After the cyclo-cross world championship, Sanremo and Roubaix, Mathieu Van der Poel enriches his extraordinary season with his most prestigious victory, conquering the rainbow jersey on a rainy Glasgow afternoon.

Breakaway of nine runners that breaks away in the first hour of racing, formed by: Owain Doull (Great Britain), Matthew Dinham (Australia), Harold Tejada (Colombia), Kevin Vermaeke (United States), Patrick Gamper (Austria), Rory Townsend (Ireland), Ryan Christensen (New Zealand), Krists Neilands (Latvia) and Petr Klemen (Czech Republic). The 9 outriders enter the final circuit, to be repeated ten times, with a 4' advantage over the main group driven by the men from Denmark.

During the first four rounds the continuous attack attempts select the group a lot. An unfortunate fall puts our Matteo Trentin out of the game, who seemed to be in great condition.

At -75 km the first decisive moment of the race with the first attacks of the favourites: Pedersen and Van der Poel start in succession and form a small group in the lead with Van Aert, Pogacar, Alberto Bettiol and the two remaining fugitives Vervaeke and Dinham. The seven do not cooperate and are resumed by the main group now reduced to less than 30 units.

55 km from the conclusion, Alberto Bettiol starts decisively, manages to make a gap and remains alone in the lead of the race. The Italian EF rider manages to gain more than 30”, but behind him the usual four champions are organized in pursuit: Pogacar , Van der Poel , Van Aert and Pedersen .

During the penultimate lap the four pursuers get very close to Bettiol and, as soon as they see him, Van der Poel opens the gas in his own way and pulls off all the others . The Dutchman quickly manages to gain a good margin over his rivals, he continues to push and take risks in the corners despite a fall, fortunately for him, without consequences.

Van der Poel triumphs alone at the finish line in Glasgow ahead of his closest pursuers by more than a minute and a half; in second place is Van Aert, while Pogacar takes the lowest step of the podium. Bettiol, after a great race, finished in tenth place.

ARRIVAL ORDER:

1 VAN DER POEL Mathieu Netherlands 6:07:27

2 VAN AERT Wout Belgium 1:37

3 POGAČAR Tadej Slovenia 1:45

4 PEDERSEN Mads Denmark ,,

5 KÜNG Stefan Switzerland 3:48

6 STUYVEN Jasper Belgium ,,

7DINHAM Matthew Australia ,,

8 SKUJIŅŠ Toms Latvia ,,

9 BENOOT Tiesj Belgium ,,

10 BETTIOL Alberto Italy 4:03

Photo: Sprint Cycling Agency