Race report

No Van Aert duel as Van der Poel defies late puncture to win in Antwerp

Wout van Aert's finish was mitigated by a mid-race puncture, but he was never on the same level as Mathieu van der Poel on his winter debut at the Antwerp World Cup. Nobody could hold a flame to the world champion, who hit the front early and couldn't be stopped even by a puncture on the penultimate lap.

December 20 2025 - 4:15 PM

Cor Vos

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) claimed a resounding victory in the Antwerp World Cup, where not even a puncture on the penultimate lap could stall his progress. The Dutchman hit the front on the opening lap and stretched out his advantage on the sand sector.

Van der Poel had a maximum advantage of 48 seconds with three laps to go, but his margin shrank when he suffered a flat rear tyre with a little over a lap to go. The World Champion quickly recovered, however, and he held off Laurens Sweeck to claim the spoils.

Sweeck (Crelan) came home at 24 seconds, while Emiel Verstrynge (Alpecin-Deceuninck) rounded out the podium in third place at 35 seconds.

Much pre-race coverage focused on the potential duel between Van der Poel and Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike), who was making his first appearance on the cyclocross circuit this winter.

The contest never materialised, with Van Aert already 17 seconds down after two laps. By the midpoint, Van Aert was firmly in the contest for a podium spot at the very least, but his challenge was ruined by a puncture on the fifth lap. Although he gamely gave chase, he had to settle for seventh at 51 seconds.

Tomorrow Mathieu van der Poel will also line-up at the UCI World Cup in Koksijde, while the next confrontation between Van der Poel and Van Aert is scheduled for the 22nd of December a the X²O Badkamers Trofee in Hofstade.