A famous Dutch cyclist, Mathieu van der Poel, who rides for the UCI WorldTeam Alpecin Deceuninck, is making headlines after he won his 5th cycle-cross world title, know the final day results of the Cyclocross World Championships 2023
For those who aren’t sure, let us tell you, the 28-year-old cyclist bagged his 5th cycle-cross world title outsprinting his rival Wout van Aert in the 67 minutes long race and took another rainbow jersey back home.
As per a report by Cycling News, his Belgian adversary as well as Dutchman were inseparable for the entire race at the peak of Cyclocross World Championships 2023, before Poel came from behind in the final stretch to past Aert and secured his gold medal.
UCI Cyclocross world championships 2023 winner, results, winners prize money
Prize money is equal for men and women at the UCI Cyclocross World Championships and the team relay awards rainbow jerseys and €15000 for first, €7500 for second and €3750 for third.
The top three in the elite race earn €5000, €2500 and €1250, under-23s earn €2500, €1250 and €675 while juniors take home €1250, €675 and €340.
After the race was ended, Van der Poel described his experience in a media conversation as he stated “It’s really difficult to describe,” before saying “I think this is how everybody would say in advance how the race should be a sprint with me against Wout.”
He further added, “For sure, it’s incredible. I think this was for sure in my top three of my nicest victories of all time. For sure, I’m going to remember this for a long time.”
What exactly happened
For those who are wondering what exactly happened during the race, let us tell you, at the beginning, the Netherlands took contract of the race after placing Lars van der Haar on the front with Van der Poel in his wheel while Nieuwenhuis was sweeping behind them.
Belgium’s favourite and main rival of Poel, Wout van Aert, was next in line battling with Nieuwenhuis for the wheel to move up early in the opening lap.
Just after 3 minutes into the race, Haar moved out of the way and he let Poel to uphill. After witnessing this, Aert instantly responded and moved into the second wheel to face off his career-long rival.
He instantly moved ahead leaving far behind the rest of riders. The two continue onto lap two evenly with Poel at the front. However, 22 seconds down, the large chasing group reached them who were eager to fight for the bronze.
The third lap saw Aert forcing into the front unitl the hill where Poel put in great effort to try and test the Belgian. But he wouldn’t get a gap as once again it got a small gap over planks.
Now Aert was back on the front, however, Kuypers and Vanthourenhout followed him at 28 seconds.
The lap 8 was the slowest one as the chasers closed to within a half minute and kept on pushing. Meanwhile, Poel stricked close to Aert for much of the circuit.
In this back and front chase a total of 65 minutes has passed but the situation was the same neither Aert back to the front nor Poel. Both were side by side over the planks before things slowed down.
At the end of the match, it was Van Aert who was on the front late steps as Van der Poel launched the first step after coming from behind to the finishing line straight.
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