“F*ck normal, I want magic”: Van der Poel turns the page, Van Aert declares “The season starts here” in gym update

While many road riders are only just switching into off-season mode, Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert are already gearing up for a hard-working winter. Both road-and-cross legends gave fans a peek behind the curtain on Friday — and the verdict is simple: they’re stepping on the gas again. Van der Poel shared photos from a busy October; Van Aert was snapped in the gym.

Van der Poel actually ended his season back on 14 September with a disappointing Mountain Bike Worlds. The battery was flat, so a proper reset followed. He toured sponsors, hit the golf course, spent time with partner Roxanne — and only in October did the bike gradually return to the picture.

We saw the Alpecin–Deceuninck star go out running and, at his usual Spanish base on the east coast, put in some serious work on the road bike. That’s the main thread in his October Instagram dump: fewer holiday snaps, more proof he’s buzzing again. His recent training block in Spain, pre-breakfast running data and his return to familiar Spanish climbs already did show that. 

The holiday is over for Van Aert too. The Belgian from Visma | Lease a Bike wrapped his year a week after Van der Poel at the SUPER 8 Classic, recharged, took the family to Italy, did some celebrating — and in his weekly Instagram updates, the bike crept back into view.

Recently, rehab/performance outfit Lab Physio captured him going full gas in the gym with the caption: “The season starts here.” He’s also been quietly logging work on Strava these past weeks.

Motivation clearly isn’t an issue, judging by the subtle social posts trickling out. One line from Van der Poel stood out: “F* normal, I want magic”. That’s exactly what fans will be hoping for in 2026: two classics heavyweights chasing fresh magic.

When do we see them back? That’s still to be pinned down. Both are expected to race cyclo-cross this winter — with the 31-year-old Belgian perhaps starting a touch earlier. Van der Poel should, as usual, ramp up in December, stack several cross starts, and then aim at an eighth world title.

We’ll also see Van Aert briefly on Saturday at Tim Declercq’s farewell event.