Mathieu van der Poel won on season debut at World Cup Hulst

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) was back to his usual barnstorming self with an aggressive victory at World Cup Hulst.

The four-time world champion distanced Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) in the middle of the mucky, technical race and rampaged away to dominate his season debut and win his first ‘cross in 11 months.

Victory on Sunday was Van der Poel’s first since he powered into the rainbow jersey in the Oostende world championships last January. It was also his fifth win on the Hulst circuit.

“It feels pretty good, it’s been a long while since I won a cyclocross race,” he said afterward. “Last year wasn’t a good season. I wouldn’t even call it a season because it was one and a half races due to the back issues.”

Van der Poel said he will iron out the kinks in his ‘cross technique in the coming races as he heads toward a showdown with Wout van Aert, and possibly Pidcock, at the ‘cross worlds in February.