Winner at Gavere three days ago and absent from Sunday’s race near Dendermonde, Mathieu van der Poel made his return this Monday to Loenhout (Belgium) for the fifth round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee. Author of a controlled race, the Dutch runner won the day. Victim of two punctures during the race, Wout Van Aert finished in 10th position.
Absent from Dendermonde this Sunday, Mathieu van der Poel quickly got back in the saddle this Monday during the fifth round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee. Already winner of the fourth round last Friday near Gavere, the Dutchman continued by offering himself a sixth success in as many races in the discipline this season.
Input destabilized
A perilous route which promised all its surprises, with the notable absence of this Sunday’s winner in Dendermonde, Thibau Nys, forfeited. In the first moments, the runners observe each other and it is Toon Aerts and Niels Vandeputte who set the tempo of this race. A first round which could have turned things around. Well placed behind several competitors, Mathieu van der Poel was hit by the arm of a spectator on the side of the road. Destabilized at the level of his handlebars, the Dutch rider still managed to remain in control of his two-wheeler and was able to continue, without seriousness, but with a few scares.
As the race progresses and the laps are completed, the favorites gradually begin to make their effort and it is on the third lap that the spectators will be able to begin to enjoy the expected duel between Wout Van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel. The two men do not let go of each other and van der Poel tries to put pressure on his Belgian counterpart on a technical part of a route which proves to be demanding and uneven.
Van Aert suffers two punctures
However, it is at the end of this third lap of the race that everything will change. Victim of a rear wheel puncture, Wout Van Aert is still far from the technical zone to be able to change bikes and thus sees Mathieu van der Poel heading alone in the lead towards victory. Returning to the chasing group and relegated to almost a minute behind Mathieu van der Poel, Wout Van Aert is still trying to get back into the race to at best get a second place this Monday in Loenhout. However, it was without taking into account the twists of fate for the Belgian who punctured a second time on the fifth lap, at the same level as the first and saw his chances of a podium slip away. Finally, Mathieu van der Poel will never be worried and will quietly win at Loenhout in this fifth round of the X2O Badkamers Trofee. Niels Vandeputte and Joris Niewenhuis completed the podium while Wout Van Aert finally finished in 10th position.
Ranking X2O Badkamers Trofee in Loenhout / Monday December 29, 2025
1. Mathieu van der Poel and 57’48”
2. Niels Vandeputte at 46″
3. Joris Niewenhuis at 57
4. Ryan Kamp at 57″
5. Toon Aerts at 57″
6. Gioele Bertolini at 59″
7. Anton Ferdinand at 1:00 p.m.
8. Cameron Mason at 1’03”
9. Yorben Lauryssen at 1’15”
10. Wout Van Aert at 1’26”
