Mathieu van der Poel secured victories on back-to-back days at Middelkerke and Hulst in the Telenet Superprestige series this past weekend. Van der Poel’s victory in Hulst, Netherlands, on Sunday was the Dutchman’s 30th of the season, tying Sven Nys’ 2007 record. Van der Poel has piloted his bicycle to a nearly flawless season, only landing off the podium once.

Van der Poel is undoubtedly a legend of the sport. He won the Elite World Championships as a 20-year-old in 2015 and now has the opportunity to break Nys’ season-win record in the final race at Oostmalle in Belgium. 

Despite his disappointment at Valkenburg earlier this month, the Dutchman has put together one of the most impressive cyclocross campaigns of all time.

Cant Secures Superprestige

Sanne Cant secured the overall Superprestige series victory in Middelkerke ahead of Maud Kaptheijns on Saturday. 

Kaptheijns is one of the fastest starters in the women’s field. She unsurprisingly grabbed the holeshot and put Cant under pressure early in the race. However, the world champion was not to be denied as she stormed away from Kaptheijns in the closing laps.

Cant has proven herself to be the dominant rider at the end of a hotly contested women’s cyclocross season. However, she has had to fend off challenges from every direction each week. This past weekend saw youngsters Laura Verdonschot and Manon Bakker assert themselves as challengers to the throne.

Verdonschot Upsets Favorites

On Sunday, Verdonschot upset the pre-race favorites in Hulst as the U23 rider took her first elite win of the season following a long battle with veteran Ellen Van Loy. 

Meanwhile, Kaptheijns and Cant were denied podium places a day after their Superprestige duel. The duo faded into the background early on as the 19-year-old Bakker charged off the line.

Bakker eventually fell back as well but not before leading the elite women’s field for the majority of the race.

By Michael Sheehan