Wout van Aert again saw his dominance of the cyclo-cross scene being broken when he could only manage second in the World Cup race in Hoogerheide. Instead of taking another win, he could watch while arch-rival Mathieu van der Poel crushed the opposition.

"More was not possible today," Van Aert told Sporza. "Mathieu was head and shoulders above the rest. From the second lap, it was clear that the rest would compete for second place.

"I had a very bad start and technically I was not super. I have done my best, but I did not get any closer. I have certainly not held anything back for [the Worlds in] Tabor.

"Whether you believe it or not, I do not go there to win. It is not really a course for me with lots of stairs and bars. I want to make it difficult for Mathieu but I'm there to learn. "