The CX season takes another level this week with the first Pidcock VS Van der Poel

The X2O in Herentals will witness the first clash of the season between Pidcock and Van der Poel. Both riders return to the mud on the same stage after the five-time world champion advanced his return. The race will take place at Van Aert's home, who debuted with a victory in his premiere last Sunday and is now concentrated with Jumbo-Visma in Spain.

Where and when to watch the X2O Herentals

The X2O in Herentals will be held next Saturday, December 16. The broadcasts can be followed on Eurosport, GCN -which will close next week- FloBikes or Discovery+.

Schedule of the X2O in Herentals

• 13:45 Women's Elite
• 15:00 Men's Elite

Pidcock and Van der Poel, the countdown is already underway

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The cyclocross calendar is moving forward and the big names in the specialty are starting to show up. If a few days ago it was Van Aert who stepped into the mud for the first time this season -with a victory at the Exact Cross in Essen-, this week it's the turn of the other two stars of the discipline. All three have centered their calendars around the Christmas dates, a peak moment in the cyclocross campaign.

Pidcock has planned a busy weekend in which he will race twice, as in addition to Saturday's appointment in Herentals, he must add the World Cup in Namur on Sunday. The British rider will compete in all World Cup races except the last one -in Hoogerheide- and will fight it out in four other races.

Last Sunday Van der Poel surprised everyone with a plot twist in his return to cyclocross. The Dutchman reported an advance in the calendar; instead of debuting in ten days at the Exact Cross in Mol -first duel with Van Aert-, he will do so this Saturday in Herentals.

The face-to-face between Pidcock and Van der Poel will be the first of the eight they will fight this season. Beyond Herentals, they will meet at the World Cups in Antwerp, Gavere, Hulst, Zonhoven and Benidorm, as well as at the Superprestige in Diegem and the X2O in Koksijde.

Pidcock vs Van der Poel: what to expect from one of the most anticipated duels

Without knowing the official list of participants, the truth is that the cameras in Herentals will be very attentive to everything that happens to Pidcock and Van der Poel. Despite the undisputed talent of both, in any other case the lack of competitive pulse would impose the principle of caution when making a forecast.

However, the superiority they have shown on previous occasions -especially Van der Poel- makes us think that they can achieve great results this Saturday. These forecasts gain credibility after checking that Van Aert signed a great victory in his debut.

Both Pidcock and Van der Poel have been out of the competition spotlight for a while. The British rider parked his road bike at the Tour of Great Britain -which he abandoned early due to a physical problem- and extended the season a little more until the XCO World Cup in Mont Sainte-Anne -in which he came first-. For his part, Mathieu took the last start at the Super 8 Classic -which he won wearing the rainbow jersey.

After having carried out the protocolary concentrations in Spain with their teams, now it's time for them to get muddy and start delighting spectators with the fierce fights they have starred in on other occasions.

Although the cyclocross debut comes later than usual, the first duel of the year is just around the corner and Van der Poel's words -"I feel ready"- suggest that the level will be high from the beginning.