MTB – Mathieu van der Poel wins in the Ardennes

Mathieu van der Poel (Corendon-Circus) won the prologue of the Belgian Mountainbike Challenge in La Roche-en-Ardenne on Thursday. The Dutchman finished the 18.5 km course in 42’04”, after being hindered by a tractor, beating his compatriot Hans Becking by 40 seconds. Belgian Quinten Hermans completed the podium.

Van der Poel is therefore starting his mountain bike season, less than three weeks after his victory at the Amstel Gold Race. The Ardennes off-road event runs until Sunday and will serve as preparation for the Dutch prodigy (24 years old) for the third round of the Mountain Bike World Cup, on May 18 in Albstadt, Germany.