Cycling: Mathieu van der Poel celebrates his third victory within 72 hours. The World Champion won the World Cup in Hulst. In the women's category, Denise Betsema surprisingly won just as confidently.
Van der Poel takes 91 seconds off Van Aert
Mathieu van der Poel started the cycling year 2021 with three victories. After his successes in Baal and Gullegem, the Dutch world champion now also won the World Cup in Hulst. Due to the corona pandemic, this had to be held in the Perkpolder at the mouth of the Scheldt. But even the wet and slippery dike couldn't slow down Mathieu van der Poel. He crossed the finish line 91 seconds ahead of his opponent Wout van Aert. The podium is completed by Tom Pidcock.
Mathieu van der Poel:
“I had the best legs of the season so far. I immediately had a good feeling on the course. I found good lines. It was a beautiful day."
daily result
1. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin – Fenix)
2. Wout Van Aert (Jumbo – Visma) +1:31
3. Tom Pidcock (Trinity) + 1:49
4. Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal) +2:41
5. Toon Aerts (Baloise – Trek Lions) +3:07
Total World Cup standings after 4 of 5 races
1. Wout Van Aert (Jumbo – Visma) 125 points
2. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin – Fenix) 110
3. Michael Vanthourenhout (Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal) 106
4. Toon Aerts (Baloise - Trek Lions) 87
5. Quinten Hermans (Tormans Cycling Team) 78
En patron Mathieu van der Poel s'impose à Hulst pour la 4e some de la coupe du monde de cyclo-cross. Wout Van Aert termine deuxième et Tom Pidcock complete !#lequipeCYCLO pic.twitter.com/LDsPCZoaEY
— DadGeeK ᵠ 🌿🔻 (@TheDadGeeK) January 3, 2021
Betsema feels at home and wins
In the fourth women's World Cup race, for the first time, the winner was not Lucinda Brand. The Dutchwoman, who has been so dominant this season, was beaten by her compatriot Denise Betsema by more than a minute. This felt like home today. The wet conditions, the strong wind and the slippery sections suited her very well. The Dutch podium in the Perkpolder at the mouth of the Scheldt was completed by Ceylin Del Carmen Alvarado. In the overall standings, Lucinda Brand remains in the lead.
Denise Betsema:
"It feels like home. The cold, the wind, the dikes. It was my thing. Splendid."
daily result
1. Denise Betsema (Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal) 53:06
2. Lucinda Brand (Baloise – Trek Lions) +1:02
3. Ceylin Del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin – Fenix) +1:09
4. Annemarie Worst (777) + 1:26
5. Kata Blanka Vas (Doltcini – Van Eyck) + 1:57
Total World Cup standings after 4 of 5 races
1. Lucinda Brand (Baloise – Trek Lions) 150 points
2. Denise Betsema (Pauwels Sauzen - Bingoal) 108
3. Ceylin Del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin – Fenix) 102
4. Kata Blanka Vas (Doltcini – Van Eyck) 83
5. Clara Honsinger (Cannondale CX World) 80
Nothing could stop @Deniesoverseas in hulst! 🚀🏆 @lucinda_brand finishes 🥈, Ceylin Alvarado takes 🥉. #CXWorldCup pic.twitter.com/jbcFV4L0Nd
— UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup (@UCIcyclocrossWC) January 3, 2021