Van Aert goes all in! Three training sessions in one day to prepare for Cyclo-cross World Championship clash with Van der Poel in Liévin

This weekend, the apotheosis of the cyclocross winter is the Cyclo-cross World Championships in Liévin! Many fans will wait impatiently for Sunday, when another duel between Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel is expected. The Belgian is getting ready for the world championship and is showing his followers on Strava his training preparations.

Most followers know that Van Aert is an open book on Strava. Almost daily, the training activities of the multiple world cyclo-cross champion can be found on the popular platform for athletes.

In the days leading up to the Cyclo-cross World Championships in France, Van Aert doesn't take it easy. Thursday morning, he was up early for a run. With 9.3 kilometers and an average of 4:33 minutes per kilometer, he showed that his running condition is more than adequate.

Read more below the Strava post.

After running, Van Aert doesn't slow down

The next training session was scheduled less than three hours after the Belgian completed his run. Van Aert got on his road bike and rode a 73-kilometer lap at an average speed of 23.7 kilometers per hour.

This may have surprised loyal followers, as the Visma | Lease a Bike rider usually rides his training laps faster. But with the caption 'spekglad' (extremely slippery), he almost immediately explained, with a nod toward the upcoming Cyclo-cross World Championships.

Van Aert at 42 per hour behind the moped

After two training sessions in one day, it ends for most athletes, but not for Van Aert. After returning from his 73-kilometer workout ride, the Belgian got back on his bike barely an hour and a half later to ride another nearly 60 kilometers.

He quickly made up for the "slow" average of the previous ride by riding his final training ride at an average of 42 kilometers per hour, setting five personal records. He did so thanks to the moped, a popular way to fuel the body's racing fibers.

Many riders rest before the Cyclo-cross World Championships, Van Aert chooses his own path

Whereas many riders have indicated they are resting ahead of the Cyclocross World Championships and mainly want to recover, the Belgians in the Dutch formation are taking a different approach.

Since the announcement of Van Aerts' participation, he has been training daily. His preparation began last Sunday - with the World Championship in mind - with what we will call "recovery training": a ride of over 185 kilometers.

On Monday, he slowed down for a 45-kilometer ride before completing another 90-kilometer ride on Tuesday. The day before his three training sessions, the Belgian recorded another 130-kilometer ride on his Strava, preparing for this Sunday's event.

Of course, whether it will be exciting remains to be seen. Whatever the case, we know that Van Aert is definitely prepared for the clash.

Read also

Cyclo-cross World Championships 2025 program | Overview of the Cyclo-cross World Championships in Liévin, France

🎥 Tutorial: How to win a World Cup cyclo-cross according to Mathieu van der Poel

Nys hopeful that World Championships won’t be a one-lap show: "Van Aert’s power is close to Van der Poel’s level"

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