Van Aert is holding back a card, and the team confirms that the World Championship could be an option

Yesterday we learned about Wout van Aert's official calendar for this cyclocross season. A winter schedule that excluded the World Championship in Hulst (February 1, 2026), but there may be a second interpretation, which is that he simply might not have included it for now.

Visma does not rule out Van Aert for the cyclocross World Championship: “It will depend on his form”

The planning published by Visma Lease a Bike includes eight races between December 20 and January 11. A very compact block that will serve both to measure his level and to reactivate the feelings of competition after an autumn focused on the road, but the team has also admitted that the option to participate in the World Championship remains open. A strategy that is very reminiscent of last season, when the Belgian ended up confirming his presence at the World Championship in Lievin just a week before.

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Mathieu Heijboer, performance manager of the Dutch team, explained in the media Wielerflits that the decision is not finalized. The World Championship “is not part of the current plan,” but it could be included if Van Aert shows that he is ready, both physically and mentally, after the Belgian national championship.

The team wants to avoid repeating past mistakes where an overly loaded calendar compromised their preparation block for the spring classics, their absolute priority. Nevertheless, Heijboer acknowledges that they do not rule anything out and that everything will depend on his form and feelings throughout the month.

The situation inevitably recalls 2024-2025, when Van Aert also managed an ambiguous calendar and decided to compete in the World Championship at the last moment. His ability to peak in just a few days makes the possibility real again.

Hulst, moreover, is a technical and explosive circuit that suits his characteristics well, something that the Belgian fans point out as an argument in favor of his participation.

Will there be a Van Aert vs Van der Poel duel at the World Championship? For now, we only know for sure that the Belgian and the Dutchman will face each other in 5 races this season. Here you can find them.