Van der Poel Adjusts Mid-Race to Escape Challenge from Aerts at Bogense World Cup – Report, Full Results (Updated)

BOGENSE, Denmark—Mathieu van der Poel (Beobank-Corendon) has had only a few blips in pursuit of a nearly perfect cyclocross season thus far, but he has been flawless in the World Cups leading up to Sunday’s race in Bogense, Denmark. Van der Poel took the wins at both U.S. World Cups and won again at Koksijde last month. He came into Bogense looking to make it four for four on a windy day along the Denmark coast.

Fans have grown accustomed to seeing Wout van Aert (Crelan-Charles) battle the Dutch phenom into at least the mid part of races, but on Sunday, it was Toon Aerts (Telenet Fidea Lions) who stuck with Van der Poel. After riding a steep, technical descent early in the race, Van der Poel adjusted midrace and ran the section to get a gap on Aerts. Once Van der Poel got a gap on Aerts, it was smooth sailing en route to his fourth World Cup win of the 2017/18 season.

The Bogense World Cup featured a unique seaside setting. 2017 Bogense World Cup. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

A Windy Day at the Seashore

The windy day at started ominously for several riders in the World Cup field. Stephen Hyde (Cannondale p/b Cyclocrossworld.com) suffered a mechanical at the opening whistle and started his race with a run to the pit. Lars van der Haar (Telenet Fidea Lions) took the holeshot, but then crashed trying to hop the barriers during the first lap.

After one lap, Van der Haar recovered and joined a lead selection that also included Van der Poel, Van Aert and Aerts.

Toon Aerts has been showing increasing confidence and a willingness to mix things up as the season has progressed. Early in the second lap he attacked to stir things up a bit. His aggression was rewarded and him and Van der Poel got off the front, with the other two lead selection riders dangling five seconds back.

Mathieu van der Poel and Toon Aerts battled into the mid part of the race. 2017 Bogense World Cup. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

With the tough conditions and several steep sections, early in the race it was clear the racing was less a question of power and bike handling and more an issue of who could get on and off their bikes the quickest at the right spots. And also, who could avoid face planting at the barriers.

This was evident by Van der Poel’s early-race choices on a steep descent that led into a right-hand turn. Perhaps somewhat stubbornly, Van der Poel opted to ride the descent that other riders were running more quickly.

Early in the race, Mathieu van der Poel was riding the descent others were running. 2017 Bogense World Cup. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Van der Poel stuck with the ride into the middle of the race before abandoning it in the fifth lap. His reward was a gap on his challenger Aerts. Once Van der Poel gained a gap on Aerts, he returned to riding the descent, but any time lost was a moot point. The Dutch wunderkind had the gap he needed and he coasted along the coast to take the win and stay perfect through four of the nine World Cup races this season.

Mathieu van der Poel celebrates his fourth World Cup win this season. 2017 Bogense World Cup. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Aerts’ fast start took its toll down the stretch. Van Aert slowly closed the gap up to the second-place rider and finally made contact during the last lap. Van Aert outkicked his Belgian compatriot down the stretch to take second.

After getting a new bike in the first lap, Hyde made the most of his Danish trip and rode from DFL back to 31st.

Stephen Hyde recovered to finish 31st after a mechanical at the beginning of the race. 2017 Bogense World Cup. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

2017 Bogense World Cup Results - Elite Men