Jumbo-Visma’s Wout Van Aert on steady cyclo-cross form – ‘I don’t have the form to go full gas’

He was just short of rival and eventual race winner Mathieu Van der Poel, who also came out on top in Friday’s race with Van Aert second again.

After outlining his season priorities on the road – the Spring Classics, Giro d’Italia and Olympic Games – Van Aert explained his steady start to the cyclo-cross season.

“It felt quite good, actually,” he said, reflecting on Saturday’s race. “I was in a good position at the beginning, and I took the race a bit more conservatively today and tried to follow the wheels.

“That was the right tactic. It’s necessary as I don’t have the form yet to go full gas the whole hour.

“I think that I could still accelerate with [Eli] Iserbyt in the last two laps, I reached the best possible.

“I’m glad I didn’t burn myself out and rode my own race. I was happy with the position I had, and I just tried to hold on to that.”

Defending champion Van der Poel was too strong for Van Aert as the Dutch rider enjoys a fine vein of form.

“It was impressive how quick Mathieu was back in front again, he added. “The feeling is going on an upward trend for the first cross. Today, my feeling is not better than yesterday.”

Van Aert has amended his cyclo-cross schedule where he will feature in just 10 races during the Christmas period, finishing in Benidorm at the end of January.

Speaking after Friday’s race in Mol he said: “I do expect myself to improve bit by bit in every race. Let’s hope that I do. But on the other hand, the way Mathieu is riding now, he is very difficult to beat.

“I’m not disappointed about that, everyone determines how they plan their season for themselves. Mathieu started his preparation much earlier than I did, as I continued racing for a longer time.

“He probably rested longer than I did, as well. Normally, that’s a plausible explanation.”