World champ Van Aert peerless at Koppenbergcross

Wout Van Aert asserted himself early in Tuesday’s race up the Koppenberg in Oudenaarde, Belgium, and it only took a few laps before he was in his familiar place, alone, off the front, riding to victory. Only the European cyclocross champion and fellow Belgian Toon Aerts of Fidea could put up a fight, but by the halfway mark, the world champion, riding for Crelan – Vastgoedservice had broken his rival’s resolve.

Top-10 results

• 1. Wout VAN AERT, (BEL), 1:03:08
• 2. Kevin PAUWELS, (BEL), 1:03:37
• 3. Lars VAN DER HAAR, (NED), 1:03:42
• 4. Toon AERTS, (BEL), 1:03:54
• 5. Klaas VANTORNOUT, (BEL), 1:04:04
• 6. Michael VANTHOURENHOUT, (BEL), 1:04:12
• 7. Corne VAN KESSEL, (NED), 1:04:22
• 8. Jens ADAMS, (BEL), 1:04:26
• 9. Laurens SWEECK, (BEL), 1:04:42
• 10. Michael BOROS, (CZE), 1:04:52

After he was dispatched by Van Aert, Aerts floated in no-man’s-land for several laps, hoping to hold his second place with about seven men behind, vying for third. But Aerts was eventually caught by the group of chasers, now down to five, ahead of the final two laps.

Though Van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel have dueled throughout the season’s early races, the Dutchman was well off the pace. After chasing up to Van Aert’s early attack with a group of four, he began a long, painful fade to 15th place on the day.

Once the Aerts escape had been neutralized, five men were left battling for the podium places. Holding the advantage with strength in numbers, Marlux – Napoleon Games sent Kevin Pauwels off the front before the final lap. His two teammates rode behind, marking Giant – Alpecin’s Lars van der Haar, with Aerts clinging to the back of the group.

Van der Haar gave his companions the slip, but it was too late for him to challenge Pauwels for second place. They rode home in that order, behind Van Aert, who rode flawlessly.

Koppenbergcross was the second race of the DVV Trofee series. All of the remaining series races will be streamed online for free in the U.S. courtesy of Trek Bikes.

Full results

• 1. Wout VAN AERT, (BEL), 1:03:08
• 2. Kevin PAUWELS, (BEL), 1:03:37
• 3. Lars VAN DER HAAR, (NED), 1:03:42
• 4. Toon AERTS, (BEL), 1:03:54
• 5. Klaas VANTORNOUT, (BEL), 1:04:04
• 6. Michael VANTHOURENHOUT, (BEL), 1:04:12
• 7. Corne VAN KESSEL, (NED), 1:04:22
• 8. Jens ADAMS, (BEL), 1:04:26
• 9. Laurens SWEECK, (BEL), 1:04:42
• 10. Michael BOROS, (CZE), 1:04:52
• 11. Philipp WALSLEBEN, (GER), 1:05:14
• 12. Tom MEEUSEN, (BEL), 1:05:21
• 13. Dieter VANTHOURENHOUT, (BEL), 1:06:15
• 14. Daan SOETE, (BEL), 1:06:20
• 15. Mathieu VAN DER POEL, (NED), 1:06:59
• 16. Joeri ADAMS, (BEL), 1:07:09
• 17. Gianni VERMEERSCH, (BEL), 1:07:19
• 18. Ian FIELD, (GBR), 1:07:32
• 19. Patrick VAN LEEUWEN, (NED), 1:07:39
• 20. Diether SWEECK, (BEL), 1:08:15
• 21. Thijs VAN AMERONGEN, (NED), 1:08:24
• 22. Jim AERNOUTS, (BEL), 1:08:37
• 23. David VAN DER POEL, (NED), 1:09:18
• 24. Mariusz GIL, (POL), 1:09:22
• 25. Vinnie BRAET, (BEL), 1:09:37
• 26. Quincy VENS, (BEL), 1:09:43
• 27. Yu TAKENOUCHI, (JPN), 1:10:17
• 28. Dario TIELEN, (BEL)
• 29. Matthias VAN DE VELDE, (BEL)
• 30. Eric THOMPSON, (USA)
• 31. Nicolas LEBESQ, (FRA)
• 32. Alexander FORRESTER, (GBR)
• 33. Jorge RODRÍGUEZ, (ESP)
• 34. Fernando JIMÉNEZ, (ESP)
• 35. Félix FUENTES, (ESP)
• 36. Manuel Martin JIMENEZ, (ESP)