The Belgian champion and the wearer of the iridescent jersey presented themselves together in the final hectometres. Put under pressure by ‘WVA’ and the boiling public of Diegem, Pidcock yielded under the accelerations of Van Aert, winner with 6 seconds in advance. Mathieu Van der Poel, who had a complicated final, failed in 3rd place (+0:33).
This is the fourth victory in six outings in the plowed for Van Aert, following those acquired in Dublin, Mol and Heusden-Zolder on Tuesday.
On the women’s side, Dutch Pick Pieterse dominated the race head and shoulders. Quickly in front, she beat her compatriots Shirin van Anrooij by 30 seconds and Ceylin Alvarado, winner the day before in Heusden-Zolder, by 1:02. It is the 6th victory this season for Pieterse, 20, who was the big favorite with the absences of Marianne Vos, Lucinda Brand and Fem van Empel. The Dutch Inge van der Heyden (1:09) and the Hungarian Blanka Vas (1:23) complete the top 5 of the day.
The 7th and penultimate round of this regularity trophy will be held on January 7 in Gullegem. The epilogue is scheduled for February 11 in Middelkerke.
