Niels Albert: "I was shocked when I heard Wout van Aert's winter program"

Wout van Aert will soon be back in cyclocross action. Only racing six races though, the Team Visma | Lease a Bike star's much-reduced calendar has left some notable names in the sport disappointed.

"I was shocked when I heard Wout van Aert's winter program," admits cyclocross legend Niels Albert in his column for HLN, surprised at just how few races the Belgian superstar will be appearing at over the coming months. "Six races, that is very little. Even less than I had expected."

Alongside Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock, Van Aert forms part of the 'Big 3' of cyclocross. Multi-discipline stars who swap the road for the field every winter, usually with much success. As Van Aert announces a calendar of only six races and with the festive period approaching and still much uncertainty surrounding the programmes of Van der Poel and Pidcock, the presence of the 'Big 3' is set to be much more limited this winter.

"Wout says that the content of this campaign is one out of love for the sport," Albert continues. "Of course he will also collect nice starting fees and the choice between certain races depended on supply and demand, but the fact that he only rides six races proves that money has not taken the upper hand."

Albert also doesn't seem to have fully given up hope of Van Aert extending his winter. "With Benidorm and Maasmechelen, he will ride one World Cup round in the two weekends before the World Championship,” he concludes, asking the question of a possible Rainbow Jersey challenge. “Is there a chance that, depending on his feeling in those two races, he will give the green light for the World Championships after the second team training camp? The World Championships are taking place in Northern France and that offers opportunities.”