Wout van Aert has won the penultimate cyclocross in the Superprestige with force majeure. The Belgian from Jumbo-Visma started the muddy cross in Gullegem cautiously, but halfway through the race he resolutely took the lead and soloed to victory. Van Aert also won the previous two races of the Superprestige in Heusden-Zolder and Diegem. His compatriot Eli Iserbyt finished second at 22 seconds. Michael Vanthourenhout was third at 41 seconds and made it a full Belgian podium. European champion Vanthourenhout tried to go on an adventure alone at the beginning of the cross, but Van Aert did not allow that. A win for Van Aert was pretty low in odds for people with free bets.

Fourth place in Gullegem

Dutch champion Lars van der Haar was in the lead for a while in the first round, but gradually he had to give way to the three Belgians in front of him. He finished fourth, but nevertheless retained the lead in the Superprestige standings. The last race in the series is on February 11 in Middelkerke.

Alvarado firmly in the lead

Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado has won the penultimate cross of the Superprestige series. The Dutch rider van Alpecin-Deceuninck was clearly the best in Gullegem. Compatriot Inge van der Heijden finished second only at 35 seconds. The rider of the 777 team is Alvarado’s closest attacker in the standings with one cyclocross race to go. Denise Betsema completed a completely Dutch podium.

Fourth Victory

Alvarado initially took the lead with Britain’s Zoe Bäckstedt. That didn’t last long at the front, after which Alvarado went solo on the hunt for her fourth victory this season in the Superprestige. “I had to drive a lot in the beginning. If the difference remains small and you make a mistake, the pursuers will be back in no time,” she looked back at Eurosport. “Once the margin was over twenty seconds, I continued to drive laps at my own pace. It feels good to win and the gap with Inge is now four points. That is a good starting point.”