Results World Cup Hoogerheide | Mathieu van der Poel seals record-breaking 51st World Cup win after solo exhibition

The men’s World Cup race in Hoogerheide concluded with a moment of history as Mathieu van der Poel powered to his 51st career World Cup victory, moving clear of Sven Nys to stand alone as the most successful rider in the competition’s history.

Van der Poel’s win was never in doubt once he made his move in the second lap. After allowing the opening exchanges to unfold, the world champion reacted instantly to an acceleration by Tibor Del Grosso, bridged across in seconds, and then rode decisively clear.

Within a lap, the race had taken on a familiar shape, with Van der Poel alone at the front and the rest of the field already forced into damage limitation.

From there, the contest became an exhibition. Van der Poel continued to extend his advantage almost without visible effort, floating through the technical sections and over the barriers as his lead passed forty seconds, then fifty, and eventually more than a minute. Even as the chase behind him repeatedly reorganised and collapsed, the gap at the front only grew.

While Van der Poel disappeared up the road, the fight for the remaining podium places remained unresolved for much of the race. A large chasing group repeatedly formed and reformed, with Thibau Nys, Toon Aerts, Niels Vandeputte, Joris Nieuwenhuis, Felipe Orts and others all taking turns near the front without managing to impose lasting order.

Only in the final lap did clarity begin to emerge. Del Grosso launched a committed attack, with Nieuwenhuis initially following, before Nys ignited the battle for second place with a long, early sprint. That effort briefly split the group, but the elastic snapped back once more, and Nys was reeled in before the line.

In the final metres, it was Del Grosso who timed his effort best, securing second place ahead of Aerts, while Nys was forced to settle just off the podium after animating much of the late fight.

Up front, none of that mattered. Van der Poel crossed the line alone to complete a dominant display and secure a landmark victory. His 51st World Cup win moved him beyond Sven Nys, whose record of 50 victories had stood as the benchmark for a decade.

It was a fitting way to close the Hoogerheide World Cup and a season in which Van der Poel has repeatedly rewritten expectations. This time, the number itself told the story.