“Cyclocross remains my first love, which is why I enjoy returning to it every winter", says Van Aert. “This winter, we’ve opted for a compact schedule of six races that fit well into my training plan. It will be a cyclocross season I approach purely out of love for the sport, but with modest ambitions. After my crash in the Vuelta and my knee injury, it’s essential to make the best use of the time I have to prepare for the road season. A few cyclocross races fit nicely into that plan, but the schedule is deliberately more limited than in previous years.”

Van Aert does not expect to show his top form during his first race, in Mol. “That will be the first target to work toward, but I certainly won’t reach my highest level there.” He will then compete in Loenhout, Gullegem, and Dendermonde, after which he will join Team Visma | Lease a Bike for a training camp.

“After that camp, there are two great races on the calendar in Benidorm and Maasmechelen, where I expect to be in better condition. I’m incredibly excited to get back into the field and look forward to reconnecting with the fans,” Van Aert concludes.