They call it a big weekend: two World Cup rounds back-to-back, and not the easiest ones either: Hulst and Zonhoven. The “Kuil” (the sandpit), combined with a second day of competition, takes a toll on even the best-trained bodies in the world.
With one month to go before the World Championship in Liévin, these two days provided valuable insights into the status of the favorites. While the race for the title had seemed wide open until now—and still is among the women—Mathieu Van der Poel’s return, it must be said, seems to put a damper on the suspense.
Hulst : Schreiber and Vandeputte's first victory
Marie Schreiber claimed victory on Saturday in Hulst, dominating the race from start to finish to secure her first World Cup win. The Luxembourger took the lead right from the start, closely followed by her teammate Kata Blanka Vas. Lucinda Brand, whose poor start this time appeared to be caused by a mechanical issue, once again had to fight her way back.
Schreiber quickly set a blistering pace, completing the first lap with an 11-second lead over an active Zoe Bäckstedt, who was unable to close the gap, which grew to 28 seconds by mid-race. Lucinda Brand, in an impressive comeback, came tantalizingly close to pulling off a stunning recovery, narrowing the gap to 16 seconds at the start of the final lap.
However, Schreiber kept her composure, maintained her lead, and crossed the finish line in first place. An excellent Puck Pieterse rounded out the podium in third place.
For the men, it was also a first victory for Niels Vandeputte — in a scenario strikingly similar to the one written by Marie Schreiber just an hour earlier. The Belgian from Alpecin led the race from start to finish, immediately setting a strong tempo and creating a gap between himself and his closest challengers: Lars van der Haar and the Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal duo of Michael Vanthourenhout and Eli Iserbyt.
There were a few mistakes — and subsequent crashes — among the main contenders, including Vanthourenhout, Iserbyt, and Van der Haar, while Vandeputte rode flawlessly, extending his lead to 30 seconds by mid-race. At this point, Felipe Orts emerged as a surprise contender, launching a solo pursuit. The Spaniard, who continues to prove he’s a force to be reckoned with, closed the gap to just 10 seconds by the end, but Vandeputte remained unshaken, claiming an undeniable victory. Pim Ronhaar completed the podium, edging out Iserbyt.
Zonhoven: Alvarado Again, and Van der Poel Already
It could have seemed like a repeat performance when Marie Schreiber took off with a lightning-fast start, closely followed by Zoe Backstedt. Backstedt soon took the lead over the Luxembourger, but the race was far from decided. Ceylin Carmen del Alvarado, last week’s winner in Namur, was not to be underestimated. Starting more conservatively, Alvarado gradually reeled in a group that included Lucinda Brand and Blanka Vas.
By the second lap, with bursts of acceleration, Backstedt held a 22-second advantage. However, at mid-race, Lucinda Brand launched an attack under a sudden hailstorm, only to make an unfortunate error. Alvarado seized the moment, catching Brand and Backstedt before capitalizing on another mistake by Brand to break away for good. Despite a late push from a very strong Backstedt, Alvarado opened up enough of a gap in the final lap to secure victory, with Brand settling for third place.
The women’s season has been thrilling, packed with twists and turns. And then he returned.
For his season debut, Mathieu Van der Poel made an emphatic statement. Perhaps more than dominance, it was precision that defined his ride. Combining extraordinary physical strength with pinpoint bike handling, he carved clean, flawless lines through the sand. From the first lap, the reigning world champion surged into the lead with a blistering acceleration, building a 21-second gap over Toon Aerts and the other favorites. It quickly became clear that the battle behind him was only for the podium.
In the sandpit, Thibau Nys and Pim Ronhaar engaged in a fierce duel. A series of mistakes from Ronhaar gave Nys a small but growing advantage. At the front, however, Van der Poel appeared calm and untouchable, riding with an ease that belied the effort.
The contest for third place remained more competitive, with Joran Wyseure ultimately outpacing Toon Aerts. But it was clear that Van der Poel hadn’t just won the race—he had likely dealt a psychological blow to his rivals. The king was back.
