The new cyclo-cross season has already started. For the time being without Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert, but Niels Albert thinks that will turn out fine.
After Beringen and Ardooie, there will be field racing this weekend in Essen and Ruddervoorde. But without Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel, who are not expected to start again until December.
If they start racing, because Van der Poel in particular has doubts about this. “Mathieu may race a little less, Wout certainly will. I see him doing completely fine after his heavy fall in the Vuelta and rehabilitation,” says Niels Albert at HLN.
Because for Van Aert it was another mental blow, that crash in the Vuelta. He therefore missed the European and World Championships on the road, and also the World Cup and European Championships on clay. Still four appointments where he wanted to shine.
Will Van der Poel equal De Vlaeminck’s record?
According to Albert, Van der Poel and Van Aert enjoy racing too much to ignore it for the winter. And it remains a perfect preparation for the Flemish spring for them. “Such a Flemish classic is actually one long cyclocross.”
And Van der Poel also plays a role in Erik De Vlaeminck’s World Cup record, which he can equal this winter. “I find it hard to believe that Mathieu’s World Cup victory record not interested at all. You don’t have to have eight or nine, just match it.”
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