Bart Wellens accepts that MVDP and WVA don't prioritize cyclocross: "They don't give a sh*t about what anyone thinks"

Mathieu van der Poel skipped several recent crosses due to alleged back pain, while Wout Van Aert is already about to wind up his cross season without World Championships in his plans. For their opponents it's an opportunity, but it takes away a bit from the attractiveness of the sport.

The most recent World Cup round in Benidorm was won by the rising star Thibau Nys. Wout Van Aert, who had to battle his to way to final fourth place from far back at the start brought a bit of extra tension to the race, but also left a lot more to be desired. Meanwhile his Dutch rival, who has been in Spain for some time before the race, silently celebrated his 30th birthday while on Alpecin-Deceuninck's road team training camp.

"Well, in the end, those men just decide for themselves what they do. They don't give a shit about what the outside world thinks, but in a way I also think it's great that we can discuss it," Wellens says at Het Nieuwsblad.

However, many fans would've hoped to see the world champion in action in Benidorm - understandably - yet Van der Poel prioritizes to fully recover and prepare for his road objectives, starting with Milano-Sanremo in mid-March. However he'll still make two more appearances before the Cyclocross World Championships - bringing attention to the final two chapters of this winter's World Cup - the Maasmechelen and Hoogerheide rounds this weekend.

Wellens would have liked to see Van Aert at the start of the Cyclocross World Championships, but he also understands that Van Aert has to make choices. On February 17, just two weeks after the race in Liévin, Van Aert should already start his road season at the Clásica Jaén. But before that, he should provide us with one more spectacle as he'll clash with Van der Poel in the World Cup Maasmechelen before signing off of the 2024/25 cyclocross season.