Wout van Aert could miss his first cyclocross race of season through illness: 'It is not the intention to take risks'
The Belgian woke up with a cold on Tuesday and missed Wednesday's Crystal Bicycle awards ceremony

Wout van Aert is hopeful the illness that made him miss Wednesday's Kristallen Fiets (Crystal Bicycle) awards ceremony won't stop him from competing in his first cyclocross race of the season on Saturday in Boom, but he said he wasn't willing to take chances on his health.
The three-time world cyclocross champion couldn't complete his planned training on Tuesday due to illness, and decided to miss out on collecting his second award for the best performing Belgian rider.
Slovenian Jumbo-Visma team-mate Primož Roglič flew in from Monaco and accepted the award on his behalf instead.
Van Aert told Het Nieuwsblad (opens in new tab): “When I got up I had a sore throat and felt very tired.
“I didn't want to take any chances. The fact that Primož is there makes it extra sour, of course. I really appreciate the effort he has made for me.”
The Belgian believes that he is only suffering from a cold after testing negative for Covid-19 on Wednesday, but will continue to take tests over the coming days, just in case.
“I don't think I should look any further than the rain and cold of the past few days," Van Aert said. "I felt that I had not recovered enough from the bad weather training.
“I don't think it's a big deal. Hopefully I can recover well in the coming days. I now have a little more rest, which could also be positive for next weekend. But it is not the intention to take risks."
Van Aert continued, discussing his excitement for racing in more challenging cyclocross environments this season.
“If the weather of the past few days is an indicator, we won't get many dry crosses this year. That will make the adjustment for me technically more difficult, but in itself those are also the races I prefer to do.”
Van Aert is hopeful of making the start line for the fifth Superprestige race of the season, where he expects to line-up against Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers). He was then set to appear in the World Cup race in Antwerp the following day, but that event has since been cancelled due to a surge in Covid-19 cases in northern mainland Europe.
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) will race in his first cyclocross event of the season on December 18 at the World Cup in Rucphen.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Hi, I'm a Trainee News Writer at Cycling Weekly.
I have worked for Future across its various sports titles since December 2020, writing news for Cycling Weekly, FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture. I am currently studying for a NCTJ qualification alongside my role as Trainee News Writer at the company.
Prior to joining Future I attended Cardiff University, earning a degree in Journalism & Communications.
-
-
EF Education-EasyPost and Israel-Premier Tech to race all-new Maryland Classic in September, one of just 4 UCI races in the US
A truly international field slated to attend America's newest UCI race
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Kristen Faulkner cools down after making a splash at the Giro Donne
The American headed straight for the sea to after winning the stage and taking the Giro Donne overall lead
By Owen Rogers • Published
-
Jumbo-Visma stopping Wout van Aert from sharing Strava rides: 'We want to prevent speculation'
General manager Richard Plugge said the team won't risk Wout van Aert's involvement in Paris-Roubaix if he isn't fully fit
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Wout van Aert shouldn't race Paris-Roubaix after positive Covid-19 test, doctors claim
His Jumbo-Visma team will wait to see if he is fully fit before confirming his involvement, or lack thereof, in the Monument
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
After 16 years, America’s most successful cyclocross team calls it quits
Cannondale-Cyclocrossworld.com will not return come autumn
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Belgian cyclocross star Toon Aerts tests positive for banned drug but protests innocence
Breast cancer drug Letrozole found in out-of-competition test from before World Championships
By Adam Becket • Published
-
The ultimate guide to racing and training for cyclocross
Cyclocross season is on the way. Five time British National Champion Ian Field and racer Louise Mahé explain the training and techniques to get you from zero to hero.
By Michelle Arthurs-Brennan • Published
-
Inaugural Mixed Relay event will go ahead at Cyclocross Worlds despite Covid alterations
The test event will be debuted in Fayetteville hot on the heels of the introduction of the discipline at the 2021 Flanders Road World Championships
By Jonny Long • Published
-
Tom Pidcock: pressure of World Championships seems 'relatively tranquil' compared to Olympics
British star heads to the cyclocross World Championships as one of the outstanding favourites
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Daredevil trial biker springs out of helicopter onto Cyclocross World Championships track
Kenny Belaey jumped out of the aircraft to welcome in the cyclocross event, which starts on Saturday 29 January
By Ryan Dabbs • Published