When will we see Wout van Aert back in cyclocross? It’s been a frequently asked question in recent weeks, but for now, the answer is still pending. From past experience, we know that Van Aert likes to start racing cyclocross in early December, but according to Het Laatste Nieuws, we’ll have to wait a bit longer this time for the Belgian’s cross comeback.
This is largely due to the first joint training camp of his team Visma | Lease a Bike in Oliva, Spain, from December 8 to 16. The three-time world champion has openly expressed for some time now how eager he is to race cyclocross again and usually kicks off his cross campaign in early December, but this year – considering the team camp in Oliva – that doesn’t seem to be an option.
The next available cyclocross events will only come at the end of December with the World Cup in Antwerp (December 20), World Cup Koksijde (December 21), and the X2O Badkamers Trophy in Hofstade (December 22). Het Laatste Nieuws reports that the 31-year-old Kempen rider will make his comeback in one of these races, but no final decisions have been made yet. The three races have one thing in common: they are classified as sand cross events.
Last year, Van Aert also made his cross debut fairly late (December 27), but that was due to a knee injury sustained during the Vuelta a España. As a result, he only raced six times, but still claimed victory in the World Cup event in Dendermonde. Additionally, he took part at the very last minute in the World Championship in Liévin, France, where he finished second behind Mathieu van der Poel.
2024: December 27 in 
Loenhout
2023: December 9 in Essen
2022: December 4 in Antwerp
2021: December 4 in Boom
2020: November 28 in Kortrijk
2019: December 27 in Loenhout
Mathieu van der Poel
Speaking of his great rival: it’s also been a long wait for news about MVDP’s return to cyclocross. An exact race is still not known, as the complete winter schedule for Van der Poel will only be revealed at the official course presentation for the 2026 Cyclocross World Championships in Hulst, Zeeland.
Team manager Christoph Roodhooft has already hinted to Sporza about the world champion’s season debut. “Around Christmas, that’s when we’ll see him somewhere.” WielerFlits itself has already taken a peek at Van der Poel’s possible winter plans.
