For the past decade, two cyclists have been responsible for creating the most intense battles, through mud, sand, and even snow. Mathieu van der Poel and rival Wout van Aert have been battling for years; the two have held the world champion jersey for the past 10 times from the past 11 years, with Van der Poel taking seven and Van Aert having 3. The pair are expected to meet again in the upcoming cyclocross season.
Cyclocross is a different beast of cycling, trading smooth tarmac and mountain passes for mud, obstacles and intense technical sections.
A short loop most commonly over mud, grass or through woodlands, is raced for a certain number of laps. In this course, the riders will face different obstacles like boards that need to be hopped or jumped, short, sharp climbs, and steep banks, as well even having to ride through sandpits or even up stairs.
The cyclocross season got underway in November, with the World Cup series starting on November 23 in Tabor. This series runs until January 25, with the final round being in Hoogerheide.
Van der Poel has already tasted World Cup action this season with his first race taking place in Nabur. A close race resulted in the seven-time world champion winning by nine seconds, with World Cup leader (at time of writing) Thibau Nys finishing second.
All eyes on Antwerp on December 20
Van Aert and Van de Poel will first clash in Antwerp on December 20 and this race will reveal what to expect for the rest of the season.
This will be Van Aert’s first race of the season, while it is Van Der Poel’s second – and the latter will be the hot favourite for this race, especially after he won every cyclocross event he entered last season.
Fans will then only have to wait until December 22 to see them battle once again, this time in the X20 Trofee in Hoftstade. This race is a unique course featuring more hardpack ground and longer straights, which would typically suit the ‘road engine’ that Van Der Poel and Van Aert possess. This race is looking to be a close battle between the two riders.
Then on December 29 it’s over to Loenhout for their next face off. This course, known for its distinctive whoops, always makes the race interesting. Last year, it was another victory for Van der Poel and a solid fourth place for Van Aert.
It’s not until the New Year that the rivalry is then reignited once more. This time, the sand of Mol is the battleground that the pair head to on January 2, 2026.
Mol is a unique course featuring woodlands, mud and a lot of sand. With a big steep sand bank to climb and then a long section of beach to battle through, a single mistake here and it’s a long run to get to the woods for a remount.
Another short two-day wait follows, before the pair face off for the final time of the season at Zonhoven on January 4. This will be Van Aert’s last chance to end Van der Poel’s winning streak as he did in Benidorm in 2023.
Surprising decision in the cyclocross rivalry
Van der Poel is planning to race the world championships; however, surprisingly, Van Aert has not put this race down on his calendar. Fans have taken to social media at the shock that Van Aert will not try to claim the famous rainbow bands for a fourth time in his career.
Supporters across the globe will be hoping for an exciting cyclocross season, especially with arguably the two best modern riders facing off many times this year.
