Cyclocross fans are eagerly awaiting the much-anticipated showdown between Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel at the Exact Cross in Loenhout this Friday, despite a recent setback for the Belgian. Van Aert had planned to make his season debut at Mol on Monday, but was forced to pull out due to illness. However, his management has confirmed that the race in Loenhout is still on the cards, with Van Aert’s recovery being closely monitored.
Van Aert’s absence from Mol allowed his arch-rival, Van der Poel, to claim a dominant victory for the second consecutive day. The Dutchman had already stormed to victory the previous day and made it a perfect two days of racing, further solidifying his strong early-season form. However, Van Aert’s fans were disappointed to see their hero sidelined due to a sudden bout of stomach flu, which struck him hard over the weekend.
The Belgian’s manager, Jef Van Den Bosch, explained to Het Laatste Nieuws that the illness took hold on Saturday, leaving Van Aert in no condition to race. “Wout felt really bad,” said Van Den Bosch. “There was nothing he could do.” Despite this, Van Aert’s condition improved by Monday, and the focus now is on ensuring he fully recovers for the next major event. Van Aert’s team, Visma-Lease a Bike, also expressed optimism about his recovery. Sports director Jan Boven revealed that the Belgian was feeling “reasonably well” after waking up on Monday, which was an improvement from the previous day. “It’s now a matter of recovering and taking it day by day,” he added.
This latest illness comes after a series of frustrations for Van Aert, who has faced multiple setbacks in recent seasons, including crashes and injuries. As a result, the 29-year-old rider had been eagerly looking forward to his cyclocross campaign this winter. Boven emphasized that Van Aert had no choice but to rest, given the severity of the illness. “You have to put those plans on hold, but when you’ve been sick for a whole day, you know that there’s no other option,” Boven explained.
While Van Aert missed out on Mol, Van der Poel will get another chance to extend his strong start to the season. On December 26, the Dutchman will race in Gavere, Belgium, in the second round of the World Cup series. Van der Poel has a strong track record at Gavere, having won the race four times, including the last two editions. He will be the overwhelming favorite going into the race.
Despite this, all eyes will be on Loenhout, where Van Aert’s recovery could set the stage for another thrilling rivalry between the two cyclocross giants. If Van Aert can make a successful return to form, the contest at Loenhout promises to be a race for the ages.
