When we talk about cyclocross and the big guns take to the field, the values are immediately evident. At Boom Pidcock and Van der Poel immediately showed off their class , but the Dutchman crashed just where his Alpecin-Deceuninck had identified a dangerous curve, hitting his knee very hard.

Moments of apprehension, because Van der Poel remained on the ground in pain and it was immediately thought that he might have suffered serious consequences . The Dutchman then got up and finished the race in thirteenth place, even if he didn't hide the pain on his face. Many thought that Van der Poel could be missing today at the start of the Antwerp event , but that will not be the case and the public will finally be able to follow the challenge between the three tenors of cyclo-cross: Pidcock, Van Aert and Van der Poel. "It was my fault – said Van der Poel after yesterday's race -: I wasn't concentrated enough and I ended up on the ground".

The Dutchman remounted his bike, but crossed the finish line three minutes behind winner Pidcock. " If I hadn't felt well - continued Van der Poel - I would have considered retiring, but sometimes it's better to continue racing after a crash" .

Van der Poel will check his conditions during the race, keeping in mind his knee, but also his back, which has given the Dutch champion serious problems in the past. Yesterday at the end of the race Van der Poel was very clear: "I hope I don't have too many problems in the race in Antwerp, even if I already know that I will understand my condition when I get up in the morning" .

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