“I will ride cyclocross” – Wout van Aert confirms early return to the field after road season

Wout van Aert has confirmed that he will return to cyclocross next winter, giving fans the reassurance they were hoping for. The Belgian superstar has always combined his passion for cyclocross with the road season, but the number of cyclocross races he has been participating in the last years has been decreasing, sparking specualtion whether he might give it up next winter.

However, that is not the case, and we will be able to see him fighting on the mud in a couple of months if everything goes as planned.

“I will reassure people here and now that I will ride cyclocross,” he told Sporza. While the plan is set, the details remain undecided. “I can’t say much more about it yet, because we haven’t talked about it,” he explained. “I do want to be a bit more active in cyclocross again.”

The exact timing is still uncertain, but Van Aert hinted that his return could come earlier than in recent years. “When, how, and what are all premature at the moment,” he said, before adding: “I’m going to finish my road season early, so I have the idea of diving into the field earlier as well.”

When asked whether he will participate in the cyclocross World Championships, set to take place in Hulst, the Netherlands, on February 1, Van Aert plans to keep fans guessing. “I will announce that only a week in advance. I liked doing that this year.”

In January this year, Van Aert had initially dismissed the possibility of competing in the 2025 World Championships taking place in Liévin, France. However, he did a last minute change, unexpectedly announcing his participation just one week in advance.

The announcement meant a new duel between Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert, the two riders that have been dominating cyclocross in the past decade. Van der Poel was the winner, as it was the case in every race he competed in last season, as he won 8 out of 8.

This winter, the Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider also hopes to enjoy a healthier off-season after last year’s knee injury. “I couldn’t run much last season because of the knee injury. Now I plan to take out my running shoes a bit more,” he shared.

Finally, when asked whether he would consider running a marathon in the near future, he quickly dismissed that idea, although not completely. “A marathon is very long. Let me start with a shorter distance, but it is something I’ve already thought about, yes.”