Wout van Aert (Jumbo – Visma) made a splash when he made his cyclocross return last month at Azencross Loenhout. The three-time world champion acquitted himself well, finishing fifth in Loenhout and then following that result up with a fourth at Cyclocross Gullegem and fifth at Belgian Nationals.
Van Aert, however, is not done racing cyclocross for the winter. Although he opted for his time trial bike for the first time since his Tour de France crash this week over World Cup Nommay, he will be back on his Bianchi Zolder Pro next weekend.
.@WoutvanAert zit voor het eerst sinds zijn val in de Tour op de tijdritfiets: "Ik heb zoals vanouds afgezien"https://t.co/jRJNxupKKY pic.twitter.com/I3669ZelAC
— Sporza 🚴 (@sporza_koers) January 15, 2020
Van Aert’s team released his planned race schedule for the next month. The young Belgian plans on racing at least four times and a fifth if he receives a spot on the Belgian team for Dübendorf Worlds.
Wout van Aert’s remaining 2020 cyclocross races. photo: Jumbo – Visma
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin – Fenix) will head to Worlds as the overwhelming favorite again this year, and Toon Aerts (Telenet Baloise Lions), Eli Iserbyt (Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal) and new Belgian champ Laurens Sweeck (Pauwels Sauzen – Bingoal) seem to be the favorites to earn the honor of Top Belgian.
However, in an interview with Sporza, Paul Herygers gave a Van Aert a nod for the honor of Top Belgian.
Paul Herygers: "@WoutvanAert kan zilver winnen op WK veldrijden"https://t.co/9GRpKx0d4f pic.twitter.com/TQcrHSegdu
— Sporza 🚴 (@sporza_koers) January 14, 2020
Featured image: Bart Hazen
