“The cross lives by the grace of bitter duels" - Van der Poel & Van Aert's return to cyclocross can't come soon enough according to Michel Wuyts

The UCI World Cup gets underway later today in Waterloo, kickstarting the cyclocross season. The absence of the likes of Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert may prove significant though believes Michel Wuyts.

“The cross lives by the grace of bitter duels,” says Wuyts in a conversation with HLN, previewing the upcoming winter. “The flyer against the bludger, the artist against the brawler. That's how it went with De Vlaeminck and Van Damme. That's how it went in the Nys-Wellens duels. Tribal war everywhere, almost always the masses going crazy. All winter long.”

The sad truth however, is that whilst the World Cup begins in Waterloo, the lack of star power means interest isn't at the level it could or should be. “That is no longer possible. Unless from December until well into January, when the big players take office. Van der Poel against crowd favourite Van Aert. Where they start, the numbers double. In the arena, at home in front of the TV and at the pay table," Wuyts explains. "So on to December, for the Big Two. With the occasional unpredictable Tom Pidcock as a pit bull on duty. Then the soap is pleasant. There you have it, the strength and weakness of the cross combined.”

With their absence, who are the riders to keep an eye on? “Why shouldn't Thibau Nys aim for a win in, say, Ruddervoorde or Maasmechelen? Especially after that victory in Beringen," he suggests. “We should also keep an eye on Pim Ronhaar, Kevin Kuhn, Emiel Verstrynge, Joran Wyseure and Cameron Mason. But don't assume that the young people will immediately round up Sweeck and co. It may take a few years before you put aside the still only 25-year-old Iserbyt. Pushing through only took no time with Van der Poel, Van Aert and Pidcock."