to set faster times than his immediate pursuers. Ronhaar took the lead in the pulse he was keeping with Van der Haar, although the passing of the kilometers brought the two Dutchmen back together and added Nieuwenhuis as a new member of the formation.

Van der Poel combined the relentless force of his quadriceps with the impeccable technique of his riding. Despite the inevitable corrections that the Hulst circuit pushes the riders to, the Dutchman solved any situation with ease.

Behind, Van Aert kept the bet at the highest range. The misfortune did not dampen the morale of the Belgian, who chained several laps at a brutal pace with which he climbed to the eighth position. He was the fastest rider at the moment and could dream of the fifth position.

Ronhaar, Van der Haar and Nieuwenhuis continued to fight the battle for second place. The race advanced relentlessly and the intensity rose in the final stretch of the race. Nieuwenhuis launched forward and his companions fell behind. The Baloise Trek Lions rider held his own and secured a place on the podium.

Van der Poel rode without worries during the last lap and crossed the finish line calmly to win the Hulst CX World Cup. Seventh victory in seven races for him this season. Nieuwenhuis and Van der Haar -who close the gap in the overall standings after Iserbyt's withdrawal- accompanied him on the podium.

The victory of Van der Poel was marked by an ugly gesture from the Dutchman, who succumbed to the provocations of some spectators who heckled him and threw several objects, directing a spit at that part of the public.

On his side, Van Aert completed an exercise of honor and self-esteem and, in the face of a race that was uphill from the start, pedaled like the best in an impressive comeback that lifted him to fifth position. The Belgian missed the podium but gave a great performance to the fans.

Pidcock finished 25th, 3 minutes and 44 seconds behind.