"That is too close to the road season" - Is Wout van Aert taking an injury risk with his cyclocross season?
Cycling
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.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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