"If they can be beaten, it's now, in those first races" - Niels Albert on van der Poel and van Aert's return; Tom Pidcock's absence from cyclocross season
Cycling
Within the space of a few days we will have once again Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert racing in the cyclocross field. It is a set of races that have long been awaited, and sport legend Niels Albert believes that they can be beaten, but that would likely be in these first races if it's to happen.
"Those guys don't come when they're bad, right? I think Mathieu will have an advantage because Wout is recovering from an injury. But if they can be beaten, it's now, in those first races," Albert told Het Laatste Nieuws. "Of course, they're already thinking about spring. I'm already very happy with Mathieu's 11 cyclocrosses, I thought there would be fewer."
With riders such as Michael Vanthourenhout and Toon Aerts showing tremendous form in the hilly crosses, they could definitely pose a threat in such a race. In the faster ones Eli Iserbyt could potentially also be a match if he overcomes his current injury, whilst Thibau Nys is the more obvious choice - although he is still having the inconsistency that makes it difficult in several races.
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Van Aert will race six events as of now, whilst van der Poel will tackle 11 including the World Championships where he aims for seventh rainbow jersey. "We can't change their choices. We can only enjoy them when they are there. They are actually giving themselves completely from now until the Road World Championship at the end of September, so I understand that they want some peace of mind at some point.”
Albert also commented on Tom Pidcock, who confirmed this week that he will not be racing cyclocross this winter, instead focusing on his switch to Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team. If he is to do it next year however, he will be able to continue using the Pinarello bikes. “He is a world star, a former world champion as well. He is a great figure and always gives himself completely. The more battle, the more fun for the public. So he will definitely be missed. But it is his choice, we have to respect that," Albert concluded.
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🗓️ The 🇳🇱 Mathieu van der Poel, 🇧🇪 Wout van Aert and 🇬🇧 Tom Pidcock cyclocross calendar 2024-2025.
— Cyclocross24.com (@cyclocross24) December 17, 2024
🔸 11 races for MVDP 🌈
🔸 6 races for WVA
🔸 0 races for Tom Pidcock
🔸 4 races with MVDP and WVA ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/xLPMnDWmxh

Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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