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Lars van der Haar (Giant-Alpecin) has proven to be one of the few that has Wout van Aert’s (Vastgoedservice-Golden Palace) number so far this season. Van der Haar earned a victory at Niels Albert CX in Boom, Belgium with a perfectly-timed attack into the course’s sandpit, opening a slight gap on van Aert in the race’s last meters, and holding his few seconds advantage until the finish.

Van der Haar got the holeshot and quickly was able to gain separation with van Aert. Sven Nys (Crelan AA Drink) was able to bridge across to the two leaders, and the trio was able to work together to distance chaser Tom Meussen (Telenet-Fidea) on the wide-open dry grass course.

As is his strategy this year, van Aert began to up the pace gradually until it was too much for Nys, who lost the group.

Van der Haar was able to sit on van Aert and bide his time until the last lap. He struck out through the race’s sand pit, opened a gap and was able to hold off van Aert for his second victory of the year. Nys rolled in for a well-fought third place.

In the Elite Women’s race, Ellen van Loy (Telenet-Fidea) took the victory over teammate Maude Kaptheijns. Loes Sels (AA Drink) rolled in a minute off van Loy’s pace for the final podium spot.

Take a look at the Elite Men’s highlights from cyclocrossonline.net to see the battle of van der Haar and van Aert.

Niels Albert CX Elite Men's Race Results

RankNameNat.Age*Result
1Lars VAN DER HAARNED2458:24:00
2Wout VAN AERTBEL2158:30:00
3Sven NYSBEL3959:09:00
4Tom MEEUSENBEL2759:58:00
5Jim AERNOUTSBEL261:00:01
6Joeri ADAMSBEL261:00:24
7Marcel MEISENGER261:00:54
8Jens ADAMSBEL231:01:38
9Philipp WALSLEBENGER281:01:38
10Rob PEETERSBEL301:02:33
11Quincy VENSBEL291:02:40
12Jack CLARKSONGBR221:03:04
13Lander LOOCKXBEL181:03:38
14Sven VANTHOURENHOUTBEL341:03:40
15Edwin DE WITBEL32
16Marceli BOGUSLAWSKIPOL18
17Niels KOYENBEL24
18Kenneth VAN COMPERNOLLEBEL27
19Nicholas BARNESGBR21
20Gusty BAUSCHLUX35
21Pieter VAN ROOSBROECKBEL19
22Wouter GOOSENBEL29
23Yelle LEARTSBEL21
24Billy HARDINGGBR19
25Angus EDMONDNZL39

Niels Albert CX Elite Women's Race Results

RankNameNat.Age*Result
1Ellen VAN LOYBEL3541:50:00
2Maud KAPTHEIJNSNED2142:28:00
3Loes SELSBEL3042:44:00
4Joyce VANDERBEKENBEL3142:58:00
5Hannah PAYTONGBR2143:02:00
6Amira MELLORGBR1843:06:00
7Bianca VAN DEN HOEKNED3943:30:00
8Olga WASIUKPOL2843:44:00
9Annabel SIMPSONGBR2544:09:00
10Asa Maria ERLANDSSONSWE4144:24:00
11Lindy VAN ANROOIJNED1944:30:00
12Laura VERDONSCHOTBEL1944:37:00
13Katrien THIJSBEL3044:37:00
14Karen VERHESTRAETENBEL2445:30:00
15Diane LEEGBR3045:39:00
16Paula GORYCKAPOL2545:58:00
17Mieke DE ROOBEL4346:11:00
18Cindy BAUWENSBEL4146:54:00
19Febe SCHOKKAERTBEL1647:50:00
20Sophie THACKRAYGBR1648:07:00
21Gabriela WOJTYLAPOL18
22Marthe TRUYENBEL16
23Birgit MASSAGƒBEL25
24Lore VAN DE PERREBEL29
25Anja GELDHOFBEL42
26Mara SCHWAGERGER33
27Madeleine GAMMONSGBR16
28Brenda KACZMARCZYKBEL52
29Meg DE BRUYNEBEL19
30Tine VERDEYENBEL26
31Patrycja LorkowskaPOL17
32Anke VAN ROMPAYBEL16
33Maaike LANSSENSBEL23