That was a great race, but I don't understand how everyone is so excited about Van der Poel and not Sam Gaze. I saw a bunch of people talking about how amazing it was that Van der Poel came from 47th to third by the end of the second lap. It surprises me that anyone would be shocked by that. The guy is the best cross racer in the world - getting up to speed quickly off the start is kind of his thing. He was starting in the sixth row - three pedal strokes into the race he was probably already up to the third row, and was top ten before they finished the first lap (I distinctly recall he was right behind Kulhavy in 15th or something after the first climb.) So, yeah, that's a great start but ... of course he starts well: he's coming in to the first WC of the season in top form from CX where starts are very, very important. And the same people who are talking about him and his impressive fourth place aren't mentioning the fact that Sam Gaze only started in 30th spot himself and he actually was the only one to accomplish even staying with Nino (not to mention beating him!) in over a year on this stage.
Van der Poel showed the same weakness he had last year (which, admittedly, could be due to the fact that he's one of the only guys out there who's been racing all winter): he couldn't hold the pace in the middle of the race. And even with Gaze winning in the end, you always kind of felt like Nino was in control that whole day -- the way he backed off the pace just to play carrot for Marotte so he could put in an effort the moment Marotte bridged and put him away for good was brilliant. I seriously doubt he'd have done any differently with Van der Poel if he had to. On the other hand, I think Gaze beat Nino straight up - even with the pedal skip, I don't think Nino was going to outsprint him at that point - but the fact was he dictated that pace and found that Gaze was equal to it in the end. He won't make that mistake again - there were a few moments when it looked like Nino could have ridden away from him earlier and just played it too cautiously, and it cost him. He underestimated Gage. He didn't underestimate Van der Poel.
I think it's cool that there finally seems to be some guys able to challenge Nino now that Absalon is showing his age more, but I still think Nino will continue to be the dominant racer for a while yet. And this weekend showed that if there is a rival right now, it's Gage not Van der Poel. At least for the time being.