“I’m starting to feel the excitement”: Van Aert already looking ahead to his cyclocross season and considering a run at the World Championships in Ostend

Wout van Aert wants to return to cyclocross this winter and has left open the possibility of competing in the World Championship in Ostend on January 31. The Belgian has not yet defined his schedule, but he acknowledges that competing for the rainbow jersey in front of his home crowd is an especially attractive opportunity.

Wout van Aert is considering competing in the 2027 Cyclocross World Championship in Ostend: "Give me another three weeks"

During a meeting organized by Ethias and Voka Limburg in Hasselt, Van Aert explained to Het Laatste Nieuws that his return to competition still needs time. After a family vacation in the United States, the Visma | Lease a Bike rider has just resumed training and does not want to rush.

"I'm starting to feel eager, but for me, it's important to wait long enough and make a well-considered decision, because immediately after the cyclocross season comes the road season, where I have big ambitions," he explained.

Van Aert needs three weeks to decide when he will return to competition

The three-time cyclocross world champion confirmed that his preparation is still in an early phase and that he has not done any specific training for the discipline.

RECOMENDADO

The cycling winter begins, here are all the news and races that will mark the cyclocross season 2026-2027

Van Aert explains why “the lights went out” at the World Championships and confirms he will race cyclocross this season

Orbea reveals some of the secrets behind the new Oiz and how it made it faster: “We can’t replicate race conditions in a lab”

The 2027 MTB World Cup calendar is now official, with major changes in store

Zwift unveils its biggest evolution yet, with a smart trainer and real-world video routes

Andreu Lacondeguy returns to Mondraker 15 years later

"I'm in no hurry to start competing in cyclocross. I've only been training for a week. I'm still focused on building a good base and haven't done any specific work. Give me another three weeks to see how my physical condition is and how much training I will need to be ready to compete. For now, nothing is decided".

Van Aert will remain in Belgium until December 8, when the Visma Lease a Bike preseason camp will begin in Spain. Everything points to a return during the intense block of Christmas races, although no confirmed date exists yet.

Regarding the number of participations, the Belgian considers it reasonable to repeat a program similar to last winter, when he planned eight races. He ultimately only managed to compete in six after suffering an ankle fracture during the cyclocross in Mol.

"It's a realistic estimate that I will return to a similar number", he acknowledged.

The World Championship in Ostend, an opportunity he does not want to dismiss

The big news could be at the end of his calendar. The 2027 Cyclocross World Championship will take place from January 29 to 31 in Ostend, with the elite men's race scheduled for Sunday the 31st.

Van Aert knows that venue very well. In 2021, he won the silver medal there, behind Mathieu van der Poel, in an edition marked by health restrictions that prevented the presence of spectators.

"A World Championship in my own country is more attractive than one held far away. I already competed in a World Championship in Ostend in 2021 without an audience, and I would like to experience it someday with a lot of spectators".

The possibility of fighting for the rainbow jersey at home seems sufficient motivation to consider participation that, if confirmed, could extend his cyclocross season until the end of January.

For now, Van Aert remains cautious. His priority is to find the balance between enjoying the winter races and arriving in the best possible condition for his major road objectives in 2027.

The cyclocross season is already underway, and the coming weeks will concentrate some of its most important events. All dates for the World Cup, Superprestige, X2O, and the major championships can be found in the complete cyclocross calendar 2026-2027.