“I’m 31, but it’s still amazing to experience this” – Wout van Aert surges back onto cyclocross podium for first time this winter

Wout van Aert marked an important step in his winter campaign on Monday evening as he claimed second place at the X2O Trofee in Hofstade, securing his first cyclocross podium of the season after only his second race back.

Racing in the iconic yellow and black of Team Visma | Lease a Bike, Van Aert finished behind an untouchable Mathieu van der Poel, but crucially asserted himself as best of the rest in a race that quickly split into clear levels of performance.

Reflecting on his ride in a Visma press release afterwards, Van Aert was satisfied with the step forward he had made compared to Antwerp, explaining that “I can be satisfied with my performance. Technically, I rode much better than in Antwerp.”

After a solid start, the Belgian settled into his race and was able to lift his level as the laps passed, something he identified as a key difference compared to his return two days earlier. “I had a good start. I chose the right side of the field and immediately managed to overtake several people. In the first lap, I had to get into the rhythm. Halfway through, I found the legs that allowed me to put in a considerable effort.”

With Van der Poel already clear at the front, Van Aert was able to manage his effort intelligently as the race unfolded, focusing on consolidating second place rather than riding beyond his limits. That approach was deliberate, as he explained afterwards: “I didn’t hit the wall quite as hard, but that’s also because I didn’t have to go all out in the last three laps. That was what I was hoping for.”

That measured ride allowed him to distance the rest of the chasing group and approach the closing phase of the race with increasing confidence. While the victory was out of reach, the performance offered a clear signal of progress so early in his cyclocross return. Van Aert also highlighted the atmosphere in Hofstade as a reminder of why the discipline still holds a special place for him, noting that “with three laps to go, I knew I wasn’t going to catch Mathieu. In some places, I was able to really enjoy the encouragement. I’m 31, but it’s still amazing to experience this.”

The focus now quickly shifts to the next challenge, with Van Aert set to line up at the Superprestige in Heusden Zolder, a venue that holds positive memories for the Belgian. Looking ahead, he added simply: “I have fond memories of this cross. I’m really looking forward to riding there.”