Wout Van Aert has "legs again to win the World Championship" and Mathieu Van der Poel has to "up a gear" - Cyclocross analyst Paul Herygers

Wout Van Aert had a very strong Christmas and New Year period with seven duels between him and Mathieu van der Poel. Van Aert won five of them: Mol, Zolder, Diegem,  Loenhout and Koksijde.

"Whether this is the very best Van Aert? I think he can hardly still improve. I've already seen him become world champion three times and these are legs again to win the World Championship, It is still a month but I assume this is enough. If something more needs to be added, the trousers will burst. It's still a long period and Van Aert has to bridge that period, but everything is on point" stated former cyclocross rider now analyst Paul Herygers.

In contrast to his Belgian rival, Mathieu Van der Poel didn't had a very successful Christmas and New Year period throwing into the table some doubts about his condition specially related to the back problems he had since his crash at the Olympic games mountain bike race.

"Mathieu van der Poel is not in the doldrums right now. Something like that does not creep between his ears. He has to come up fresh, but I don't stare blindly at Koksijde either, so I won't say he's in the doldrums. Those guys just jump out of there overnight. With a rider other than that pair - or trio with Pidcock - I would say it's a problem. But for this Van der Poel, it's a point to say: up a gear" stated Herygers about the Dutchmen condition and possibilities for the Cyclocross World Championship race.

Tom Pidcock made the decision to not be on the World Championship, due to the injuries he sustained in his recent crash at at the GP Sven Nys in Baal, while he was leading the race with a comfortable marge to his most close competition.

"I totally, completely understand that. He has already proved that on the road he can compete with the very best and at his team they don't mess around. They don't say: do as you like", said Herygers about this.

Wout Van Aert will not be present at Lokeren for the BK (Belgium Cyclocross Championships) and the fight for the Belgian national title will be intense with name like Eli Iserbyt, Laurens Sweeck, Michael Vanthourenhout has the main contenders for the title.

"I line up Eli Iserbyt, Laurens Sweeck and Michael Vanthourenhout. Although I might push Vanthourenhout forward a bit: he pulled the plug in Herentals and Koksijde. He's daring.bIt's also the right moment. Sweeck also did it. Iserbyt has to do it differently, but has confidence after Baal. They are evenly matched and may daydream of a Belgian title, but I think Michael will find his liking there.", stated the cyclocross analyst about the Belgian national cyclocross race.