Home > Cyclocross

Van Aert secures third World Cup title with final round triumph in Overijse

Puncture thwarts van der Poel's bid to snatch World Cup from his great rival

January 24, 2021
Share on SMS

It looked to be another classic Mathieu van der Poel versus Wout Van Aert battle in Sunday’s final round of the World Cup, with the title on the line, but a rear puncture sabotaged the Dutchman’s chances, and Van Aert’s victory secured his third World Cup trophy. It was Van Aert’s fifth triumph of the season. Next week the great rivals will cross swords again at the World Championships.

In the first four rounds Van der Poel had two wins, Van Aert one and Michael Vanthourenhout one, and the Jumbo-Visma rider held a 15-point lead over the world champion. Van der Poel not only needed to win in Overijse to take the title, he also needed Van Aert to finish below second place.

After the opening climb and only 1:00 into the race, several riders pitted. Reigning World Cup champ Toon Aerts grabbed the lead. Van Aert came across, with van der Poel close on his heels. Soon it was the two great rivals in a private battle at the business end of the race.

Once again it was the Mathieu vs Wout Show.

As Mathieu and Wout skirmished out front on Lap 2, Tom Pidcock worked to join them. An acceleration from Van Aert dislodged the world champion. Suddenly, the Dutchman was behind by 10-seconds. It was a rear flat for Alpecin-Fenix’s ace.

Pidcock and van der Poel chased together at the beginning of Lap 3 of eight, but the world champion lit out by himself in pursuit, 10 seconds down by the line.

Van Aert was solo by the end of Lap 2.

Van Aert grew his gap on Lap 4.

Pidcock was still on track to podium, with Vanthourenhout 10 seconds behind him. Up front, Van Aert caught a few riders on Lap 5.

Once more van der Poel shrank the gap on Lap 6. An unscheduled mud wallow for Pidcock meant that Vanthourenhout joined him again.

Van der Poel continued to reel in Van Aert on Lap 6.

On the penultimate lap a van der Poel crash seemed to take away his momentum; when Van Aert heard the bell he had a 50-second gap. In the podium battle, Pidcock scampered away from Vanthourenhout.

The win was a fine way for Van Aert to celebrate extending his contract with Jumbo-Visma for three years.

2020-2021 World Cup, Round 5, Overijse, Elite Men
1) Wout Van Aert (Belgium/Jumbo-Visma) +1:05:57
2) Mathieu van der Poel (The Netherlands/Alpecin-Fenix) +1:03
3) Tom Pidcock (Great Britain/Trinity) +2:07