Wout van Aert reveals cyclocross schedule with five clashes against Van der Poel

Wout van Aert will race against Mathieu van der Poel five times on the cyclocross circuit this winter. The Belgian revealed his 2025/26 cyclocross schedule on Monday morning, and he will begin his campaign with a clash against Van der Poel at the World Cup in Antwerp on December 20, and the pair will also face off on Van Aert’s second outing of the winter at the X²O Badkamers Trofee – Hofstade.

Van Aert has confirmed eight cyclocross appearances in total in December and January, largely packed into the Christmas period. Van Aert has a particular fondness for this winter return. “The Christmas period is a phase of the cyclocross season that I always enjoy being part of,” Van Aert explains. “Because of the races themselves, the large numbers of supporters who come thanks to the holidays, and the fact that these races fit perfectly into my build-up towards the major spring classics on the road.”

After starting with those Van der Poel duels in Antwerp and Hofstade, Van Aert will continue with Superprestige Heusden-Zolder on December 23 and the Dendermonde World Cup on December 28.

Van Aert’s third meeting with Van der Poel will come at the X²O Badkamers Trofee - Loenhout on December 29, and he then rides against the Dutchman at the Exactcross in Mol on January 2 and at the Zonhoven World Cup on January 4.

The Visma | Lease a Bike rider has also confirmed that he will chase a sixth national title at the Belgian Championships in Beringen on January 11.

Van Aert has not yet revealed his plans for the World Championships in Hulst on February 1, where Van der Poel will be chasing a record eighth rainbow jersey. A three time world champion himself, Van Aert has not lifted the title since 2018 and has finished second to Van der Poel at each of his last four appearances.

Within Team Visma | Lease a Bike, however, the option is still being discussed. “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,” Head of Performance Mathieu Heijboer told Wielerflits. 

“It is always a dilemma. In that sense the Worlds are simply not in an ideal place on the calendar if you want to perform well in the Classics shortly afterwards. That is something you can only really judge once you see how Wout is feeling at that moment,” Heijboer added.