Wout van Aert intends to 'make it difficult' for Mathieu van der Poel at CX World Championships: "Here I am with no pressure. A blissful feeling"
Cyclocross
A mouth-watering prospect awaits cycling fans this Sunday in Lievin as Wout van Aert challenges Mathieu van der Poel for the Rainbow Jersey at the 2025 Cyclocross World Championships. Given his decision to start was a last minute one though, Van Aert himself insists there is no pressure on his shoulders.
"A World Championship remains a World Championship and you never know what will happen," assesses the Team Visma | Lease a Bike star in quotes collected by Sporza from the Belgian team's pre-race press conference. "I felt that the five crosses I had ridden were quickly over. On Sunday, I followed my gut, picked up the phone and now here I am. With no pressure. A blissful feeling."
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Although Van der Poel remains the heavy favourite, unbeaten this winter in his race, the decision of Van Aert to start does add the prospect of a little drama. "I feel that a lot of people drew hope from last Saturday's cross in Maasmechelen," says the Belgian. "But in the end, Mathieu showed last weekend that he is absolutely strong. I'm definitely not starting Sunday with the idea that I'm going to be world champion. But I do want to make it difficult for Van der Poel and take advantage of the small chance there is. Although I do realise that a lot has to go with it."
Given he's starting on the 4th row though, Van Aert does have a bit more work to do to get to the front than some of his Belgian teammates. "I hope common sense prevails: if I can gain a spot on the 1st lap by a Belgian crossing my path, I would appreciate it very much. With that, nobody loses their chances and I have a better chance to compete," says Van Aert on the subject. "There's a reason I'm on the 4th row of the grid. It's because I haven't ridden many results this winter. It's up to me to fight my way to the front."
Finally, Van Aert admitted that not all within Team Visma | Lease a Bike are totally convinced that starting the World Championship was the best idea. "My coach Mathieu Heijboer is actually very afraid that I will get sidetracked! Because on Monday I have to train for six hours," laughs Van Aert. "I am convinced, though, that this World Championship will make me better in my preparation for the classics."
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Choose your fighter! 👀
— UCI Cyclocross (@UCI_CX) February 1, 2025
Riders have picked their favourites for the Elite races of the 2025 UCI #CycloCross World Championships! 🌈
What's yours? 🫵#Lievin2025 pic.twitter.com/3HpjQlCd1l
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
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- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
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