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
| Rank | Name | Nat. | Age* | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lars VAN DER HAAR | NED | 24 | 58:24:00 |
| 2 | Wout VAN AERT | BEL | 21 | 58:30:00 |
| 3 | Sven NYS | BEL | 39 | 59:09:00 |
| 4 | Tom MEEUSEN | BEL | 27 | 59:58:00 |
| 5 | Jim AERNOUTS | BEL | 26 | 1:00:01 |
| 6 | Joeri ADAMS | BEL | 26 | 1:00:24 |
| 7 | Marcel MEISEN | GER | 26 | 1:00:54 |
| 8 | Jens ADAMS | BEL | 23 | 1:01:38 |
| 9 | Philipp WALSLEBEN | GER | 28 | 1:01:38 |
| 10 | Rob PEETERS | BEL | 30 | 1:02:33 |
| 11 | Quincy VENS | BEL | 29 | 1:02:40 |
| 12 | Jack CLARKSON | GBR | 22 | 1:03:04 |
| 13 | Lander LOOCKX | BEL | 18 | 1:03:38 |
| 14 | Sven VANTHOURENHOUT | BEL | 34 | 1:03:40 |
| 15 | Edwin DE WIT | BEL | 32 | |
| 16 | Marceli BOGUSLAWSKI | POL | 18 | |
| 17 | Niels KOYEN | BEL | 24 | |
| 18 | Kenneth VAN COMPERNOLLE | BEL | 27 | |
| 19 | Nicholas BARNES | GBR | 21 | |
| 20 | Gusty BAUSCH | LUX | 35 | |
| 21 | Pieter VAN ROOSBROECK | BEL | 19 | |
| 22 | Wouter GOOSEN | BEL | 29 | |
| 23 | Yelle LEARTS | BEL | 21 | |
| 24 | Billy HARDING | GBR | 19 | |
| 25 | Angus EDMOND | NZL | 39 |
Niels Albert CX Elite Women's Race Results
| Rank | Name | Nat. | Age* | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ellen VAN LOY | BEL | 35 | 41:50:00 |
| 2 | Maud KAPTHEIJNS | NED | 21 | 42:28:00 |
| 3 | Loes SELS | BEL | 30 | 42:44:00 |
| 4 | Joyce VANDERBEKEN | BEL | 31 | 42:58:00 |
| 5 | Hannah PAYTON | GBR | 21 | 43:02:00 |
| 6 | Amira MELLOR | GBR | 18 | 43:06:00 |
| 7 | Bianca VAN DEN HOEK | NED | 39 | 43:30:00 |
| 8 | Olga WASIUK | POL | 28 | 43:44:00 |
| 9 | Annabel SIMPSON | GBR | 25 | 44:09:00 |
| 10 | Asa Maria ERLANDSSON | SWE | 41 | 44:24:00 |
| 11 | Lindy VAN ANROOIJ | NED | 19 | 44:30:00 |
| 12 | Laura VERDONSCHOT | BEL | 19 | 44:37:00 |
| 13 | Katrien THIJS | BEL | 30 | 44:37:00 |
| 14 | Karen VERHESTRAETEN | BEL | 24 | 45:30:00 |
| 15 | Diane LEE | GBR | 30 | 45:39:00 |
| 16 | Paula GORYCKA | POL | 25 | 45:58:00 |
| 17 | Mieke DE ROO | BEL | 43 | 46:11:00 |
| 18 | Cindy BAUWENS | BEL | 41 | 46:54:00 |
| 19 | Febe SCHOKKAERT | BEL | 16 | 47:50:00 |
| 20 | Sophie THACKRAY | GBR | 16 | 48:07:00 |
| 21 | Gabriela WOJTYLA | POL | 18 | |
| 22 | Marthe TRUYEN | BEL | 16 | |
| 23 | Birgit MASSAG | BEL | 25 | |
| 24 | Lore VAN DE PERRE | BEL | 29 | |
| 25 | Anja GELDHOF | BEL | 42 | |
| 26 | Mara SCHWAGER | GER | 33 | |
| 27 | Madeleine GAMMONS | GBR | 16 | |
| 28 | Brenda KACZMARCZYK | BEL | 52 | |
| 29 | Meg DE BRUYNE | BEL | 19 | |
| 30 | Tine VERDEYEN | BEL | 26 | |
| 31 | Patrycja Lorkowska | POL | 17 | |
| 32 | Anke VAN ROMPAY | BEL | 16 | |
| 33 | Maaike LANSSENS | BEL | 23 |
