Preview: World Cup Antwerp 2025 – the first Van Aert vs Van der Poel clash?

"Because the hill followed so quickly after the start, it often turned into a big battle in that first corner after the start. And if someone didn’t make it up the hill, the whole group of riders behind got stuck, and some riders could forget about getting to the front. Of course, we didn’t want that, and it also factored into the decision to move the finish," Mannaerts explains.

That opens up many more opportunities for Van Aert and company. "The new start lane is over six meters wide, and there are many possibilities to advance early on. The start lane is split into two parts, but that asphalt corner will cause little trouble. It will take over 400 meters before the course narrows for the first time to about four meters, at the first descent into the sand. So there is plenty of space to choose position before it gets tricky for the first time," he says.

Longer sand sections
These changes also mean that the sand sections are located differently on the course. "We now have two long sand tracks of almost one hundred meters," says Mannaerts. "The first is now at the start of the race, in reverse direction compared to last year. The second follows halfway through. We are happy to have two long sand tracks now, because in the past Antwerp had a bit of a reputation for too many tight turns in the sand."

"What’s interesting about that second section is that riders have the option to descend along the water’s edge. You can ride fifty meters on hard surface, but then you have a longer climb back up. I suspect for most riders the advantage of descending won’t outweigh the disadvantage, but it does sow doubt. It’s also an extra opportunity to gain positions. So, it will be a very fair fight."

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Men
There are three of them: the men who will attract the most attention during the upcoming cyclocross weekend, starting on the banks of the Scheldt in Antwerp. The ruler (Mathieu van der Poel), the young challenger (Thibau Nys), and the question mark (Wout van Aert) all want to take control of the first big confrontation, but how should we assess their relative strengths?

The clear top favorite is Mathieu van der Poel. Although his first cross of the winter – Sunday in Namur – was a close call, the stats don’t bode well for the competition. In the past two seasons, Van der Poel only lost due to bad luck. Still, both saw a vulnerable Van der Poel in Namur, albeit on a very specific climbing course. Quite different from what we see in Antwerp.

That’s why Sporza commentator and former world champion Paul Herygers is quite clear about his expectations. "I’m afraid you’ll have to get up very early to admire him there. It won’t last half the race. I don’t want to be negative towards the competition, but prepare for the worst. Everyone hopes he can be beaten now, but on a course that suits him perfectly, where he can’t be caught, he won’t wait around."