Mathieu Van der Poel won't pass up the chance to win his 10th world title: 'Might be his very last cyclocross race'

According to Albert, it makes sense that we aren’t seeing the big names in action just yet. “I do understand the decision to race fewer cyclocross events. They’ve been racing on the road for a whole year and are already under pressure there. Ultimately, they set their own schedules—who are we to say that Pidcock or Van der Poel should race more or fewer cyclocross events?”

"We should just be glad that they still come out to the track every now and then and that we get to admire them. For all we know, they might just say ‘goodbye and thanks’ and never come back at all,” Albert told De Zondag.

Pidcock has already announced that he won’t be racing cyclocross, while Van der Poel has not yet officially announced whether he’ll be competing.

"I don't think he'll pass up the chance to compete in the World Championships. I think he wants to become a ten-time world champion and put his name alongside that of Nino Schurter, who won ten mountain bike world titles," said Albert.

"And that way, he’ll also be in the same league as Stefan Everts, who also has ten world titles in motocross,” said Albert about Van der Poel, who also competed in motocross in the past.

"And if you put the pieces together: if he were to win in Ostend, he could clinch that tenth title at the iconic Hoogerheide. And then that might just be his very last cyclocross race," Albert predicts. "In any case, I don't see Mathieu continuing to race in the field until he's forty."

What does Albert expect from Van Aert and Nys? “Wout will definitely win his cyclocross races, but I also think Thibau Nys has made further progress," the former Belgian champion said.

"We can’t underestimate him anymore. He’s got a Grand Tour under his belt with the Vuelta, so he’ll have grown from that experience and will keep closing the gap on Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. I don’t think they’ll be able to beat a strong Thibau anytime soon.”

Nys will make his comeback on Sunday in Oudenaarde. “Thibau is also focusing more and more on road racing. But that doesn’t mean he won’t be right up there right away. Last year, he also kicked off his season on the Koppenberg and won right away. So I wouldn’t be surprised if he does that again this year.”