Results GP Sven Nys Baal | Mathieu van der Poel claims win after brave Emiel Verstrynge resistance

Mathieu van der Poel delivered another authoritative performance to win the men’s race at the GP Sven Nys Baal, claiming his sixth career victory on the Balenberg after a race that only truly opened up in the closing laps.

The opening phase was fast and aggressive. Early probes came from Cameron Mason and Toon Aerts, but it was Van der Poel who began to dictate the shape of the race as soon as the gradients started to bite.

The first real fracture appeared on the Balenberg, where Van der Poel accelerated sharply and quickly shed Aerts. Emiel Verstrynge emerged as the only rider capable of responding, closing gaps repeatedly and even matching the world champion uphill during a prolonged middle phase. Their advantage over the chasers grew steadily, reaching around 30 seconds by halfway.

Van der Poel endured a brief scare when he slipped into the barriers on an uphill section, but the moment proved inconsequential. He remounted immediately and resumed alongside Verstrynge, who continued to ride with notable resilience. For several laps, the pair traded momentum, with Van der Poel testing through corners and Verstrynge limiting the damage on the climbs.

The decisive move came inside the final three laps. Van der Poel raised the tempo dramatically, riding flat over his handlebars on the finishing straight and carrying speed into the climb. This time, Verstrynge could not respond. The gap opened rapidly, growing into double figures and then beyond 20 seconds as the elastic finally snapped.

From there, the outcome was beyond doubt. Van der Poel even found time to add a touch of showmanship on the washboard in the closing lap, underlining his control as he crossed the line solo.

Behind him, Verstrynge secured a deserved second place after his longest spell on terms with Van der Poel this season. The battle for third was resolved in the closing laps, with Thibau Nys riding clear of Aerts and Joris Nieuwenhuis to claim his first elite podium at his home race.

Once again, Baal rewarded timing and precision. Van der Poel waited, measured his effort, and struck decisively when it mattered most, extending a record that now sees him win on the Balenberg for the sixth time.