Flood warnings, ear issues and a five hour ride: How Wout van Aert has prepared for CX return

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.

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.