WOUT van Aert started his 2023-24 cyclocross season last Saturday taking the win in the Exact Cross in Essen. Jens Adams and Thijs Aerts completed the podium behind the 29-year-old Belgian as many of the bigger names concentrated on the World Cup in Italy the day after (won by Joris Nieuwenhuis). Subsequently Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock won in Herentals and Namur respectively.
"I needed the first few laps to assess my form and assess the competition", Van Aert said. "Every lap, the conditions got harder and harder, and halfway through the race, I noticed I was the best in the running sectors. Then, I found my rhythm, which allowed me to build up a lead. I struggled a bit at the end, but that is not unusual on a course like this. It's always good to start here. I am happy that I was able to please the crowd."
Van Aert will attend a training camp in Spain before resuming his eight (or ten) race season in Mol on 22nd December. In the mean time Mathieu van der Poel and Tom Pidcock will start their seasons this Saturday (16th) before all three meet for the first time in Mol.
"This winter, I am deliberately taking a calmer approach than in previous years," Van Aert added, "It's good not to put too much pressure on myself during the winter. Above all, I want to have fun, and that was the case today."
WHERE THE BIG THREE ARE RACING
16 Dec Herentals: MVDP, TP - Result: 1 MVDP; 2 TP.
17 Dec Namur: TP - Winner: TP.
22 Dec Mol : WVA, MVDP - Result: 1 MVDP; 2 WVA.
23 Dec Antwerp: WVA, MVDP, TP - Result: 1 MVDP; 2 WVA; 8 TP.
26 Dec Gavere: WVA, MVDP, TP - Result: 1 MVDP; 2 WVA; 3 TP.
27 Dec Zolder: WVA - Winner: WVA.
28 Dec Diegem: MVDP, TP - Result: 1 MVDP; 2 TP.
29 Dec Loenhout: MVDP - Winner: MVDP.
30 Dec Hulst: WVA, MVDP, TP - Result: 1 MVDP; 5 WVA; 25 TP.
1 Jan Baal: WVA, MVDP, TP - Result: 1 MVDP; 2 WVA; 12 TP.
4 Jan Koksijde: WVA, MVDP - Result: 1 MVDP; 3 WVA.
6 Jan Gullegem: TP (TBC).
7 Jan Zonhoven: MVDP, TP, WVA (TBC).
21 Jan Benidorm: MVDP, TP, WVA (TBC).
27 Jan Hamme: MVDP.
28 Jan Hoogerheide: MVDP.
4 Feb Worlds: MVDP.
NEW KIT 2024 FOR PIDCOCK AND INEOS
Freshly launched last week is the new 2024 kit for Tom Pidcock and the INEOS Grenadiers.
Photos: Red Bull & INEOS.