Not wanting to rest on its laurels, “WVA” indicated that it had two “absolute main objectives”: the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. “When I think about it, I am ready to do anything to achieve them,” he added.
As he begins his 11th season in cyclocross, his program had already been announced on December 6 and will include Mol on December 23 in Superprestige, Loenhout on December 27 (Exact Cross), Gullegem on January 4 in Superprestige, Dendermonde on 5 January, Benidorm on January 19, and Maasmechelen on January 25. These last three races count towards the World Cup.
“It has really become a ritual to invest myself in cyclocross in the winter, in order to fill this period well. Sometimes, especially when you are injured, you think about resting during the winter. But just doing it thinking… I’m too itchy to not want to miss this moment. It’s become second nature to me, my first love to which I always return.
Victim of a fall at the Vuelta in September, Van Aert admitted that his preparation had been different. “Even today I’m working on strengthening my right leg to be as strong as my left leg. So that’s a question mark regarding my competitiveness. But one thing is for sure, I’m really looking forward to ‘be there.’
The Campinois with 49 road victories is often seen as one of the favorites at the start of the races in which he participates. “You get used to everything, including the role of favorite. The main thing is to stay true to yourself, to know what your goals are and how you approach certain races.”
