World champion Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel went head to head for the fourth race in a row at the Superprestige race in Diegem. The Dutchman made the decisive gap in the final sand section. Kevin Pauwels completed the podium.

Mathieu van der Poel who had won in Diegem the past two years, said before the start that he was suffering from a cold and was not 100 percent fit. That was hard to see at the start as the Dutchman was the first to dive into the field. Van Aert also started fast blocks and in the first lap, the pair dropped the rest.

Toon Aerts, Kevin Pauwels and Gianni Vermeersch still tried to get back, but the two stars did not allow anyone to interfere in their battle. Aerts seemed to on the way to 3rd place, but in the last lap he was beaten by Pauwels. Vermeersch then had a mechanical and had to run half a lap.

Van Aert and Van der Poel fought out a fantastic duel. The pair took turns at attacking but they were still together at the start of the final lap.

There was a lot of poker in the finale and the pace went down on the bridge. But on the football pitch, Van der Poel started accelerator. The Dutchman threw himself through the corners. Van Aert did everything in the finishing straight, but it was too late.

Van der Poel won in Diegem for the 3rd year and in the Superprestige standings he is now four points ahead of Van Aert.

Result

1. Mathieu van der Poel 1.06.22

2. Wout Van Aert

3. Kevin Pauwels +0.24

4. Toon Aerts +0.39

5. Jens Adams +1.14

6. David van der Poel +1.22

7. Tim Merlier +1.30

8. Tom Meeusen +1.36

9. Klaas Vantornout +1.41

10. Laurens Sweeck +1.57

Overall standings

1. Mathieu van der Poel 89

2. Wout Van Aert 85

3. Laurens Sweeck 67

4. Jens Adams 60

5. Toon Aerts 59

6. Kevin Pauwels 58

7. Klaas Vantornout 54

8. David van der Poel 45

9. Tom Meeusen 40

10. Tim Merlier 30