"The difference with last year is clear: then the cross was a goal, now it is not" - Mathieu Heijboer not expecting cyclocross dominance from Wout van Aert

Wout van Aert will return to cyclocross action next Saturday in Essen. Although much will be expected of the Belgian, Jumbo-Visma's Mathieu Heijboer is keen to cool the expectations surrounding his rider.

"This winter the cross is much more of a means than an end," the Dutchman explains to Het Nieuwsblad. "Everything is based on spring. Last winter, the cross was really still a goal and there was a first peak towards the World Championships in Hoogerheide. After that World Championship there was a physical and mental decompression, especially since a certain disappointment had to be dealt with."

"Last Wednesday, Wout completed a real cross-training and there is such a training on the program again on Wednesday, mainly to test the material again," Heijboer continues. "Not that much has changed, such training mainly serves to give the mechanics the opportunity to definitively adjust the bicycle. And it gives Wout the opportunity to get used to his cross bike again."

Often, the introduction to the cyclocross season of van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock sees the discipline dominated by the trio. This time around however, Heijiboer is unsure van Aert will able to consistently compete for victories against his rivals as he states the Belgian's level is somewhat lower than this time last year.

"Wout won't be shocked by that and I won't be shocked by that. Which does not mean that Wout starts to finish fifteenth. Wout is someone who always wants to win," Heijboer concludes. "We are going to make the most of it for one hour at a time to improve our fitness, Wout wants to be able to do his thing for an hour. Can he win? Maybe he's close, maybe not. But it is important that Wout can complete his planned training sessions the next day in the build-up towards February. We also want a fresh Wout on the stages that will soon be completed with a view to the classics. The difference with last year is clear: then the cross was a goal, now it is not."