Van Aert goes all in! Three training sessions in one day to prepare for Cyclo-cross World Championship clash with Van der Poel in Liévin
Cyclocross
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Follow us on GoogleThis weekend, the apotheosis of the cyclocross winter is the Cyclo-cross World Championships in Liévin! Many fans will wait impatiently for Sunday, when another duel between Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel is expected. The Belgian is getting ready for the world championship and is showing his followers on Strava his training preparations.
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Most followers know that Van Aert is an open book on Strava. Almost daily, the training activities of the multiple world cyclo-cross champion can be found on the popular platform for athletes.
In the days leading up to the Cyclo-cross World Championships in France, Van Aert doesn't take it easy. Thursday morning, he was up early for a run. With 9.3 kilometers and an average of 4:33 minutes per kilometer, he showed that his running condition is more than adequate.
Read more below the Strava post.
After running, Van Aert doesn't slow down
The next training session was scheduled less than three hours after the Belgian completed his run. Van Aert got on his road bike and rode a 73-kilometer lap at an average speed of 23.7 kilometers per hour.
This may have surprised loyal followers, as the Visma | Lease a Bike rider usually rides his training laps faster. But with the caption 'spekglad' (extremely slippery), he almost immediately explained, with a nod toward the upcoming Cyclo-cross World Championships.
Van Aert at 42 per hour behind the moped
After two training sessions in one day, it ends for most athletes, but not for Van Aert. After returning from his 73-kilometer workout ride, the Belgian got back on his bike barely an hour and a half later to ride another nearly 60 kilometers.
He quickly made up for the "slow" average of the previous ride by riding his final training ride at an average of 42 kilometers per hour, setting five personal records. He did so thanks to the moped, a popular way to fuel the body's racing fibers.
Many riders rest before the Cyclo-cross World Championships, Van Aert chooses his own path
Whereas many riders have indicated they are resting ahead of the Cyclocross World Championships and mainly want to recover, the Belgians in the Dutch formation are taking a different approach.
Since the announcement of Van Aerts' participation, he has been training daily. His preparation began last Sunday - with the World Championship in mind - with what we will call "recovery training": a ride of over 185 kilometers.
On Monday, he slowed down for a 45-kilometer ride before completing another 90-kilometer ride on Tuesday. The day before his three training sessions, the Belgian recorded another 130-kilometer ride on his Strava, preparing for this Sunday's event.
Of course, whether it will be exciting remains to be seen. Whatever the case, we know that Van Aert is definitely prepared for the clash.
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Latest Comments
- - I’m still learning how cyclocross works: when he says he messed up the start at the Europeans, can a bad start really make that much difference?patriciaw14-11-2026
- - Love that he’s honest about the pressure. Hopefully he can carry this form through the winter.lindae14-11-2026
- - Beating different competition is the key now. Nys is already in the mix, and Van der Poel could make the next step a much tougher one.jennifer1914-11-2026
- - About time—Mason’s been knocking on the door for years. That Niel win could really open things up for him.cadencekingm14-11-2026
- I’m still learning how cyclocross works—does leading the Superprestige mean Mason is top of that race series, rather than the World Cup? Either way, winning in Belgium sounds like a massive result.cadencekingm13-11-2026
- Calling Onley a contender for an overall Tour win already feels a bit premature, especially after the injury setbacks. Still, the depth of talent is exciting.robert6513-11-2026
- Great to see Dickson’s route from triathlon to the WorldTour getting recognition. Scottish cycling has plenty to be proud of, and the 2027 Grand Départ could give the next generation a real lift.patriciaw13-11-2026
- The article makes a good case for clubs and small teams doing the groundwork, rather than one big development pipeline. Thornley’s Vuelta time trials were seriously impressive too; missing a stage win by two seconds is brutal.davidm13-11-2026
- Mason winning in Niel is huge—beating that kind of Belgian field in the mud takes serious class. The Kelvingrove World Cup could be an unforgettable homecoming.breakawaybikerd13-11-2026
- I’m not sure how WorldTour licences work—could these reports affect whether the team gets one next year, or is that decision based on other criteria?velodromevirtuoso113-11-2026


