As the 2024/25 cyclocross season progresses, questions are swirling around whether the demanding calendar and lingering effects of a turbulent 2024 road season are taking a toll on Belgian superstar Wout van Aert. The three-time cyclocross world champion, known for his relentless drive and versatility, is navigating a compact yet intense cyclocross schedule while balancing recovery from a serious knee injury sustained during the Vuelta a España. With fans eagerly awaiting his clashes with rival Mathieu van der Poel, the spotlight is on whether Van Aert’s season is stretching him too thin.
Van Aert, riding for Team Visma | Lease a Bike, kicked off his cyclocross campaign on December 4, 2024, at the World Cup race in Antwerp, marking his return to competition after a two-month hiatus. His schedule, deliberately limited to six races—Mol (December 23), Loenhout, Gullegem, Dendermonde, Benidorm (January 19), and Maasmechelen (January 25)—reflects a strategic approach to prioritize his 2025 road season, particularly the spring classics like the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. However, recent performances and comments suggest the season’s physical and mental demands may be testing his resilience.
In his season opener at Azencross Loenhout, Van Aert suffered a crash but still managed to fight for a podium position alongside Westhoff, alongside young star Thibau Nys, until the final laps, finishing a respectable fourth. “The race was a good training stimulus for me,” Van Aert told Wielerflits. “It was the first time in months that I had to fight against myself for an hour.” While he showed flashes of his trademark power, he admitted to not being at his peak form, stating, “I certainly won’t reach my highest level [in Mol].” This tempered expectation, coupled with his recovery from a significant knee injury—a hematoma and stitches from a crash on the Collada Llomena descent during the Vuelta—has sparked discussions about whether the cumulative strain of his 2024 setbacks is impacting his cyclocross performance.
Van Aert’s 2024 road season was marred by adversity, including two major crashes: one at Dwars door Vlaanderen that disrupted his spring classics campaign and another at the Vuelta that ended his road season prematurely. Despite winning three stages and leading the points classification at the Vuelta, the injuries forced him to miss key goals like the Zurich World Championships. “It has not been my best season, I have had many setbacks, but I am proud of what I have been able to do,” Van Aert said at a road safety campaign event, hinting at the mental and physical toll of his challenges. His decision to skip the 2025 Cyclocross World Championships in Liévin, France, further underscores his focus on preserving energy for the road season, a choice that has drawn mixed reactions from fans and analysts.
Cyclocross legend Erwin Vervecken understands Van Aert’s reduced schedule, noting, “Both gentlemen [Van Aert and Van der Poel] have bigger goals” on the road. Yet, some fans on platforms like Reddit express disappointment, with one user commenting, “It’s a shame we won’t see Wout at his peak in cyclocross this year, but you can’t blame him after the year he’s had.” Others see his approach as pragmatic, with a user stating, “He’s smart to limit races and focus on recovery—those crashes were no joke.”
Van Aert’s rivalry with Mathieu van der Poel, one of cycling’s greatest, remains a focal point. The duo is set to face off in several races this season, including Mol, Antwerp, and Dendermonde, but Van der Poel’s dominance—winning 13 of 14 races last season—sets a high bar. Van Aert’s more modest ambitions, as he put it, “out of pure love for the sport,” suggest he’s using cyclocross as a training tool rather than chasing titles. “There are two great races in Benidorm and Maasmechelen where I expect to be in better condition,” he added, indicating a gradual build toward form.
As Van Aert balances recovery, training, and a condensed cyclocross calendar, the question remains: is the season getting long for him? Physically, he’s still regaining his edge after a grueling year, and mentally, the weight of setbacks may linger. Yet, his determination to return to the muddy fields and his hunger for the 2025 classics—evident in his six-hour road training session the day after the World Championships—shows he’s far from done. With a carefully curated schedule and a focus on long-term goals, Van Aert is pacing himself for a triumphant return to the road, even if the cyclocross season feels like a heavier lift than usual.
