Mathieu Van der Poel Claims Victory in Hoogerheide – Pauwels takes 2014-2015 World Cup Title – Updated – Photos, Full Results

Van der Poel celebrates with the Dutch flag in hand in his home country at Hoogerheide. © Thomas van Bracht / Cyclocross Magazine

HOOGERHEIDE, Netherlands – Mathieu Van der Poel (BKCP – Powerplus) stole the show in his hometown race, dominating the elite field to win the sixth and final round of the 2014-2015 UCI Cyclocross World Cup.

Tom Meeusen (Telenet Fidea) claimed the holeshot, but it was the 20-year-old Van der Poel who pulled around to find himself with a gap in the first lap. It was earlier than he would have wanted, according to a post-race interview, but with a mid-lap time check showing a nearly 30 second advantage, Van der Poel went all in.

Vermeersch was the first to attack after Van der Poel’s enormous lead, and he stayed in second for most of the race. © Thomas van Bracht / Cyclocross Magazine

Driving on to extend his lead to 1:18 at its height, even technical mistakes in the latter half of the race, and a dropped chain in the seventh lap weren’t enough for the chasers to close in. In fact many riders had trouble with some of the slick, off-camber corners.

Gianni Vermeersch (Sunweb-Napoleon Games) held second position for much of the race before being caught by teammate Kevin Pauwels and Wout van Aert (Vastgoedservice-Golden Palace).

Powers had great showing for a top 15 today, but more impressively, he took a top ten in the overall standings with his great consistency. © Thomas van Bracht / Cyclocross Magazine

Breaking out in the sixth lap, van Aert emerged from the trio to claim second place, finishing 1:04 down, with Vermeersch crossing in 1:21, a second ahead of teammate Pauwels. With the World Cup title secure, Pauwels seemed happy to concede the podium finish to an elated Vermeersch.

With a risky early move, the tides could have easily turned as a chase group of five formed behind Vermeersch including Sven Nys (Crelan-AA Drink), Francis Mourey (FDJ), Lars Van der Haar (Team Giant-Alpecin), van Aert and Pauwels.

Van der Haar tried to put a dig in on the third lap, but mistakes on the tricky course prevented him from gaining ground. Van Aert was the next to make a break from the chase, but by the end of lap five the group was back together.

Van der Haar, shown here in third, lead the chase group, although it would be Van Aert who captured second on the day. © Thomas van Bracht / Cyclocross Magazine

A fall by Pauwels allowed Van der Haar once again to gain an advantage, but once he was reeled in it was Van Aert’s move at the end of lap six that eventually broke the rubber band.

Despite appearing to fatigue somewhat, Van der Poel maintined his lead while Van Aert and then Pauwels bridged to Vermeersch. One more attack by Van Aert secured his second place finish, while the Sunweb-Napoleon Games teammates worked together to finish strong, staying away for Van der Haar who was desperately trying to bridge the gap.

Finishing in sixth place, Nys appeared to be coming back to form after a down period, but with the World Championships only one week away Nys’ job won’t be easy.

Pauwels eased up on the finish line as his teammate took third, but fourth was far more than he needed to secure the overall World Cup win. © Thomas van Bracht / Cyclocross Magazine

Building up to next week’s event, U.S. National Champion Jeremy Powers (Rapha-Focus) had a strong finish, placing 13th. Even more importantly, Powers’ consistency of finishing at the top third of most World Cup races allowed him to finish ninth in the overall World Cup standings. Americans Jonathan Page (ExceLED/Fuji) and Stephen Hyde (JAM Fund/NCC) finished 31st and 37th respectively. Zach McDonald (Cyclocross Project 2015) rounded out the American contingent in 50th.

Ian Field, the only rider for Great Britain in the Men’s Elite Race, finished between Page and Hyde in 33rd. Aaron Schooler was the leading Canadian, taking 55th place, while Michael Garrigan finished at 58th and Mark “Hotsauce” McConnell was 62nd.

The course at Hoogerheide tested the strength and technique of all riders Sunday. © Thomas van Bracht / Cyclocross Magazine

Also available: the 2015 UCI World Cup at Hoogerheide, Elite Women’s Race report and the U23 Race Report.

2015 UCI World Cup #6, Hoogerheide – Elite Men’s Results:

2014-2015 UCI World Cup Final Standings– Elite Men: