For cyclo-cross fans, the duels between two giants, Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert, have been a treat for years. Although the two will be seen competing together this winter, signals from van Aert's team suggest that the Belgian ace is not taking the current cyclo-cross season seriously.
Visma–Lease a Bike announced that van Aert will have eight starts in December and January, but competition director Mathieu Heijboer clarified that the team leader's goal is "primarily to have fun." Van Aert sees the winter appearances, where he will face van der Poel five times, as preparation for the spring classics.
"The main sporting goal is in April, that's clear. The goal of cyclo-cross is primarily to enjoy and give something back to the fans. It's still Wout's great passion," said Heijboer, while noting that van Aert is starting the winter from a stronger position than in 2024, when he began training late due to a crash in the Vuelta a España.
Last spring, van Aert could not overcome Van der Poel or Tadej Pogačar on the road, who won the Tour of Flanders and Paris–Roubaix’. Van Aert aims to improve his results. "Mathieu and Tadej are, of course, huge talents, capable and ready to win wherever they compete. But we see a lot of room for development to rediscover Wout's best version," said Heijboer.
Van Aert's cyclo-cross season will culminate in his pursuit of a sixth Belgian title in mid-January, where the national championships will be his final race of the season.
The season plan is also built around Visma–Lease a Bike's road training camps – the January camp will begin the day after the Belgian championships. The Cyclo-cross World Championships are not part of van Aert's plans.
