Cyclocross Rivalry Reignited: Wout van Aert Confirms Five Showdowns with Mathieu van der Poel

💥 The 2025-26 cyclocross season is officially set for fireworks. Team Visma-Lease a Bike confirmed the highly-anticipated winter schedule for Belgian superstar Wout van Aert on Monday, revealing that the three-time World Champion will engage in five head-to-head battles with his perennial rival, Mathieu van der Poel.

Van Aert’s cyclocross schedule is compact and intense, consisting of eight total races packed almost entirely into the legendary Belgian Christmas period, known as the Kerstperiode. This marks an increase from the six races he contested last season, signaling a slightly deeper commitment to the discipline that sharpens his explosive power for the subsequent road season preparation.

The Five Clashes: A Christmas Marathon

The rivalry will be rekindled on December 20 at the UCI World Cup Cyclocross round in Antwerp, which serves as Van Aert’s season debut. From there, the duo—widely considered the sport’s greatest active rivals—will engage in a frenetic holiday marathon, providing fans with five explosive matchups across various prestigious series:

* December 20: UCI World Cup – Antwerp

* December 22: X20 Trofee – Hofstade

* December 29: X20 Trofee – Loenhout

* January 2: Exact Cross – Mol

* January 4: UCI World Cup – Zonhoven

These races are strategically chosen, featuring classic courses from the major Belgian series, including the technical sand of Zonhoven and the traditional festive atmosphere of the X20 Trofee events.

Van Aert’s Compact, Sharpened Calendar

Van Aert’s entire campaign spans just over three weeks. His eight-race slate begins in Antwerp and concludes on January 11 at the Belgian National Cyclocross Championships in Beringen, where he will aim to secure the national jersey before fully shifting focus to the Spring Classics.

The decision to limit his schedule mirrors a trend among the multi-discipline stars, prioritizing quality over quantity to ensure peak form for their road ambitions. Van Aert, despite his success in cyclocross, primarily uses the discipline as an intense, high-octane form of winter training.

Crucially, his calendar—like those of previous years—avoids the UCI Cyclocross World Championships, which this year is scheduled for February 1st in Hulst, Netherlands, giving Van der Poel a clear run at a record-breaking eighth elite title.

The Rivalry’s Significance

The fierce competition between Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel transcends disciplines, captivating the cycling world whether they are battling on the cobbles of Roubaix or in the mud of a Belgian field. For cyclocross purists, the Kerstperiode is the spiritual heart of the season, and these confirmed dates guarantee that the festive period will deliver the drama, technical brilliance, and raw power that only these two athletes can provide.

Fans and commentators will be analyzing every turn, dismount, and sprint, as these five races not only decide the day’s winner but also provide critical insight into the form and fitness of the world’s best heading into the decisive parts of the winter calendar. The short, sharp schedule ensures that when these two titans line up, nothing is held back.