Can Wout van Aert beat Mathieu van der Poel in Baal? "It doesn't really matter to me"

Wout van Aert entered the cyclocross season with inferior form to that of Mathieu van der Poel, but signs point towards the gap closing. With a few races left on the schedule, the Belgian responds to whether he can defeat his big rival.

“It is one of the toughest editions I have ever experienced. The clay soil has regained the upper hand," van Aert said in an interview with Wielerflits before the race today, where he faces van der Poel and also Tom Pidcock once again. "But I like to do this. It's tough, but it's also good to concentrate on the right tracks. It will be a really difficult cross.”

The muddy conditions, less explosive track and lack of sand makes for a more suiting circuit for the Belgian when comparing to the World Champion. The two headline the spectacle in the current events, and a big battle could take place on one of the most iconic tracks in the circuit.

Asked if he can beat the Dutchman, van Aert replies. "It doesn't really matter to me, I think I can handle Koksijde well too. Today I am good, but Mathieu can also do everything well. I don't necessarily think I have more of an advantage today than in any other cross. Mathieu has won all his crosses, so he starts as favourite.”