Belgian coach still hopes Van Aert lines up at the cyclocross Worlds

Speaking to HLN ahead of the World Cup in Gavere, De Clercq made clear he is keeping the door open, and not only for sporting reasons. “It is not completely excluded. Not only sportingly is he important for us, but the youth also look up to him. I write his name in pencil in every selection I make. Around or after the Belgian Championships it will be clear what it will be,” he said.

The main constraint is Van Aert’s road preparation with Team Visma | Lease a Bike, and the training camps that shape his spring build up. Earlier this winter, Head of Performance Mathieu Heijboer said the team will not adjust those plans to accommodate a Worlds bid. 

“The starting point is that we respect the dates of our training camps with the road team. We are not going to make concessions or compromises on that,” Heijboer explained.

That said, the calendar does offer a small opening because Visma are travelling later than in previous years. The team are due to leave for Spain on January 12, the day after the Belgian Championships, and remain there until January 24. 

“I am not saying no to the Worlds entirely. As far as we are concerned, the door is slightly open. We will make that decision later, but for now the World Championships are not part of our plans,” Heijboer added.

Van Aert has raced three cyclocross events so far this winter and is set to start five more. Whether Hulst becomes the final chapter of his campaign, or a date he skips to protect his spring classics build up, should become clear shortly after the Belgian Championships.