"Let's hope they're evenly matched": Former world champion hopes Van der Poel and Van Aert have done their "homework"

For the 2025/26 cyclocross season, the calendars of Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert are already known. Both will debut at the end of December, and will coincide in a total of 5 races (pending what the Belgian will decide to do with the World Cyclocross Championship in Hulst). The excitement is high, and that's why a world champion, Erwin Vervecken, has sent them homework.

Speaking to Sporza, Vervecken spoke out about the return of the two big cyclo-cross stars to the discipline. For the former rainbow jersey winner, the level of both must be up to expectations. He is particularly interested because he works for Golazo, organizer of 3 races in which Van der Poel and Van Aert will be present: Plage Cross Hofstade, Azencross Loenhout and Zilvermeercross Mol.

"Their presence always attracts more people. In Loenhout, last year the venue was too small. We also see it in the sales figures. Van Aert and Van der Poel are very welcome. People come to those races. Hopefully they will be evenly matched and it will be very exciting. If we could get sprints, that would be fantastic," he began.

Being part of the organization of several races, Erwin Vervecken also explains how the riders set their calendars, commenting that from his position there is not much to do: "The team simply sends their calendar. They are mainly looking for intensity to warm up for the spring. So they mainly choose the races they like."

In the absence of Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert, the big star of the season so far has been Thibau Nys, who has won almost everything, including the first two rounds of the World Cup. Will he be able to prove his worth against both of them?

Fellow world champion Niels Albert believes the young Belgian will be a real threat to the cyclocross champions. "At this high level, Nys might well be able to offer Van der Poel and/or Van Aert some stiffer resistance when they make their (re)entry into cyclocross. Thibau is currently one of the only cyclocross riders whose flashes of class could hurt the 'Big Two' and put them under pressure," he told Het Laatse Nieuws.

"He has taken a big step forward this year," Vervecken nods to the sound of his younger compatriot's words.

"A good Thibau is exceptional in today's peloton. It would be fantastic if he could sneak in. Can he beat them? We'll see over Christmas," concludes Vervecken.