VIDEO: Mathieu van der Poel loses control in the snow to crash at Exact Cross Mol

Mathieu van der Poel has narrowly avoided serious consequences after crashing heavily during the men’s Exact Cross Mol, as treacherous snow and deep sand pushes riders to the limit around the Zilvermeer.

The incident occurred midway through the race as the world champion was riding at full intensity at the front of the field. While trying to warm his hands in freezing conditions, Van der Poel’s front wheel caught in the snow-covered surface, sending him sliding into the frozen ground at speed.

Despite the heavy impact, Van der Poel was quickly back on his bike and resumed the race without visible delay. Remarkably, he went on to set the fastest lap of the race shortly afterwards, underlining both the severity of the conditions and the intensity at which the race was being contested.

The crash came during a pivotal phase of the race, with Van der Poel locked in a direct duel with Wout van Aert as snowfall, wind and churned-up sand turned Mol into a survival test. The moment served as a stark reminder of how little margin for error the riders were working with, even at the very front.

Watch the incident for yourself in the video down below!