The World Championships will be a completely different story" - Niels Albert confident that Hoogerheide will be an unique race

In early February the cyclocross field will tackle the World Championships in Hoogerheide, and the favourites have already shown their best level. Niels Albert explains his current expectations in the upcoming event.

“The World Championships will be a completely different story. Everything starts from scratch there," the Belgian legend told Het Laatste Nieuws. “I have rarely seen Wout cross as well as now. The way it is now riding around is really punishment. He races easily and he is confident for the sprint.”

Van Aert has recently taken several wins and has beaten Mathieu van der Poel on several occasions. The battle is balanced, however in climbing/sand/mud-filled courses the Dutchman seems to have been struggling slightly. Today's victory in Koksijde will give further motivation for the Jumbo-Visma rider.

“Although I am not so sure whether Van der Poel also thinks the same way," he continued. "He also rides very well, also takes the initiative. We have seen that in Heusden-Zolder, Diegem and Loenhout. If you ask me, it means nothing for the World Cup. That will be a whole different story. Then everything starts again from scratch.”

The battle in Diegem has widely been mentioned by the former pro as a good measure for the Worlds: “Pidcock will perhaps be missed by Van Aert. After all, it was he who always kept riding, even at times when Wout had already given up a bit."

"That's how it was in Diegem. Wout wanted to throw in the towel halfway through the cross. Because Pidcock never stops, he still came back to Van der Poel and took Van Aert with him, who won," he concluded.