After a month of rest, Wout van Aert is back on the bike — and, if his latest Strava post is anything to go by, the build-up to another cyclocross campaign has quietly begun.The Team Visma | Lease a Bike rider logged a 107-kilometre ride on Tuesday morning, his first since the Super 8 Classic on 20 September. Titled “Krampachtig” (“Cramped”), the three-hour spin through the Belgian countryside marked the official end of his off-season. For followers on Strava, it was a reassuring sign that one of the sport’s most versatile riders is turning his attention back to serious work.
Van Aert had remained largely absent from training updates in recent weeks, save for a single 10-kilometre run and a handful of relaxed holiday photos from Rome. But with winter approaching, the return of regular rides is often the clearest indication that cyclocross mode is near.
Earlier start expected this winter
The 31-year-old has already confirmed that he plans to return to the mud earlier this season than last, when he didn’t debut until the Loenhout Azencross on 27 December. His precise race calendar is yet to be announced, but all signs suggest a December start — potentially aligning with early-season World Cups or traditional festive classics like Mol and Heusden-Zolder.
Should that be the case, Van Aert is likely to once again renew his rivalry with Mathieu van der Poel, whose own cyclocross programme is expected to be equally selective. The pair have defined the discipline’s modern era, with Van Aert’s three world titles (2016–2018) and Van der Poel’s record-equalling seven forming one of cycling’s most compelling contrasts in style and supremacy.
A return to roots — with road benefits
Although his primary focus remains on the road — where 2025 saw him return to form after a disrupted spring — Van Aert has long credited cyclocross with sharpening the explosive power and bike handling that underpin his classics success. His short but intense winters have become carefully managed preparation blocks for the early-season road races, particularly the Monuments.
Whether this winter brings another tilt at the rainbow stripes or simply a tune-up for 2026, Van Aert’s first 100-kilometre ride back is a reminder that his competitive instincts never rest for long. The off-season may be over — and the mud may soon be calling again.
