"I went on vacation when Mathieu already started to train" - Wout van Aert aware of form disadvantage against van der Poel, thrilled with Benidorm win

It was not the easiest of winters for Wout van Aert. He had taken wins, but was convincingly defeated by Mathieu van der Poel on all occasions. Until Benidorm, where the World Champion struggled, and van Aert surged to a big win on his final opportunity of the off-road season.

"I had an easy winter, until I came to race cyclo-cross for the first time. I really needed that rest to stay in the shadows and to be able to build up without any pressure, but as Wout van Aert, you are immediately back in the spotlight and then you have to explain yourself each time," the Belgian shared with In de Leiderstrui. "That's not always easy, but we stuck to our approach."

He and Team Visma | Lease a Bike often claimed the lack of pressure heading into the cyclocross season, however after several direct defeats and second places, there was some disappointment and frustration. This wasn't completely unexpected, but it was not the most motivating signs ahead of a spring where van Aert looks to win a cobbled monument.

"We started with a different approach, and I am the first to admit that it was not always easy to put aside those expectations and look at the bigger picture. We did continue to do that, and in the past two weeks, we have worked hard," he tells. "It was nice to now see the results of that in the race. However, there are still two months left until the most important races, and I will need that time."

Van Aert's priority remains the road season and the spring classics. Hence, it was a good and motivating victory for the rider who will now leave the CX bike back in the garage for a few months. “I went on vacation when Mathieu already started to train, and if you have to face the best rider in the world after that... You shouldn't think that with three or four weeks less training, you can just pick up the gauntlet," he explains.

"Everyone has seen the level he reached. It doesn't matter how badly people want it, but there is no room for fairy tales in those circumstances. Then it's just logical that you can't compete. Now we're a few weeks down the line and it's already a bit better, and soon we'll start the spring season that we are now working towards. Hopefully, it will also work out then. That's what we're training and working hard for."