Results World Cup Gavere | Mathieu van der Poel makes it six in Gavere after decisive late move against Thibau Nys

Mathieu van der Poel claimed his sixth victory in Gavere with a measured and decisive performance at the UCI Cyclocross World Cup Gavere, turning a prolonged duel with Thibau Nys into a clear winning margin on the final laps.

The race began with an immediate shake-up when Van der Poel missed his pedal at the start, allowing Nys to take control from the opening metres. Nys set a high tempo through the early laps, repeatedly pushing on the long climbs and forcing the lead group to thin, while Van der Poel calmly worked his way back into position without over-committing.

At the first passage of the finish line, a compact lead group had formed, with several riders still within reach. As the race progressed, Nys continued to animate the front, repeatedly accelerating out of the saddle on the climbs. Van der Poel was the only rider consistently able to follow, while Michael Vanthourenhout, Tibor Del Grosso, Toon Aerts and Emiel Verstrynge hovered just behind, never quite regaining full contact once the pace lifted.

Several attempts to force a decisive split stretched the elastic but failed to snap it. Van der Poel briefly took the lead himself near the finish line, easing the tempo and allowing the chasers to return, before the pressure resumed on the next climb.

The turning point came when Nys made a small but costly error on the long ascent, briefly slipping out of his pedal. Van der Poel reacted instantly, accelerating clear and opening a gap that grew rapidly. With the chasers already distanced, the world champion seized full control.

Van der Poel continued to press on, setting the fastest lap of the race and extending his advantage to more than 20 seconds. Entering the final lap, he held a comfortable lead, while Nys was forced to keep pushing to secure second place.

Behind them, the fight for third remained intense until the closing kilometres. Del Grosso proved strongest in the sprint for the final podium spot, edging out Aerts, Verstrynge and Vanthourenhout after a closely matched battle.

Van der Poel crossed the line alone to seal his fifth consecutive victory of the season and another authoritative win in Gavere, with one perfectly timed acceleration proving decisive after a race defined by patience, pressure and control.