Van der Poel, van Aert and Pidcock had immediately set the pace to find themselves in front followed by Laurens Sweck, leader in the general classification of the World Cup and Michael Vanthournhout, his runner-up.
It was the European champion, 4th, who took the lead but only to grab two points from Sweeck, 6th, at the top of the general classification with 310 points for 287 in Vanthourenhout. It was the Dutchman Lars van der Haar, winner last year at Gavere, who had meanwhile inserted himself between the two, 5th on Monday.
Eli Iserbyt, 3rd in the World Cup was absent, still insufficiently recovered from his fall on the icy snow of Val di Sole in Italy ten days ago.
Thibau Nys, 20, took 7th place.
Three World Cup events are still on the program on January 8 in Zonhoven, January 22 in Benidorm in Spain and closing on January 29 in Besançon.
The tenors will meet on Tuesday in Heusden-Zolder and Wednesday in Diegem in Superprestige.
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