"Close to record numbers": The first winter clash of Van der Poel and Van Aert attracts huge crowds to Antwerp

This weekend, cyclocross gods will descend onto the ground in Antwerp for the first in a series of their duels. Cyclocross will always be popular in the Netherlands and Belgium, but nothing compares to when Mathieu van der Poel and Wout Van Aert - winners of last ten World Championships - cross their arms to get their faces covered in mud.

Wout Van Aert's limited winter programme with mere six starts makes his appearance all the more appealing to Belgian fans who will crowd the course on Saturday just to see their favourite in action. For organizers, Flanders Classics, this all are excellent news towards ticket sales.

"We do expect a few more people than usual," Flanders Classics CEO and race organiser Tomas Van Den Spiegel told Het Laatste Nieuws. "An exact forecast is very difficult. Cyclocross fans are often very late deciders."

"But this week, we're seeing about 1,000 tickets flying out the door each day, which should easily push us towards 12,000 to 14,000 by Saturday. A record? Hmm, those are numbers that have been achieved in the past. But it'll probably be close."

For as long as Van der Poel and Van Aert continue to perform at their incerdibly high level, cyclocross will continue to enjoy its "golden era". However both men have already turned 30 and it's clear their careers can't last forever. Van Den Spiegel nods that the sport won't be able to live off the two superstars' popularity for eternity:

"The sport has proven in the past that it can weather storms many times. But we must capitalise on the momentum to improve the future of cyclocross and our organisations, making it more sustainable, and creating the stars of tomorrow. Because one day it will be without Mathieu and Wout; they won't be racing forever," he said.

"Hopefully, it'll take a while, but we have to be prepared. That's precisely why we're incredibly happy with the development of, for example, Thibau Nys and some of the young female talents. They must ensure that there will be life after Van der Poel and Van Aert."

Following his triumph in Namur, Van der Poel will appear at the start line in Antwerp as the main favourite for victory. A change to the course layout in Antwerp this weekend could assist both him and Van Aert, with the pair facing the challenge of starting from the third row.

"We've moved the start and finish lanes to the wide Thonetlaan, where the riders' campers used to be parked," Flanders Classics head of cyclocross Chris Mannaerts told WielerFlits.

As is well-known, their main challenger Thibau Nys is not very fond of sand pits - an obstacle that is synonymous with the seaport. "The finish on the Wandeldijk next to the beach had the advantage of being right after the last sandy section, but in terms of crowd flow, that finish did cause a lot of problems."

"The new starting lane is over six meters wide, and there are plenty of opportunities to move up at the beginning. The starting lane is split into two sections, but that bend on the asphalt won't pose many problems. It will take over 400 meters before the lap first reaches a width of four meters, at the first dip in the sand. So there's plenty of room to choose your position before it gets tricky the first time."