Are Van Aert and Van der Poel still essential to cyclo-cross? Numbers stay strong: "Fans love the rivalry"

"The huge surge in popularity has settled down, but even without Van der Poel and Van Aert, we still see solid TV numbers," says Christophe Impens of Golazo, the organizer of the X2O Trophy and Exact Cross. "Depending on the day and the weather, viewership still averages between 350,000 and 600,000 people." Attendance at events is also holding strong. "For example, the Koppenbergcross just had its best edition since the pandemic," he adds. The massive drop in interest some feared? It hasn’t happened, backing up what previous data suggested.

Tomas Van Den Spiegel, CEO of Flanders Classics and organizer of the World Cup and Superprestige, is optimistic. "We’ve noticed other races and classifications getting more attention and importance in recent months, which usually gets overshadowed by the World Cup. That’s a positive shift." So the cyclo-cross races are doing just fine without Van Aert and Van der Poel, it seems.

In fact, the absence of the 'Big Two' has made the races more unpredictable and competitive. With the field more evenly matched, there’s been a broader range of winners. "Iserbyt, Nys, Vandeputte, Wyseure, Vanthourenhout, Sweeck and Van der Haar — there have been seven different winners in the top TV races! That’s great for the future of the sport," says Impens.

Of course, both Van Aert and Van der Poel would be warmly welcomed if they chose to return — this season or next. But it is key that they both show up, so that fans can experience their rivalry. "Fans really look forward to seeing them go head-to-head," Impens explains. "Their presence adds a lot of excitement. We’re lucky to have stars from other cycling disciplines come and compete in cyclo-cross. They bring so much extra value. It’s up to us to use this momentum and adapt the calendar for the future. People say that the schedule is built around the 'Big Two,’ but it’s also giving other riders more flexibility," adds Van Den Spiegel.

Still, this season may not be an exception for Van Aert and Van der Poel’s limited appearances. "If they don’t compete, we need to respect their decisions," says Impens. "We’re ready to welcome them with open arms, but we won’t pressure them or try to force anything. We’re taking a humble approach. Wout and Mathieu are megastars that transcend cycling. They have bigger goals and ambitions."

So far, the current cyclo-cross season has shown that the sport’s entertainment value hasn’t dipped. New stars are emerging, and others are grabbing their opportunities. It’ll be exciting to see what happens if — and when — Van Aert and Van der Poel do return to the start line.