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All eyes were on Mathieu van der Poel at the 2021 UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Dendermonde.

Deep puddles and heavy mud featured today. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Deep puddles and heavy mud featured today. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

The heavy, muddy course marked the first race of the season for the reigning Cyclocross World Champ, who was returning from a November knee injury and a long road and mountain bike season. His season's highlights included stage wins and days in the yellow jersey at the 2021 Tour de France, but also were marked by the low of spectacularly crashing at the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Mountain Bike race and hurting his back.

In Dendermonde, could Van der Poel overcome a third-row start, injuries and an undefeated rival in Wout van Aert?

It took just ten seconds to see that the Dutch star was certainly ready to give it a go, as he navigated his way through traffic to sprint into the top five by the first turn.

All eyes were on the return of Mathieu van der Poel, who rocketed from a third-row start to top five by the first turn. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

All eyes were on the return of Mathieu van der Poel, who rocketed from a third-row start to top five by the first turn. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

While Toon Aerts hit the front in hopes of showing that his chance of victory should not be discounted, Van der Poel was never far from the front, while Van Aert was stuck in traffic.

Wout van Aert did not have a fast start but made his way to the front when it mattered. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Wout van Aert did not have a fast start but made his way to the front when it mattered. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Pidcock, the third star of the multi-discipline "Big Three" was far back and never factored.

Toon Aerts took charge early. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Toon Aerts took charge early. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Soon Van Aert joined the lead group, and after three laps, it was down to the three tall stars in Van Aert, Van der Poel and Aerts.

Aerts was first to fade after four laps, while Van Aert gapped Van der Poel only to see him repeatedly claw back.

Mathieu van der Poel returned to resume his rivalry with Wout van Aert. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Mathieu van der Poel returned to resume his rivalry with Wout van Aert. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Would we be treated to yet another duel for the ages?

Mathieu van der Poel returned to resume his rivalry with Wout van Aert. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Mathieu van der Poel returned to resume his rivalry with Wout van Aert. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Van Aert took advantage of a Van der Poel bike change to open the gap back up, and on Lap Five, it stretched to five seconds, and the elastic snapped.

By Lap Six, it was 11 seconds, and soon Van der Poel was racing for second, and would finish 49 seconds back.

"It was quite okay, along the expectations today," Van der Poel said after the finish. "The first half was quite good and then the second half, my shape let me down a little bit but I hope that will come soon with the races I'll be doing."

Aerts completed the podium, finishing 1:18 in arrears.

Van Aert commented on the lack of fans after his win, not understanding the country's decision to ban them.

American Curtis White finished 17th, leading a large North American contingent.

Height ruled the day: Van der Poel, Van Aert and Aerts. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Height ruled the day: Van der Poel, Van Aert and Aerts. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Full results and photo gallery below. See the Elite Women's results and photos from Dendermonde here.

2021 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Dendermonde Results: Elite Men

PosNrName / UCI Cyclocross TeamNATTimeGap
1.7VAN AERT Wout
JUMBO-VISMA
BEL1:03:48-
2.1VAN DER POEL Mathieu
ALPECIN - FENIX
NED1:04:37+0:49
3.9AERTS Toon
BALOISE TREK LIONS
BEL1:05:06+1:18
4.10VANTHOURENHOUT Michael
PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL
BEL1:05:40+1:52
5.11HERMANS Quinten
TORMANS CYCLO CROSS TEAM
BEL1:05:57+2:09
6.3VAN KESSEL Corne
TORMANS CYCLO CROSS TEAM
NED1:06:29+2:41
7.12SWEECK Laurens
PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL
BEL1:06:40+2:52
8.33PIDCOCK Thomas
INEOS GRENADIERS
GBR1:06:47+2:59
9.8ISERBYT Eli
PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL
BEL1:07:01+3:13
10.2VAN DER HAAR Lars
BALOISE TREK LIONS
NED1:07:12+3:24
11.16AERTS Thijs
BALOISE TREK LIONS
BEL1:07:29+3:41
12.13BAESTAENS Vincent
CX TEAM DESCHACHT-GROUP HENS-CONTAINERS MAES
BEL1:07:39+3:51
13.15VANDEBOSCH Toon
PAUWELS SAUZEN - BINGOAL
BEL1:08:13+4:25
14.44MEISEN Marcel
ALPECIN - FENIX
GER1:08:25+4:37
15.35TURNER Ben
TRINITY RACING
GBR1:08:39+4:51
16.17VERMEERSCH Gianni
ALPECIN - FENIX
BEL1:09:02+5:14
17.36WHITE Curtis
CANNONDALE/CYCLOCROSSWORLD
USA1:09:10+5:22
18.14SOETE Daan
CX TEAM DESCHACHT-GROUP HENS-CONTAINERS MAES
BEL1:09:41+5:53
19.24KUHN Kevin
TORMANS CYCLO CROSS TEAM
SUI1:09:57+6:09
20.4VAN DER POEL David
ALPECIN - FENIX
NED1:10:02+6:14
21.38HECHT Gage
AEVOLO
USA1:10:03+6:15
22.6GODRIE StanNED1:10:28+6:40
23.30BOROS MichaelCZE1:11:16+7:28
24.18GRAS Yan
TEAM PODIOCOM CC
FRA1:11:30+7:42
25.25BERTOLINI Gioele
SELLE ITALIA - GUERCIOTTI - ELITE
ITA1:11:53+8:05
26.34MEIN Thomas
TORMANS CYCLO CROSS TEAM
GBR-1 LAP
27.39HAIDET Lance
L39ION OF LOS ANGELES
USA-1 LAP
28.20PHILIBERT Aurelien
ARDENNES CROSS TEAM GECIBAT
FRA-1 LAP
29.5VAN DER MEER GosseNED-2 LAP
30.19GUILLAUD Valentin
TEAM GUEVEL IMMOBILIER LAVAL CYCLISME 53
FRA-2 LAP
31.37WERNER KerryUSA-2 LAP
32.40SWARTZ CalebUSA-2 LAP
33.27SUAREZ FERNANDEZ Kevin
NESTA - MMR CX TEAM
ESP-2 LAP
34.23DUJARDIN SandyFRA-3 LAP
35.31PETRUS LubomirCZE-3 LAP
36.22JAUREGUI Quentin
B&B HOTELS P/B KTM
FRA-3 LAP
37.53VAN DEN HAM MichaelCAN-3 LAP
38.28JUNQUERA SAN MILLAN Mario
UNICAJA BANCO - GIJON
ESP-3 LAP
39.43O'CONNOR FinneganUSA-3 LAP
40.21MARASCO Lorenzo
SEBMOTOBIKES CX TEAM
FRA-3 LAP
41.49HAUSSLER Heinrich
BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS
AUS-3 LAP
42.52KOCKELMANN RaphaelLUX-3 LAP
43.26DORIGONI Jakob
SELLE ITALIA - GUERCIOTTI - ELITE
ITA-4 LAP
44.47HAMM Florian
SCHAMEL P/B KLOSTER KITCHEN
GER-4 LAP
45.54JETTE CameronCAN-4 LAP
46.50HEIGL PhilippAUT-4 LAP
47.41CLOUTIER TylerUSA-5 LAP
48.42LANDO NicholasUSA-5 LAP
49.46MAYER YannickGER-5 LAP
50.51NYSTROM SPENCER Felipe TimoteoCRC-5 LAP
51.29LLANEZA ARGUELLES MiguelESP-6 LAP
32VANICEK SimonCZEDNF
45WEBER Sascha
TREK | VAUDE
GERDNF
48PAUL FelixGERDNS

2021 UCI Cyclocross World Cup Dendermonde Photo Gallery: Elite Men

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Mathieu van der Poel returned to resume his rivalry with Wout van Aert. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

Mathieu van der Poel returned to resume his rivalry with Wout van Aert. 2021 Dendermonde UCI Cyclocross World Cup, Elite Men. © B. Hazen / Cyclocross Magazine

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