Van der Poel’s Hoogerheide victory gives him seven of nine World Cup wins

It was a familiar scene in Sunday’s elite men’s World Cup race in Hoogerheide, the Netherlands, with Mathieu van der Poel running away on the field to win. He has dominated the 2017-2018 cyclocross season in general, with multiple wins in the Superprestige and DVV Trofee series and showing imperious form in the World Cup.

Van der Poel had already clinched his first World Cup title, having won six of the first eight races and sitting 100-points ahead of Wout Van Aert, winner over the last two seasons. Would it be a lap of honour?

In anticipation of the Worlds in Valkenburg next weekend, Canadians Michael van den Ham and Mark McConnell were in the field.

On Lap 1 Laurens Sweeck, van der Poel and Tim Merlier had a good start and it wasn’t until the midway point that the dominating Dutchman pushed a gap. A long train stretched out behind Merlier. Van Der Poel completed Lap 1 in 6:37, with the chasing Belgians eight-seconds behind. Van den Ham was 44th after the first circuit.

World champion Wout Van Aert began his bid for a podium and was soon in second place, 14-seconds behind van der Poel after two of 10 laps. Sweeck and Merlier were in a chasing quartet 10-second in arrears of Van Aert on Lap 3.

Van der Poel looks so confident; technically superb and a very relaxed demeanour.

Van Aert is alone in 2nd, 15 seconds to the leader and 20 seconds back to the chasers of Vanthourenhout, D van der Poel and Sweeck. #TelenetUCICXWC

— UCI Cyclocross (@UCI_CX) January 28, 2018

Belgian Michael Vanthourenhout, sitting fourth place in the World Cup standings despite never having achieved a podium in 2017-2018, scratched out a gap into third place. After four laps van der Poel was ahead of Van Aert by 17-seconds.

Sweeck came back to Vanthourenhout on Lap 5. At the midway point van der Poel had completed 14.15-km in 32:44. Van den Ham was still 44th.

Vanthourenhout shed Sweeck on Lap 6, hitting the line with a four-second gap. Van Aert wasn’t making any inroads on van der Poel’s lead.

Full focus from van Aert.

Two laps to go and the Number 1 looks destined for 2nd place. #TelenetUCICXWC pic.twitter.com/aktfZedpsv

— UCI Cyclocross (@UCI_CX) January 28, 2018

Once more, Sweeck came back to his compatriot on the penultimate lap. Van Aert began to shave seconds off his great rival’s gap. The bell found van der Poel leading by 15-seconds. Vanthourenhout finally rid himself of Sweeck to stand on the World Cup podium for the first time this season.

Per that battle for third, even the dog couldn't be bothered. #Hoogerheide pic.twitter.com/Vr8WPn64NI

— Bill Schieken | CXHAIRS Media (@CXHairs) January 28, 2018

Van den Ham placed 45th and McConnell 63rd.

2017-2018 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Round 9, Hoogerheide, the Netherlands, Elite Men
1) Mathieu van der Poel (The Netherlands/Corendon-Circus) 1:05:54
2) Wout Van Aert (Belgium/Crelan-Charles) +0:08
3) Michael Vanthourenhout (Belgium/Marlux-Bingoal) +1:41
45) Michael van den Ham (Canada)
63) Mark McConnell (Canada)