Cycling
World champion van der Poel wins E3 prize
Won the E3 Prize as a soloist: Mathieu van der Poel. photo
© Dirk Waem/Belga/dpa
The long-term competitors are fighting the first duel of the cycling year at the E3 Prize. One of the all-rounders falls on the infamous Paterberg. And an exciting race to catch up ensues.
Cycling world champion Mathieu van der Poel won the first duel of the year with his long-term Belgian rival Wout van Aert. A good week before the one-day classic Tour of Flanders, the 29-year-old won the E3 Prize in Belgium.
The Dutchman won as a soloist and took his first victory in the day race named after a former highway. Van Aert crossed the finish line 1:34 minutes later in third place behind Belgian Jasper Stuyven. The best German was Nils Politt in seventh place.
Early on in the 207 kilometers, the two exceptional drivers fought a passionate duel. However, around 43 kilometers from the finish, van Aert crashed on the climb to the infamous Paterberg. World champion van der Poel reacted promptly and took the lead of the race alone.
But last year’s Belgian winner came back and chased him. Van Aert reduced the gap to almost ten seconds, but the Dutchman hurried away. Just twelve kilometers from the finish, van der Poel increased the gap to one minute.
The two opponents van der Poel and van Aert dueled each other as teenagers and are considered two of the greatest all-rounders in the cycling world.