Even a double puncture couldn’t stop Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) from maintaining his absolute dominance in cyclo-cross, as he roared to a 22nd race victory in a row at the UCI World Cup round in Maasmechelen.

Van der Poel had looked set for another long solo as he took over the lead from teammate Tibor Del Grosso on lap three of Saturday’s race, but a flat front tyre one lap later, and a long way back to the pits cost him 20 seconds and allowed his Dutch compatriot to get away.

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Joran Wyseure (Crelan-Corendon) worst affected. He would require treatment at the start, before eventually being taken to the hospital.

The racing carried on, however, with British Champion Cameron Mason (Reds) making the best start of anyone. He held the lead for a couple of laps, but a puncture ultimately put him so far back that he never saw the front again.

This is when Van der Poel and Del Grosso immediately started to put pressure on before the former’s first puncture. But it didn’t take long for Del Grosso’s solo lead to be evaourated by a chasing Nys and Vandeputte.

Van der Poel ate up the 20-odd seconds he lost in two laps and was back in the lead with two to go. Even a second puncture couldn’t ruin his day, though, and he survived all the way to the line with a slim three-second advantage at the line, having slowed up to celebrate.

Mathieu van der Poel

1-2-3 for Alpecin-Premier Tech in Maasmechelen (Image credit: Getty Images)

FirstCycling