"That is too close to the road season" - Is Wout van Aert taking an injury risk with his cyclocross season?

Wout van Aert recently announced his plans for this cyclocross winter, and he will compete just six times. The Belgian had a difficult season, including his heavy crash at Dwars Door Vlaanderen in the spring, before his brutal crash on stage 16 of the Vuelta saw him pick up a nasty knee injury.

Eurosport cycling commentator Jeroen Vanbelleghem has made his thoughts clear, and he certainly has some concerns over the Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider’s calendar.

"I think Wout shouldn't be allowed to do cyclocross more often", he said. "This is mainly due to his fall last summer in the Vuelta. As a result, he is behind in his running training. In a cyclocross, you have to run over obstacles on a less than ideal surface. That is difficult after the knee problems he has had.

"His program now fits in well with the training camps of his team Visma | Lease a Bike. He finds the road season very important," he said. "After his first crosses, he will go to a training camp and then start in Benidorm and Maasmechelen. He participates because he wants to have fun, not because there is something to gain."

Jeroen Vanbelleghem also raised his surprising belief than Van Aert will not return to the cyclocross world championship, where he would be trying to win the world title back from Mathieu van der Poel’s stronghold.

"That is too close to the road season to reach a good level there. If he rides the World Championship, he wants to be in top condition. And that will not happen without specific preparation.

"If Mathieu van der Poel prepares well, he might also think he has less chance. But that is pure speculation."

Whatever happens, the Belgian will be desperate to enter 2025 in his best shape, as he looks to have a season without the crashes of 2024.