Van Aert Announces Cyclocross Season Finale

Cyclo-cross
Van Aert Announces Cyclocross Season Finale

Jumbo-Visma has announced Wout van Aert's upcoming cyclocross schedule, which includes the UCI Cyclocross World Championships. The Belgian rider, who is returning from injuries sustained in a high-speed crash at the Tour de France, will also take part in four other 'cross races to round out the winter season.

After the team's training camp in Spain, van Aert's next race will be the Kasteelcross Zonnebeke on January 25, followed a day later by the UCI World Cup round in Hoogerheide.

A week later, on February 2, the triple world cyclocross champion will represent Belgium at the World Championships in Dübendorf, Switzerland, but his place has not yet been confirmed.

He will then close out the cyclocross season with the final round of the Super Prestige Trophy at DVV Trofee Krawatencross and Merksplas on February 8.

"I'll be doing five crosses in the coming period and hopefully the World Championships," Van Aert said in a video released by Jumbo-Visma. 'Of course, the coach still has to choose me.'

"We mainly looked at whether it would suit my (road) preparation. Of course, to prepare for the Flanders Classics you have to spend hours on the bike. But I'm not tough enough for the 'Cross, and I'm not tough enough for the 'Classic. In that sense, the upcoming races will be good training."

Longtime Belgian rival Mathieu van der Pol (Alpecin-Phoenix) will also take part in the Zonnebeke and Hoogerheide, named after his father Adrie, before ending his cyclo-cross season at the World Championships.

Van Aert returned to racing for the first time since his crash at the Tour at the DVV Trofee Azencross in Loenhout on December 27. He finished 5th at the event and raced twice more, finishing 4th at the Cyclocross Gurregem and 5th at the Belgian National Championships.

This season, he is expected to target the entire cobbled classics, including the Tour de Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, before returning to the Tour de France in July.

January 25: Kasteelcross, Zonnebeke

January 26: UCI World Cup, Hogelheid (GP Adrie van der Pol)

February 2: UCI Cyclocross World Championships, Dubendorf

February 8: DVV Trophy, Clwatencross Lille

February 9: Superprestige, Merkspra [27]

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