Flood warnings, ear issues and a five hour ride: How Wout van Aert has prepared for CX return
Cyclocross
With his cyclocross return in Antwerp approaching, Wout van Aert’s recent training load offers a clear snapshot of how seriously he has treated this latest build-up. One of the final days of his preparation block in Spain featured a demanding 170 kilometre ride lasting more than five hours, followed by an almost eight kilometre run at an average pace of 4:38 per kilometre.
That volume came during a training camp that proved anything but routine. Severe weather hit large parts of Spain, including the Calpe-Valencia area where Van Aert and his team were based. At one point, the Belgian even received an emergency alert on his phone warning of flooding risk in Valencia and advising people to avoid travel.
Despite the disruption, training continued. Van Aert later shared glimpses of daily life on camp via his regular Instagram recap, showing moments away from the bike alongside the work itself. Meals, light-hearted team scenes and Victor Campenaerts briefly embracing a Smurf-inspired outfit all featured.
The post also hinted at a minor ear issue, seemingly caused by friction with his helmet, though it did little to interrupt his workload as he logged long hours in the saddle.
Where Van Aert stands in cyclocross right now
Van Aert’s Antwerp return comes in the context of a more selective cyclocross approach in recent seasons. While he no longer targets the discipline with the same full winter focus as earlier in his career, his results remain consistently competitive whenever he lines up.
Last winter brought a mix of victories and podium finishes across the festive period, as well as another high-profile battle with Mathieu van der Poel at the World Championships. This season’s calendar again centres on a concentrated block of major races, with Antwerp marking the starting point of that run.
The preparation in Spain suggests Van Aert arrives back in cyclocross shape on his own terms, having balanced road-level endurance work with a targeted return to the discipline.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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