The Superprestige race in Gieten two weeks ago was an addicting appetizer to a season's worth of duels between the last two World Champions. In Ronse last weekend, despite race-impacting mechanicals affecting both Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert, the two racers confirmed they're the two to beat this season.
The Superprestige stop in Zonhoven had all the anticipation and hype of yet another duel between the two young cyclocross stars, and it delivered. Long-time Cyclocross Magazine contributor Bart Hazen captured the largely two-person race, dominated by Sanne Cant and contested by three Americans, below.
See our Superprestige Zonhoven women's race photo gallery here.
Watch the men's race of the 2016 Superprestige Zonhoven race here.
The stadium of cyclocross. 2016 Superprestige Zonhoven - men's race. © Bart Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
The last two World Champs delivered on their anticipated "beautiful duel." 2016 Superprestige Zonhoven - men's race. © Bart Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
The ruts were big enough to swallow small children, but the 2016 World Champ floated above. 2016 Superprestige Zonhoven - men's race. © Bart Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Mathieu van der Poel is back, and was at home in the sand of Zonhoven. 2016 Superprestige Zonhoven - men's race. © Bart Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
Van der Poel surprised and exhausted himself and the crowd with his win over van Aert. 2016 Superprestige Zonhoven - men's race. © Bart Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
2016 Superprestige Zonhoven - men's race podium: Wout van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel and Laurens Sweeck. © Bart Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
See the full photo gallery from Zonhoven below.
2016 Superprestige Zonhoven Full Photo Gallery, Men's Race:
The first run-up on the first lap – the last time most of the field saw van der Poel and van Aert. 2016 Superprestige Zonhoven – men’s race. © Bart Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine
