All eyes were on Mathieu van der Poel at the 2021 UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Dendermonde.
Deep puddles and heavy mud featured today. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
The heavy, muddy course marked the first race of the season for the reigning Cyclocross World Champ, who was returning from a November knee injury and a long road and mountain bike season. His season's highlights included stage wins and days in the yellow jersey at the 2021 Tour de France, but also were marked by the low of spectacularly crashing at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Mountain Bike race and hurting his back.
In Dendermonde, could Van der Poel overcome a third-row start, injuries and an undefeated rival in Wout van Aert?
It took just ten seconds to see that the Dutch star was certainly ready to give it a go, as he navigated his way through traffic to sprint into the top five by the first turn.
All eyes were on the return of Mathieu van der Poel, who rocketed from a third-row start to top five by the first turn. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
While Toon Aerts hit the front in hopes of showing that his chance of victory should not be discounted, Van der Poel was never far from the front, while Van Aert was stuck in traffic.
Wout van Aert did not have a fast start but made his way to the front when it mattered. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Pidcock, the third star of the multi-discipline "Big Three" was far back and never factored.
Toon Aerts took charge early. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Soon Van Aert joined the lead group, and after three laps, it was down to the three tall stars in Van Aert, Van der Poel and Aerts.
Aerts was first to fade after four laps, while Van Aert gapped Van der Poel only to see him repeatedly claw back.
Mathieu van der Poel returned to resume his rivalry with Wout van Aert. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Would we be treated to yet another duel for the ages?
Mathieu van der Poel returned to resume his rivalry with Wout van Aert. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Van Aert took advantage of a Van der Poel bike change to open the gap back up, and on Lap Five, it stretched to five seconds, and the elastic snapped.
By Lap Six, it was 11 seconds, and soon Van der Poel was racing for second, and would finish 49 seconds back.
"It was quite okay, along the expectations today," Van der Poel said after the finish. "The first half was quite good and then the second half, my shape let me down a little bit but I hope that will come soon with the races I'll be doing."
Aerts completed the podium, finishing 1:18 in arrears.
Van Aert commented on the lack of fans after his win, not understanding the country's decision to ban them.
American Curtis White finished 17th, leading a large North American contingent.
Height ruled the day: Van der Poel, Van Aert and Aerts. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Full results and photo gallery below. See the Elite Women's results and photos from Dendermonde here.
2021 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Dendermonde Results: Elite Men
| Pos | Nr | Name / UCI Cyclocross Team | NAT | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 7 | VAN AERT Wout JUMBO-VISMA | BEL | 1:03:48 | - |
| 2. | 1 | VAN DER POEL Mathieu ALPECIN - FENIX | NED | 1:04:37 | +0:49 |
| 3. | 9 | AERTS Toon BALOISE TREK LIONS | BEL | 1:05:06 | +1:18 |
| 4. | 10 | VANTHOURENHOUT Michael PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | BEL | 1:05:40 | +1:52 |
| 5. | 11 | HERMANS Quinten TORMANS CYCLO CROSS TEAM | BEL | 1:05:57 | +2:09 |
| 6. | 3 | VAN KESSEL Corne TORMANS CYCLO CROSS TEAM | NED | 1:06:29 | +2:41 |
| 7. | 12 | SWEECK Laurens PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | BEL | 1:06:40 | +2:52 |
| 8. | 33 | PIDCOCK Thomas INEOS GRENADIERS | GBR | 1:06:47 | +2:59 |
| 9. | 8 | ISERBYT Eli PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | BEL | 1:07:01 | +3:13 |
| 10. | 2 | VAN DER HAAR Lars BALOISE TREK LIONS | NED | 1:07:12 | +3:24 |
| 11. | 16 | AERTS Thijs BALOISE TREK LIONS | BEL | 1:07:29 | +3:41 |
| 12. | 13 | BAESTAENS Vincent CX TEAM DESCHACHT-GROUP HENS-CONTAINERS MAES | BEL | 1:07:39 | +3:51 |
| 13. | 15 | VANDEBOSCH Toon PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL | BEL | 1:08:13 | +4:25 |
| 14. | 44 | MEISEN Marcel ALPECIN - FENIX | GER | 1:08:25 | +4:37 |
| 15. | 35 | TURNER Ben TRINITY RACING | GBR | 1:08:39 | +4:51 |
| 16. | 17 | VERMEERSCH Gianni ALPECIN - FENIX | BEL | 1:09:02 | +5:14 |
| 17. | 36 | WHITE Curtis CANNONDALE/CYCLOCROSSWORLD | USA | 1:09:10 | +5:22 |
| 18. | 14 | SOETE Daan CX TEAM DESCHACHT-GROUP HENS-CONTAINERS MAES | BEL | 1:09:41 | +5:53 |
| 19. | 24 | KUHN Kevin TORMANS CYCLO CROSS TEAM | SUI | 1:09:57 | +6:09 |
| 20. | 4 | VAN DER POEL David ALPECIN - FENIX | NED | 1:10:02 | +6:14 |
| 21. | 38 | HECHT Gage AEVOLO | USA | 1:10:03 | +6:15 |
| 22. | 6 | GODRIE Stan | NED | 1:10:28 | +6:40 |
| 23. | 30 | BOROS Michael | CZE | 1:11:16 | +7:28 |
| 24. | 18 | GRAS Yan TEAM PODIOCOM CC | FRA | 1:11:30 | +7:42 |
| 25. | 25 | BERTOLINI Gioele SELLE ITALIA - GUERCIOTTI - ELITE | ITA | 1:11:53 | +8:05 |
| 26. | 34 | MEIN Thomas TORMANS CYCLO CROSS TEAM | GBR | -1 LAP | |
| 27. | 39 | HAIDET Lance L39ION OF LOS ANGELES | USA | -1 LAP | |
| 28. | 20 | PHILIBERT Aurelien ARDENNES CROSS TEAM GECIBAT | FRA | -1 LAP | |
| 29. | 5 | VAN DER MEER Gosse | NED | -2 LAP | |
| 30. | 19 | GUILLAUD Valentin TEAM GUEVEL IMMOBILIER LAVAL CYCLISME 53 | FRA | -2 LAP | |
| 31. | 37 | WERNER Kerry | USA | -2 LAP | |
| 32. | 40 | SWARTZ Caleb | USA | -2 LAP | |
| 33. | 27 | SUAREZ FERNANDEZ Kevin NESTA - MMR CX TEAM | ESP | -2 LAP | |
| 34. | 23 | DUJARDIN Sandy | FRA | -3 LAP | |
| 35. | 31 | PETRUS Lubomir | CZE | -3 LAP | |
| 36. | 22 | JAUREGUI Quentin B&B HOTELS P/B KTM | FRA | -3 LAP | |
| 37. | 53 | VAN DEN HAM Michael | CAN | -3 LAP | |
| 38. | 28 | JUNQUERA SAN MILLAN Mario UNICAJA BANCO - GIJON | ESP | -3 LAP | |
| 39. | 43 | O'CONNOR Finnegan | USA | -3 LAP | |
| 40. | 21 | MARASCO Lorenzo SEBMOTOBIKES CX TEAM | FRA | -3 LAP | |
| 41. | 49 | HAUSSLER Heinrich BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS | AUS | -3 LAP | |
| 42. | 52 | KOCKELMANN Raphael | LUX | -3 LAP | |
| 43. | 26 | DORIGONI Jakob SELLE ITALIA - GUERCIOTTI - ELITE | ITA | -4 LAP | |
| 44. | 47 | HAMM Florian SCHAMEL P/B KLOSTER KITCHEN | GER | -4 LAP | |
| 45. | 54 | JETTE Cameron | CAN | -4 LAP | |
| 46. | 50 | HEIGL Philipp | AUT | -4 LAP | |
| 47. | 41 | CLOUTIER Tyler | USA | -5 LAP | |
| 48. | 42 | LANDO Nicholas | USA | -5 LAP | |
| 49. | 46 | MAYER Yannick | GER | -5 LAP | |
| 50. | 51 | NYSTROM SPENCER Felipe Timoteo | CRC | -5 LAP | |
| 51. | 29 | LLANEZA ARGUELLES Miguel | ESP | -6 LAP | |
| 32 | VANICEK Simon | CZE | DNF | ||
| 45 | WEBER Sascha TREK | VAUDE | GER | DNF | ||
| 48 | PAUL Felix | GER | DNS |
2021 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Dendermonde Photo Gallery: Elite Men
Mathieu van der Poel returned to resume his rivalry with Wout van Aert. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
