According to Sport.be, Mathieu Van der Poel will not clash with another revelation of the cyclo-cross season opening weeks Wout Van Aert in the European championships held in Lorsch this weekend. The former decided against participating in the event, preferring to line-up at the Superprestige round in Ruddervoorde the next day.

The Dutchman and Belgian both stunned with his performances in cyclo-cross events this season, with Van der Poel winning the opening Superprestige round in Gieten and Van Aert triumphing in the Koppenbergcross last weekend.

When the duo clashed last time, the latter had the upper hand finishing runner-up in the U23 UCI World Cup, while the former ended up sixth.

With Van der Poel’s withdrawal from the European championships, they are expected to go head to head again in the Bpost Bank Trofee in Hamme-Zogge held on November 30.