Antwerp, as expected, delivered a high-level spectacle for cyclocross enthusiasts, and in the showdown between Van der Poel and Van Aert, the Dutchman won after a magnificent solo ride, while the Flemish rider finished seventh.

Wout van Aert returned to racing on the muddy cyclocross roads and despite a good race, where he immediately positioned himself among the best, a puncture prevented him from reaching the podium, leaving the spots to Laurens Sweeck, second, with his teammate Emiel Verstrynge in third.

"As always, sport was tough," said a somewhat disappointed Wout van Aert. "I was fighting for the podium, but then I got a flat tire in one of the most difficult sections". Despite missing the podium, the Belgian demonstrated he is still among the top cyclocross riders, and in his debut, he showed he still has the right explosiveness to remain behind Mathieu van der Poel, who today won his second race of the season.

"I had a good start, of that I'm convinced. But while I was moving up in the group, I felt I was losing my breath. Shortly after, Sweeck managed to break away. Then I created a margin and was on track for third place, but then the flat tire came and I was forced to chase."

Despite a seventh place, Van Aert is happy with his result, considering this was the first race of the season, and he thinks there will be ample room for improvement in the upcoming races.

"Is my return to the group different from last year? Absolutely. Last season I was forced to start from much further back and I enjoyed myself much less. Today was completely different and I even had fun."