The ninth round of the season was held on snow in a bid to show the sport is suitable for inclusion in the Winter Olympic Games.

Previous efforts by World Athletics for cross-country and the UCI for cyclo-cross have been unsuccessful, with the International Olympic Committee stressing the Winter Olympics are exclusively reserved for sports where snow or ice was a necessary element.

Three-time cyclo-cross world champion Van Aert, who has won six stages of the Tour de France, showed his abilities on another terrain in Val di Sole.

The Belgian star triumphed in the men’s event in a time of 59min, 27sec, one day after winning the Ethias Cross race in Essen.

Michael Vanthourenhout completed a Belgian one-two, finishing second, 49sec down.

Britain’s Tom Pidcock, the Tokyo 2020 mountain bike gold medallist, completed the podium places at 1:28 behind the winner.

World Cup leader Eli Iserbyt finished fourth at 1:44 down.

The Belgian now leads the World Cup standings by 101 points over compatriot Toon Aerts.

The women’s race saw a dramatic conclusion with Marianne Vos appearing poised to claim victory after passing Van Empel in the closing stages.

Vos crashed on the final corner, which allowed Van Empel to regain the lead.

The 19-year-old crossed the line in 51:50 to claim a maiden professional victory.

Vos remounted her bike and finished 6sec behind the winner.

Canada’s Maghalie Rochette rounded off the top three, ending 11sec off the pace.

Denise Betsema had the opportunity to seize the World Cup lead from Lucina Brand had she achieved a top-two finish, with her Dutch compatriot absent from the event.

Betsema finished fifth in Val di Sole, with the result reducing the gap to eight points.

Back-to-back World Cup races are set to take place next weekend in Rucphen and Namur.