What is Van Aert doing in Colombia in mid-November? "Every now and then you have to do something crazy"

"Welcome buddy," Urán, who is something of a demigod in Colombia, broadcasted to the world in mid-October when announcing Van Aert's attendance at his event. The Belgian from Jumbo-Visma thus follows in the footsteps of the likes of Alberto Contador, Chris Froome, Tadej Pogačar, and Egan Bernal: other big names who have graced Urán's Gran Fondo with their presence.

Jan Boven, team director at Jumbo-Visma overseeing off-road disciplines, is all for Van Aert's adventurous choice. "It's simply a Gran Fondo on the road. Every once in a while, it’s good to throw in something crazy, so to speak" Boven told IDLProCycling.com: "This kind of adventure is something Wout has often sought out, and it fits right into his wheelhouse."

"It’s not even that crazy, as it serves as excellent training and will be an experience he’s sure to enjoy," the Dutch squad's sports director revises his initial statement. "Wout sometimes needs a change of scenery to stay motivated," explains Boven about Van Aert's preference. Van Aert is known for exploring a variety of races on the road and has a penchant for pioneering 'new' cyclocross races like those in Dublin and Val di Sole. "He likes it and should definitely keep it that way," Boven asserts.

A Gran Fondo is essentially a sort of glorified touring race. The leading cyclists can win, as Johnny Hoogerland became the Gran Fondo world champion in his age category this past August, for example. However, for the majority of participants, as in Colombia, it's mainly about the enjoyment. This is also the case with the Giro del Rigo in Colombia, where amateurs can cycle for fun with Van Aert.

Now that rival Mathieu van der Poel has announced his return to cyclocross at the end of December, the cycling community awaits announcements from Van Aert and Tom Pidcock. The fact that Van Aert is heading to Colombia in mid-November suggests he won’t be making a quick comeback. "When the plan is ready, we will share it," team director Boven keeps us and the rest of the world in suspense. It's not yet entirely clear how long that cyclocross season will last or whether the World Championships in Tábor at the beginning of February will fit into the schedule.