Wout van Aert and Tim Merlier set to make their World Cup debut in Antwerp before Christmas

Belgian Cycling has announced the Belgian selection for the Antwerp World Cup scheduled on December 23. It was already known that Wout van Aert will ride his first World Cup round of the season and Thibau Nys will return after a rest period. But it has now become clear that Tim Merlier will also return to the field on Saturday. Sanne Cant won't appear in Antwerp.

Van Aert made his return on December 9, in the Exact Cross Essen, but did not race again afterwards. He went to a training camp with Jumbo-Visma. He will contest the Zilvermeercross in Mol on Friday, December 22, before traveling to Antwerp on Saturday for the World Cup round there. In both races he crosses swords with Mathieu van der Poel. It has been since the World Championships in Hoogerheide that the two competed against each other in the cross.

Belgian men lineup for Antwerp World Cup:
Wout Van Aert, Tim Merlier, Thibau Nys, Eli Iserbyt, Jens Adams, Gerben Kuypers, Witse Meeussen, Laurens Sweeck, Toon Vandebosch, Niels Vandeputte, Michael Vanthourenhout and Joran Wyseure

Belgian women lineup for Antwerp World Cup:
Lotte Baele, Julie Brouwers, Lore De Schepper, Alicia Franck, Fleur Moors, Marion Norbert Riberolle, Jinse Peeters, Marthe Truyen, Xaydée Van Sinaey and Suzanne Verhoeven