Mathieu van der Poel was the winner of round #11 of the UCI World Cup in Gavere, Belgium on Monday. Wout van Aert finished second @27 seconds and current World Champion, Tom Pidcock, rounded out the podium in third at @54 seconds.
How It Happened
Lap 1: Mathieu van der Poel took the lead shortly after the start followed by Laurens Sweeck and Tom Pidcock. Wout van Aert soon passed Sweeck and the lead became Van der Poel, Pidcock, and Van Aert. Van Aert then changed bikes and dropped off the pace leaving Van der Poel and Pidcock in the lead.
Lap 2: Van der Poel led Pidcock, while behind @9 seconds Van Aert followed. Pidcock then took the lead when Van der Poel punctured and Van Aert caught Van der Poel. Pidcock continued with a gap of 9 seconds as Van Aert and Van der Poel chased.
Lap 3: Pidcock continued to lead with a 9 second gap on the two chasers, Van der Poel and Van Aert, but was eventually caught on a long run-up. Pidcock attempted to retake the lead but was passed by Van der Poel and Van Aert. Van der Poel then forced a gap and quickly had 5 seconds on Van Aert and Pidcock and increased this lead over the course of lap 3.
Lap 4: Van der Poel crossed the line with a 14 second advantage on his chasers, Van Aert and Pidcock. Pidcock then gapped Van Aert and went on to chase Van der Poel alone getting within 5 seconds. Behind, Van Aert came within a few seconds of catching Pidcock.
Lap 5: Van der Poel kept the lead position, with Pidcock @5 seconds and Van Aert @7 seconds. Pidcock closed the gap to Van der Poel and overtook him coming out of the pits. The lead changed again when Van der Poel passed Pidcock on an uphill section. Behind, Van Aert closed on Pidcock and passed him, leaving Pidcock in third place. Van der Poel pulled away from Van Aert and forced a gap of 8 seconds. Behind, at 13 seconds Pidcock followed.
Lap 6: Van der Poel led with Van Aert @14 seconds and Pidcock @25 seconds. Van Aert was able to close the gap to 11 seconds, then 9 seconds, but van der Poel picked up the pace on an uphill and Van Aert lost ground. Pidcock fell back further to 39 seconds. At the finish it was Van der Poel, Van Aert, Pidcock.
