OPENINGZonhoven — the famously technical, sandy circuit built around the natural amphitheatre of the De Kuil sand pit — was raced this year in freezing conditions, the deep sand frozen hard and the off-camber lines glazed with snow and ice. Van der Poel had flagged the sand pit beforehand as likely to be the hardest part of the course; he answered the question immediately, leading the field into the circuit and setting a punishing tempo from the gun.

UNFOLDSThe world champion built his lead even further at the start of the third lap, riding the frozen mud and the De Kuil sand without a visible error while the chase fractured behind him. Teammate Tibor Del Grosso was the strongest of the rest and briefly held second before he crashed and had to rejoin the chase group. The race for the podium reshuffled on the icy lines — Emiel Verstrynge of Crelan-Corendon rode steadily into third — while the day's biggest drama came on lap four.

DECIDEDOn the fourth lap Thibau Nys, one of the pre-race favourites, crashed hard: he flipped over the course fencing into the crowd and broke the right side of his handlebars. He ran with the broken bike, took a replacement in the pits and dropped out of contention entirely. With the only credible challenger gone and the leader untouchable, the win was settled long before the bell.

FINALEVan der Poel crossed the line alone in 59:36 for his ninth season win in a row. Del Grosso recovered from his crash to secure second 45 seconds back, completing an Alpecin-Premier Tech 1-2, and Verstrynge held on for third at +1:03. Nys salvaged 19th, 3:22 down.