Wout van Aert's new cyclocross bike revealed

In preparation for the start of his Cyclocross season, Jumbo-Visma's Wout van Aert has been training in the woods of Lichtaart and eagle-eyed viewers have spotted a brand new Cervélo bike.

Riding a Cervélo R5-CX bike that was launched last year, Wout van Aert's personalised version comes in a sleek, black frame adorned with a red and yellow front fork, paying homage to the Belgian tricolour. Something to look out for when van Aert makes his expected return on Saturday 26 November for the X2O Trophy round in Kortrijk.

Away from the crosses and onto the road, the possibility of van Aert leading Jumbo-Visma and contesting overall victory at the Tour de France in 2023 has recently emerged. With the gruelling Giro d'Italia route seemingly more suited to the reigning yellow jersey Jonas Vingegaard, could Jumbo-Visma opt to test van Aert's 3-week GC capabilities?

Speaking on the Wielerflits podcast, journalist Youri IJnsen certainly believes it is possible. "For the past three years, he has always finished in the top 21 in the final standings, in a serving role," he says. “If he can maintain the same form he showed in the first half of the 2021 Tour, then I want to see it again. If there is one team that could help him with this, it would be Jumbo-Visma for me.”