What form is Wout van Aert starting his cyclocross season in? That’s the million-dollar question, which we’ve already posed to various stakeholders in cyclocross. In a video by Team Visma | Lease a Bike, recorded at the end of November, the three-time world champion gives an update on his condition.
"How I feel now is not comparable at all to last year," Van Aert says in that video. "Back then, my fitness definitely wasn’t as good as it is now. At the end of November, I was still in rehabilitation after my crash at the Vuelta and just starting to cautiously get back into training. Mentally, this winter has already been much better. I've been able to relax a lot more and enjoy life."
That was completely impossible a year ago. "Last year, I made the mistake of not taking a proper holiday. I just wanted to return as quickly as possible after my injury. I felt constant pressure because you’re essentially racing against time."
"Then you also meet your teammates and realize they’re already much further ahead. You’re basically always chasing. This winter, there was much less pressure, actually since the Tour. I’d been craving a longer break for a while."
On the other hand, the past few months have been anything but relaxed for Van Aert. "First, at the end of September, we went to Marbella to catch the last warmth of the season. From there, we headed to Disneyland. I also had a trip to Italy with my wife and flew to Los Angeles. Such a long break was something I really needed. I already feel hungry now, which is a good sign."
