Wout van Aert will not race the
cyclocross World Championships, with sights on not sacrificing any goal in the road season. Mathieu van der Poel is set to have little competition as
Tom Pidcock is virtually confirmed to miss out on the race in Tabor.
“There is currently no definitive, clearly defined winter program. But in any case it will be very focused, with an emphasis on the end-of-year period," Pidcock's coach Kurt Bogaerts told Het Laatste Nieuws. "He contests a number of races during the busy end-of-year period. And then it doesn't last very long after that. A bit similar to last season. The World Championships? No, I don't think so"
Like the other two rivals, the Briton should start his season off-road somewhere along mid or late December, but his program will be short and not focused on any specific race. He skips the World Championships for a second year in a row. “Make no mistake: Tom is really looking forward to cyclo-cross. But it remains an 'extra'. Although with great added value, as this year proved. He was there immediately, with a win in the queen stage of the Tour of the Algarve and the Strade Bianche."
However 2024 will be a year more important elsewhere, Pidcock is the reigning Olympic champion in the XCO discipline and he will attempt to defend it in Paris this summer. For this, he will have to put in a lot of focus throughout the season to participate in the events that will earn him UCI points - which will provide him with a good starting position. Hence, with several goals on the road too, it becomes too difficult for Pidcock to insert month and a half of racing and an extra form peak this early in the year.
"It is important to properly substantiate his condition and ensure that he does not break down during the season. That works out well, because there have never been any spectacular dips so far," Bogaerts assures.
