In a new exhibition, Mathieu van der Poel has just taken an overwhelming victory at the CX World Cup in Zonhoven. In the women’s race, his teammate Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado took the win with a decisive attack.
The CX World Cup in Zonhoven brought the expected debut of Mathieu van der Poel in the cyclocross season. A race that was expected to be exciting due to the toughness of the course, but in which the World Champion had 58 minutes of absolute domination. Van der Poel started from the third row and in just two minutes he took the lead and never looked back.
Although he and his team had made some previous statements trying to shake off the pressure by claiming that he was not 100% ready, Van der Poel attracted all eyes from the moment he got out of one of his imposing Lamborghinis in the parking lot of the circuit.
Already at the starting line, he launched a powerful attack to take the lead of a race that he managed with authority. His pace was unattainable and his rivals could only fight for the remaining podium positions.
Van der Poel crossed the finish line first with a minute and a half advantage, showing why he wears an imposing rainbow on his jersey.
The battle behind Van der Poel was marked by constant changes of pace and mistakes that took their toll. Thibau Nys was the most consistent and took second place after he and Pim Ronhaar managed, together with Pim Ronhaar, to break away from the chasing group.
Eli Iserbyt lost ground at a crucial moment after a minor incident, and Pim Ronhaar, who had a promising start, could not keep up with the chasing group. In the end it was Joran Wyseure who took the last podium place over Toon Aerts in the final minutes of the race.
In the women’s race, Dutch rider Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado once again shone in the Zonhoven arena, with a very smart running style that she finished off with a calculated attack to take her second World Cup win.
Marie Schreiber took the lead from the start, but soon the young British rider Zoe Bäckstedt took the lead and opened a lead of more than 20 seconds that allowed her to dominate the first laps.
But a very hard course allowed Lucinda Brand to catch Bäckstedt on the fourth lap and from then on the race was open again. On the fifth lap, Alvarado joined the party of Brand and Bäckstedt, but the reunion was short-lived.
A lightning attack by Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado put her in the lead alone with a lead of 11 seconds that she maintained until the end. The Fenix-Deceuninck rider demonstrated her technical skill and coolness, crossing the finish line in first place.
Bäckstedt attempted a final comeback to finish second, just 5 seconds behind Alvarado, while Lucinda Brand secured third place. Despite not winning, Brand managed to extend her lead in the overall World Cup standings, taking advantage of the absence of her main direct rivals, Schreiber and Fem van Empel.
With this victory in Zonhoven, Alvarado reaffirms her excellent form and consolidates her place among the favorites of the season, leaving open the expectation for the next races.
Source: www.brujulabike.com