Mathieu van der Poel wins Gravel World Championships with fantastic solo win

Mathieu van der Poel is the reigning cyclocross World Champion and now is also the Gravel World Champion. In Leuven, the Dutchman proved to be the strongest in the race and put in a masterful performance to get a new rainbow jersey in his palmarès.

The 180-kilometer race had many of the peloton's best, including road specialists, cyclocross riders and anything inbetween. It is a race for chaos and for those who have a lot of bike technique, and it didn't take long until the serious attacks started.

With over 100 kilometers to go Mathieu van der Poel was already on the attack, but with the lack of difficulties on course, he would wait for the main group that contained lots of Belgian riders. However throughout the many off-roads the group would thin out.

Eventually Florian Vermeersch and Mathieu van der Poel would go up the road, proving to be the strongest on the day, building a gap over the chasers. However with 13 kilometers to go the power difference proved to be too significant and in an uphill sector, van der Poel launched a massive attack and went solo off the front.

Van der Poel took the Netherlands' second world title after Marianne Vos did the same this Saturday, arriving to Leuven in style. Florian Vermeersch put in a valiant effort but had to settle for the silver medal.