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Two of the Big Three came into Hoogerheide with the world’s eyes and weight on their shoulders, and within two minutes of the race, they looked ready to live up to the expectations and deliver what we all anticipated: a duel for the ages.

Dutch superstar Mathieu van der Poel showed he would be the aggressor, putting in a blistering attack on the first major climb, and only Belgian rival Wout van Aert could respond.

Van der Poel led early on in the race, but eventually, Van Aert came to the front and would take his turn surging, only to find his rival right behind.

The two traded pulls and attacks, with Van der Poel showing he was fastest at the tall, uphill barriers placed by his course-designing father.

As the two entered the final lap, fans and Van Aert likely expected Van der Poel to attack at the barriers, which were just a few turns before the pavement finish.

Instead, he was content to follow Van Aert all the way to the final pavement.

With one final, blistering attack, Van der Poel sprinted first, and Van Aert did his best to respond.

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With the sprint victory, Van der Poel claimed his fifth title, and prevent three-time champ Van Aert from equaling the score in the Elite Men’s worlds.

Behind, Eli Iserbyt took the sprint for third after an intense battle with Van der Poel, a highlight for the Belgian in an up-and-down season.

See the full results below. Stay tuned for more coverage and photos.

2023 Hoogerheide UCI Cyclocross World Championships Results: Elite Men

PosNrNameNationYOBTimeGap
1.27VAN DER POEL Mathieu
NETHERLANDS
Netherlands19951:07:20-
2.9VAN AERT Wout
BELGIUM
Belgium19941:07:20+0:00
3.5ISERBYT Eli
BELGIUM
Belgium19971:07:32+0:12
4.26VAN DER HAAR Lars
NETHERLANDS
Netherlands19911:07:33+0:13
5.12VANTHOURENHOUT Michael
BELGIUM
Belgium19931:08:06+0:46
6.7KUYPERS Gerben
BELGIUM
Belgium20001:08:14+0:54
7.11VANDEPUTTE Niels
BELGIUM
Belgium20001:08:17+0:57
8.8SWEECK Laurens
BELGIUM
Belgium19931:08:19+0:59
9.2MASON Cameron
GREAT BRITAIN
United Kingdom20001:08:28+1:08
10.21VENTURINI Clement
FRANCE
France19931:08:50+1:30
11.4ADAMS Jens
BELGIUM
Belgium19921:08:53+1:33
12.31KUHN Kevin
SWITZERLAND
Switzerland19981:08:54+1:34
13.34RÜEGG Timon
SWITZERLAND
Switzerland19961:08:54+1:34
14.3MEIN Thomas
GREAT BRITAIN
United Kingdom19991:08:54+1:34
15.20MENUT David
FRANCE
France19921:08:55+1:35
16.25RONHAAR Pim
NETHERLANDS
Netherlands20011:08:56+1:36
17.50KONWA Marek
POLAND
Poland19901:08:57+1:37
18.33ROUILLER Loris
SWITZERLAND
Switzerland20001:08:58+1:38
19.35ORTS LLORET Felipe
SPAIN
Spain19951:08:58+1:38
20.22HENDRIKX Mees
NETHERLANDS
Netherlands20001:09:14+1:54
21.37BOROŠ Michael
CZECH REPUBLIC
Czech Republic19921:09:17+1:57
22.23KAMP Ryan
NETHERLANDS
Netherlands20001:09:26+2:06
23.10VANDEBOSCH Toon
BELGIUM
Belgium19991:09:42+2:22
24.19DUBAU Joshua
FRANCE
France19961:10:17+2:57
25.18DOUBEY Fabien
FRANCE
France19931:10:52+3:32
26.24NIEUWENHUIS Joris
NETHERLANDS
Netherlands19961:11:00+3:40
27.16WHITE Curtis
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
United States19951:11:05+3:45
28.44FONTANA Filippo
ITALY
Italy20001:11:08+3:48
29.38RÍMAN Jakub
CZECH REPUBLIC
Czech Republic20001:11:12+3:52
30.36SUAREZ FERNANDEZ Kevin
SPAIN
Spain19941:11:44+4:24
31.6KIELICH Timo
BELGIUM
Belgium19991:12:44+5:24
32.40MEISEN Marcel
GERMANY
Germany1989-1 LAP
33.17VAN DEN HAM Michael
CANADA
Canada1992-2 LAP
34.52RISBERG David
SWEDEN
Sweden1999-3 LAP
35.49ODA Hijiri
JAPAN
Japan1998-4 LAP
36.51HEIGL Philipp
AUSTRIA
Austria1993-5 LAP
37.48MALNASI Jozsef-Attila
ROMANIA
Romania1998-5 LAP
38.42NYSTROM SPENCER Felipe Timoteo
COSTA RICA
Costa Rica1983-5 LAP
39.43PELLUARD Vincent
COLOMBIA
Colombia1990-7 LAP
28VAN KESSEL Corne
NETHERLANDS
Netherlands1991DNF

Featured photo: B. Hazen