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Mathieu van der Poel (Corendon Circus) entered Sunday’s Superprestige Hoogstraten with a one-point series deficit to World Champ Wout van Aert (Creland Charles), and for the first few laps, looked to be still feeling the effects of a tough Worlds, post-Worlds illness, or yesterday’s winning effort in Lille.

The European Champion had an uncharacteristic slow start, and for much of the first lap sat outside of the top ten while Michael Vanthourenhout (Marlux Blingoal) and Toon Aerts (Telenet Fidea) took their turns at the front.

Wout van Aert looked motivated to keep his Superprestige series lead, and hit the front while Van der Poel was content to sit in the top five with his brother David patrolling the attacks at the front.

For a brief period, the Worlds top three were riding at the front with a gap, but that lead group was short-lived.

Finally, on critical heavy mud section, Van der Poel pushed past everyone, while Van Aert struggled, and suddenly, it was go time.

Van der Poel surged, while his brother sat on Van Aert’s wheel and watched the new series leader ride away with more than half the race remaining.

Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert got off to a fast start. 2017 Superprestige Gavere. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Mathieu van der Poel took the Superprestige series lead from Wout van Aert in Hoogstraten. photo: 2017 Superprestige Gavere. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Behind Van der Poel, the chasers regrouped once again, with an eight-man group content to ride together until the final lap.

Sweeck put in a dig on the final lap by the pits in hopes of avoiding another sprint with Tim Merlier (Crelan Charles) and the other chasers.

It worked. Sweeck finished second, with David van der Poel sprinting for third and joining his brother on the podium and making it a Circus sweep.

Van Aert rolled in for sixth.

Six North Americans took the start, all but Michael van den Ham (Garneau Easton p/b Transitions Life Care) finishing three laps down. Van den Ham finished two laps down in 33rd, Tobin Ortenblad (Santa Cruz – Donkey Label) finished in 35th, Kerry Werner (Kona) in 37th, Eric Thompson in 38th (MSpeedwax.com), Mark McConnell (Hot Sauce Cycling) in 41st, and Tyler Cloutier (Renewed Cyclocross) in 42nd.

Full results below.

2018 Superprestige Hoogstraten Results - Elite Men

RankBIBLast NameFirst NameCountryTeamGenderAgeResult
12VAN DER POELMathieuNEDCORENDON - CIRCUSM230:59:33
24SWEECKLaurensBELERA-CIRCUSM250:59:55
315VAN DER POELDavidNEDCORENDON - CIRCUSM261:00:03
46VANTHOURENHOUTMichaelBELMARLUX - BINGOALM251:00:03
510MERLIERTimBELCRELAN - CHARLESM261:00:05
61VAN AERTWoutBELCRELAN - CHARLESM241:00:09
77AERTSToonBELTELENET FIDEA LIONSM251:00:12
812VERMEERSCHGianniBELSTEYLAERTS - BETFIRSTM261:00:14
95MEEUSENTomBELCORENDON - CIRCUSM301:00:20
1026BOSMANSWietseBELERA-CIRCUSM271:00:37
118VAN DER HAARLarsNEDTELENET FIDEA LIONSM271:01:21
1214ADAMSJensBELPAUWELS SAUZEN - VASTGOEDSERVICEM261:01:28
1311HERMANSQuintenBELTELENET FIDEA LIONSM231:01:34
1421CLEPPENicolasBELTELENET FIDEA LIONSM231:01:34
1531VAN KESSELCorneNEDTELENET FIDEA LIONSM271:01:44
163PAUWELSKevinBELMARLUX - BINGOALM341:01:54
1718VANTHOURENHOUTDieterBELMARLUX - BINGOALM331:02:01
1838AERNOUTSJimBELTELENET FIDEA LIONSM291:02:08
1916BERTOLINIGioeleITAM231:02:32
2025SOETEDaanBELTELENET FIDEA LIONSM241:02:42
2127ORTS LLORETFelipeESPGINESTAR - DELIKIAM231:02:52
2213BOROŠMichaelCZEPAUWELS SAUZEN - VASTGOEDSERVICEM261:03:01
2323BAESTAENSVincentBELM291:03:07
2424ADAMSJoeriBELM291:03:09
2541MEISENMarcelGERSTEYLAERTS - BETFIRSTM291:03:37
2654PEETERSRobBELPAUWELS SAUZEN - VASTGOEDSERVICEM331:03:46
2748RUIZ DE LARRINAGA IBAÑEZJavierESPM391:04:23
2842MERLIERBraamBELSTEYLAERTS - BETFIRSTM241:04:29
2930VAN COMPERNOLLEKennethBELTARTELETTO - ISOREXM301:04:57
3035ESTEBAN AGUEROIsmaelESPGINESTAR - DELIKIAM35-1 LAP
3132VAN LEEUWENPatrickNEDM33-1 LAP
3220GODRIEStanNEDCRELAN - CHARLESM25-2 LAPS
3340VAN DEN HAMMichaelCANGARNEAU-EASTON p/b TRANSITIONS LIFECAREM26-2 LAPS
3429VAN AMERONGENThijsNEDM32-3 LAPS
3546ORTENBLADTobinUSAM24-3 LAPS
3639GYSJensBELM29-3 LAPS
3744WERNERKerryUSAM27-3 LAPS
3852THOMPSONEricUSAM29-3 LAPS
3928DEGROOTEJonasBELM23-4 LAPS
4037KOYENNielsBELM27-4 LAPS
4145MCCONNELLMarkCANM30-5 LAPS
4249CLOUTIERTylerUSAM29-5 LAPS
4350OGERVincentBELM24-6 LAPS
36SWEECKDietherBELM25DNF
43PRUVOTNicolasFRAM23DNF