


Antwerp, Koksijde, and now Hofstade: Mathieu van der Poel has scored a genuine hat-trick in cyclocross. The world champion was by far the strongest on Monday in the X2O-cross at the Sport Vlaanderen site in Hofstade. Afterwards, MVDP was also very pleased with his performance.
"It was a very nice race. It’s one of the few events I remember from when I was a child, going to watch cyclocross myself," the winner began in the flash interview with Sporza. "It’s great to now triumph here."
Van der Poel also impressed in the sand at Hofstade and quickly decided to shake up the race. "It’s always difficult to stay together in the sand. If someone makes a mistake, you can easily break away. On a course like this, it’s best to race alone."
And that’s exactly what the world champion did with flair. "I felt really good. I’m happy with today. My technique was nearly perfect, as were my legs. That makes racing enjoyable."

Van der Poel and Van Aert in Hofstade – photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos
Van der Poel notched his third consecutive cyclocross win, but he won’t be present on Tuesday when the cyclocross circus lands in Heusden-Zolder. "It’s a busy period and everyone has to make their choices. In Loenhout (29/12), I’ll have to take on Wout again. Considering the latest weather forecasts, we’re expecting a fast race. It could stay exciting for a long time."
About the vape incident
There was another remarkable moment during the Hofstade race: Van der Poel was unpleasantly surprised a few laps from the finish by an action from a spectator. The man intentionally blew smoke into the Dutchman’s face.
Afterwards, Van der Poel was asked about the incident. “Did I notice it during the race? Yes, just after the finish. I just don’t know if it was deliberate or not," he said, not wanting to comment further.
| Rank | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 58:53 | |
| 2 | + 48 | |
| 3 | + 01:02 | |
| 4 | + 01:03 | |
| 5 | + 01:05 | |
| 6 | + 01:07 | |
| 7 | + 01:11 | |
| 8 | + 01:13 | |
| 9 | + 01:56 | |
| 10 | + 02:09 |