If you’ve been keeping up with the ‘cross races, you’ve probably noticed one thing: nobody’s been able to come close to challenging Mathieu van der Poel.
Well, good news—Wout’s back in the mix.
Van Aert has officially confirmed he’ll be racing at the Cyclo-cross World Championships this Sunday in Liévin, France. After talking it over with his coaches and team, the Belgian star decided to jump into the action, bringing some much-needed firepower to the race.
“I’m feeling good, and my winter’s been solid,” Van Aert said. “The world championships weren’t really on my radar until recently, but after Maasmechelen, the Belgian team coach, my coach at Team Visma – Lease a Bike, and I all agreed it made sense. I’m excited to race such a beautiful event. It’s a great way to give myself an extra boost heading into the bigger road goals later this year. Sure, the preparation’s been different, but I’ll give it everything I’ve got.”
His team is fully behind the decision. Mathieu Heijboer, Head of Performance for Team Visma | Lease a Bike, explained: “Wout’s a true cyclo-cross lover. When he said he wanted to race, we talked it through and weighed the options. In the end, we’re fully supporting him.”
It’s clear Van Aert’s passion for the sport hasn’t waned, and fans are in for a treat when he lines up this weekend.
The last time these two titans clashed at Worlds, it came down to a nail-biting sprint. Van Aert might have had a shorter ‘cross season this year, but he’s still one of the best cyclists on the planet.
Meanwhile, Van der Poel will be gunning to defend his title and tie Roger De Vlaeminck’s record of seven rainbow jerseys. But could Wout spoil the party?
The racing goes from Jan. 29 to Feb. and Canadian Cycling Magazine will be there. Check our website, X, and Instagram and BlueSky for full reports.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…