It’s Always Nice to Win” – Mathieu van der Poel Caps Off 2023 With Sixth Win, Ending the Year With a Bang

In the mud-filled world of cyclo-cross, Mathieu van der Poel has etched his name in history, after he orchestrated a symphony of victories on the field. His latest achievement in an already blockbuster season unfolded at the Exact Cross Loenhout- Azencross.

He bagged his sixth victory of the season, once again showing his prowess on the tracks. His Alpecin-Deceuninck teammate Gianni Vermeersch finished 38 seconds behind him and grabbed his first podium finish in five years. Mathieu comfortably sailed to a victory, with a battle ensuing for the other positions.

2023 belonged to Mathieu van der Poel

Cycling isn’t just merely work for van der Poel, it’s a passion that connects deeply with the fabric of his being. The Exact Cross Loenhout – Azencross is a race that sits close to home for him and an atmosphere he thoroughly enjoys being part of. It is the canvas where he painted yet another masterclass, showing the world his unstoppable genius.

“It’s always nice to win, of course. This is a race that I always like to do, as it’s quite close to my home, so it’s a nice atmosphere,” Mathieu van der Poel said.

As he sped across the challenging turf with determination and a steely look in his eyes, His performance turned his routine lap into a sight to behold. An unexpected spell of rain caused massive puddles to form on the track and even flooded major sections of the circuit.

There was a crash at the start line that held up about fifty percent of the traffic, but the front-row starters remained unaffected.

Mathieu had an excellent start to the race and gathered a considerable lead, even though there was a small group that threatened to spoil his race. With five wins in the season already, the cyclist was in a league of his own.

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He deployed a strategy similar to the one that gave him a victory at Superprestige in Diegem. Halfway through the race, the champion took an unassailable lead, and it was only a matter of time from there.

Champions are cut from a different thread

With the first position on the podium already booked for Mathieu van der Poel, his teammate Gianni Vermeersch too had a memorable outing, bagging his first-finish podium finish in five years. Alpecin-Deceuninck had an excellent weekend, with a 1-2 finish and multiple records added to their riders’ tally.

Van der Poel finished the race with a total time of 56 minutes and 48 seconds. The next best was 38 seconds behind and the third-placed Filipe Orts Lloret was right behind, at 39 seconds.

On a track that proved to be quite difficult due to the rain and muddy conditions, van der Poel showcased his class and dominated the race.

“It was a good day to be on the podium. I stayed in the last lap with Vermeersch and Kamp, and in the last lap, I could stay on the podium,” Orts Lloret said. “I’m happy to do this for my family.”

For Mathieu van der Poel, the journey is not only about bagging the victories. It is a long quest to push the boundaries of an athlete. The ever-pervasive and challenging tracks, the roars of the fans, and the expectations of the team all culminate into a harmonic rhythm of the pedal strokes on the cycle.

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