Mathieu van der Poel triumphs, Puck Pieterse ends Fem van Empel’s hot streak to take UCI Cyclo-cross victory in Gavere

Mathieu van der Poel won the men’s cyclo-cross race in Gavere, Belgium, while Puck Pieterse ended Fem van Empel’s 11-race winning streak.

Van der Poel continued his 100 percent record this season with a fourth win from as many races, as he overcame Van Aert.

Van der Poel has begun the season in stunning fashion after cyclo-cross victories in both Mol and Antwerp, and the Dutchman showed his undoubted prowess once again here in a masterful performance.

The Alpecin-Deceuninck rider began strongly and after managing to accelerate on an uphill section, he was able to build up a lead over Joris Nieuwenhuis and Van Aert.

The familiar tussle between Van der Poel and Van Aert was becoming clearer in lap two, with the latter moving within 30 seconds of the Belgian heading into lap three.

Nieuwenhuis and Van der Haar were seemingly contesting third spot and a place on the podium, with the duo 38 seconds adrift of Van der Poel.

Van der Poel was in imperious form in a race that was turning into a procession towards victory for the 28-year-old, who increased his lead to 42 seconds.

Olympic and world mountain bike champion Tom Pidcock was one minute and 10 seconds further back in fifth in lap five, and a podium finish was looking like a possibility.

The Brit dramatically ate into the time between himself and Nieuwenhuis, with the gap a mere five seconds heading into the final two laps.

Van der Poel had over half a minute advantage going into the last lap and Pidcock was still battling with Nieuwenhuis into the start-finish straight as he looked to use his experience in the discipline.

Van der Poel ultimately coasted to the win with Van Aert well ahead of third place in second, 36 seconds off his rival. Pidock, 2020’s winner, took the final spot on the podium just a minute behind the lead.

Earlier in the day, in-form Van Empel finished second but couldn’t match compatriot Pieterse on the day.

The relentless winning consistency of Van Empel this season has been matched in recent weeks by Pieterse’s frustration, with the latter finishing on the podium in all of her races to date without a victory.

That changed when Pieterse threw down the gauntlet on the opening lap, despite an early crash giving a chance to Ceylin Alvarado to close the gap.

Lucinda Brand and Van Empel were both doing well to make up the ground on the front two, and came within 30 seconds behind Pieterse heading into lap three.

However, Pieterse was riding masterfully and gradually increased her advantage to 30 seconds by the end of the fourth lap.

The Fenix-Deceuninck rider was easing her way towards victory, but the battle for second spot was becoming much more intense.

Alvarado and Van Empel were going wheel-to-wheel in a bid to be the best of the rest, as the latter left Brand in her wake on the fourth lap.

Just five seconds separated Alvarado and Van Empel heading into the fifth and final lap, as the latter sensationally managed to overtake her compatriot and moved within 23 seconds of Pieterse as the race went into the drops section.

In the end, she could not do enough to usurp the victorious Pieterse, whose joy and relief was clear to see after passing the finish line.

Elsewhere, Zoe Backstedt flew the flag for Great Britain and despite being able to secure podium finishes in her first full season in elite World Cups, she fell someway short here.

The Canyon-SRAM rider finished three minutes and seven seconds adrift of Pieterse in sixth place.