Cyclo-cross: Van der Poel walks, Van Aert postpones his return

It is one of the attractions of winter. For four months, Mathieu Van der Poel and Wout Van Aert host the cyclo-cross season across Europe. The enemy brothers were supposed to meet this Monday at the Superprestige in Mol (Belgium). We will have to wait a little longer.

WVA postponed its return to competition. “Unfortunately, Wout Van Aert fell ill and will not recover in time for tomorrow’s race. We wish him a speedy recovery,” his Visma-Lease a Bike team announced on its social networks on Sunday.

VDP already in great shape

For his part, Van der Poel continues to reign over the discipline. The Dutchman, six times world champion and defending champion, started his season this Sunday in Zonhoven (Belgium) with a victory. A World Cup round flown over as usual. Starting from the third starting line, he only waited a minute to silence the competition. The second Thibau Nys finished one minute and thirty seconds behind.

The reunion between the two rivals could take place next Friday in Loenhout (Belgium). Before a big battle at the World Championships in Liévin at the beginning of February? Not sure. By announcing his winter program, Wout Van Aert, for his part, cast doubt on his participation.

“Cyclo-cross remains my first love. I like to come back every winter… (But) it will be out of pure love of this sport, with modest ambitions,” he said.