Mathieu van der Poel wins Loenhout–Azencross cyclo-cross, Gianni Vermeersch second as Sanne Cant wins women’s race

Mathieu van der Poel kept up his stellar form this season in cyclo-cross with a sixth win from as many races at Exact Cross Loenhout – Azencross.

Van der Poel was joined on the podium by Alpecin-Deceuninck team-mate Gianni Vermeersch, who came 38 seconds behind to claim a first cyclo-cross podium finish in five years.

There was an intriguing battle for the final podium spot, as Teika-BH-GSport rider Felipe Orts Lloret sealed third ahead of Ryan Kamp (Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal).

Van der Poel cruised towards the finish line in the inclement conditions, and hammered home his dominance in the absence of both Tom Pidcock and Wout van Aert.

The race began in dramatic style after a crash within seconds of the start, with Orts and Kamp both starting in fine form in the opening lap.

Van der Poel bided his time and was chasing down the leading Timon Ruegg as the second lap came to a close.

Vermeersch made his move at the start of lap three, before Van der Poel sped past and raced into a 14-second lead and did not look back from that point.

The imperious Dutchman moved more than a minute ahead of the rest to ease to victory, while Vermeersch cemented second spot to come 39 seconds behind and Orts just edged out Kamp to take third.

Sanne Cant claimed her first win in almost a year in the women’s race in Loenhout.

This was the 125th victory of Cant’s career and the first since winning the Belgian Championships back in January, as she topped a podium that included Kristyna Zemanova (Brilon Racing Team MB) and fellow Crelan-Corendon team-mate Manon Bakker.

“I really wanted to win, but I was one of the few who rode three days in a row here. So, I had doubts at the start.”

Cant profited in the absence of Fem van Empel, Puck Pieterse, and Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado from the race, but it was Zemanova who quickly hit the ground running.

She was joined by Bakker as a front two early on, before Cant made her way up to challenge the duo and was left in a two-way challenge with Zemanova heading into the final two laps.

The Crelan-Corendon rider gradually built up some distance between herself and Zemanova on the penultimate lap and had a 10-second lead as the last lap began.

It would end being a procession to the finish line for the Belgian, as Zemanova failed to keep pace.