Cyclocross Gallery: A hat-trick in Valkenburg Belgian Wout van Aert won the elite men's world cyclocross championship for the third year-in-a-row on Sunday in Valkenburg. February 4, 2018 VeloNews.com Share this Facebook Icon Twitter Icon Email Icon Join VeloNews.com Like & save favorites, and get a personalized homepage. Join for free Already have an account? Sign In Join VeloNews.com Like & save favorites, and get a personalized homepage. Join for free Already have an account? Sign In Yes! Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images After Lars van der Haar grabbed the holeshot, Tim Merlier went to the front. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Wout van Aert had a solid start, as Mathieu van der Poel (background) had a few places to make up. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images The crowds were out in force in Valkenburg. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images (File). American Stephen Hyde rode in the top five in the early minutes of the race. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Once van der Poel made it to the front on lap one, he hit the accelerator. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Michael BoroŠ (Czech Republic) comes to grief on the muddy course. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Van Aert and van der Poel left everyone else behind on lap one. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images (File). The Irish fans were dressed up as leprechauns on Sunday. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Van Aert set off alone on lap two, capitalizing on a mistake by van der Poel. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images (File). After losing contact with van Aert, van der Poel struggled to find a solid rhythm again. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images (File). Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images As hosts of the 2018 world cyclocross championships, the region of Limburg did not disappoint in creating a world-class course in Valkenburg. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images (File). Vanthourenhout caught and then passed van der Poel midway through the race to move into the silver medal spot. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Laurens Sweeck finished the day in eighth. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Gioele Bertolini came out of nowhere to finish sixth on the day. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Three times champion of the world in cyclocross. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Vanthourenhout was full of emotion as he captured the silver medal. He is a former under-23 world cyclocross champion. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Van Aert high-fives his girlfriend after crossing the line. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Van der Poel had a lonely ride down the finishing straight toward the bronze medal. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images Yes! Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images The sun had mostly set when the elite men’s podium finally began. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images The sweet taste of victory. Photo: ©Tim De Waele | Getty Images
