"I will definitely be seen in the field" - Wout Van Aert makes a promise to return to fight for cyclocross throne after 100km training ride
Cyclocross
It is still unclear when Wout van Aert will return to cyclocross this winter, but the Visma | Lease a Bike rider already assured that he'll make an appearance as soon as possible. The Belgian is already clocking up the necessary kilometers on the bike, a good seven weeks after his heavy crash at Vuelta a España.
The 30-year-old classics specialist is progressing very quickly. Just over three weeks ago, the Belgian was able to cycle his first kilometres in his home region. Van Aert completed a ride of just over an hour in the region around Herentals, good for a distance of 32.6 kilometres. "Woo-hoo," wrote an overjoyed Van Aert on the popular training app Strava at the time.
In other words, Van Aert – who today cycled a hundred kilometers with his regular training buddy Jan Bakelants – seems to be preparing for his comeback. The Visma | Lease a Bike leader previously indicated that he has plans to start racing again in the winter months, but the Belgian has not yet given exact dates or cyclo-cross races where he plans to do so.
"I will definitely be seen in the field," the Visma | Lease a Bike rider reassures cyclo-cross enthusiasts in words reported by WielerFlits. "There is no specific date yet. But the fact that I will have an earlier rest than usual and will resume training earlier, may even be an advantage."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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