The 2019-20 Superprestige cyclocross series is about to kick into a new gear as Mathieu van der Poel (Corendon-Circus) returns to the discipline for the fourth round of competition in Ruddervoorde on Sunday.

The two-time Dutch elite world champion has been out of racing for almost a month since the end of a busy road racing season, but this weekend in Belgium, World Cup leader Eli Iserbitt (Pauwels Sausen-Bingor), Toon Aerts, and Aerts' Telenet Baloise Lions teammate and overall Superprestige leader Lars van der Haar, should be ready to take a crack at the field.

Friday's Koppencross (the opening race of the 2019-20 DVV Trophy) should provide some indication of form before Sunday's race, but neither injured women's world champion Sanne Canto (IKO-Crelan) nor Van der Pol will race there!

Yara.

Yara Castellaine (777) won the third race in Gabelle last weekend and is in the overall lead by one point over Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado of Corendon Circus.

Meanwhile, Van der Haar's consistency in the opening three rounds of the season has put him at the top of the men's standings. He has solidified his lead by one point over teammate Quinten Hermans and is looking for his first win in the series.

Starting from zero in terms of points in the fourth round of the eight-round series, van der Pol will find it nearly impossible to win the Super Prestige title this year, which he has won four times in the past five years, including last year. He has won it four times in the past five years, including last year. But make no mistake, the Dutchman can do it. Winning all five remaining races, starting this Sunday, is entirely possible.

"Yes, I want to win right away," Van der Pol said earlier this week. I don't think you can fight in cyclocross except with the intention of winning races, and I think that's what I'm trying to do."