Wout van Aert: Victory Quest Begins

After Mathieu van der Poel’s recent demonstrations, we expect completely different price dynamics on Tuesday. The world champion is not there in Heusden-Zolder and this offers opportunities for Thibau Nys and… Wout van Aert! Book the Visma rider | Lease a Bike the first victory of its cross campaign? CyclingFlits looks ahead.

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Course

The entire course is located within the walls of the Terlaemen Circuit. The circuit in Heusden-Zolder has everything a modern top cross needs. Marc Dierickx designed the circuit at the time, but is no longer involved in the organization. However, that has not resulted in the cross being adjusted. The route has been exactly the same for a number of years.

Under the motto ‘you shouldn’t change what is good’, we will once again see a circuit of a good 2.7 kilometers this year. In Zolder we traditionally get a high-speed cross, not least because of the long start and finish lane on the asphalt of the Formula 1 circuit.

The cross course in Zolder can be further divided into two halves. Part one is not so technical and quite flat, with the passages through the equipment stations and over the Sacramentsberg. On that last slope, don’t expect a difficult calf-biter where the difference can be made, but do expect a piece of ‘holy ground’ that is forbidden to the public

The second part is mainly characterized by the climbs and technical descents before the stands, where the decision has been made several times in the past. Especially the succession of many obstacles in the last kilometer ensures that technically gifted riders can still push something before they start the long passages on the asphalt again.

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With Mathieu van der Poel at the start you can almost predict what will happen, but if the world champion does not appear in a cross, it could become a very unpredictable race. Based on his intrinsic class, skills and past performance in the field, that’s what we hear Wout van Aert to emerge as the big favorite for victory.

Wout van Aert – photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos

The only question is whether Van Aert already has sufficient cross rhythm and hardness to ‘just’ deal with the full-time crossers. His performance in Hofstade suggests the best, but the Heusden-Zolder course is – especially compared to the sand cross in Koksijde or the climbing classic in Gavere – quite technical and fast. It is then more difficult for a rider like Van Aert to make a difference, especially compared to some competitors.



That’s what we think about first and foremost Thibau Nyswho will find a course in Zolder that is tailor-made for him. Who impressively became Belgian champion in Heusden-Zolder at the beginning of this year? Exactly, the man who has already managed to perform some impressive feats this cyclo-cross season. Nys will undoubtedly be at the start with self-confidence and a healthy dose of ambition, ready to make Van Aert’s life difficult and – why not – floor him.

The organization of the cross in Heusden-Zolder has no reason to complain, because… Tibor Del GrossoMichael Vanthourenhout, Joris Nieuwenhuis in Laurens Sweeck even more top players will be present. Based on the past races, Del Grosso, Sweeck and Nieuwenhuis are certainly eligible for at least a podium place. Just like Niels Vandeputtewhich has also been doing very well in recent weeks.

Tibor Del Grosso – photo: Fotoperburo Cor Vos

We also certainly note the names of Pim Ronhaar, Spanish champion Felipe Orts, Jente Michels, British champion Cameron Mason, Joran Wyseure, Mees Hendrikx and Gerben Kuypers.

And if you look a little further through the list of participants, you will also come across the name of Léo Bisiaux. The French top talent focuses more on the road these days, but we will see him again on the cross bike on Tuesday. We are curious to see what the former junior world champion (Hoogerheide 2023) can achieve in this field.

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During the busy Christmas period, even as a full-time motocross rider you have to make choices and so not all the top riders are at the start of the Superprestige of Heusden-Zolder. Lucinda Brand, who is almost unbeatable this season, is not on the list of participants and it is also a vain search for the names of her compatriots Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, Puck Pieterse and Shirin van Anrooij, not coincidentally the riders who were in charge of the past races.

But, fortunately, the organization can count on the presence of seasonal revelation Aniek van Alphen. The 26-year-old Dutch woman is without a doubt having the best season of her career. The leader of Seven Racing has already won the Flamanville World Cup cross, but what is especially striking is that she competes for the podium in almost every cross. And that is particularly impressive, considering the opposition.

Aniek van Alphen – photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos

Another Dutch, Inge van der Heijdenis also having an excellent cyclo-cross winter. The Crelan-Corendon rider experienced her (provisional) day of glory in Middelkerke, where she rode impressively to the European title.

Since then she has achieved ‘only’ one victory with the Exact Cross of Kortrijk, but Van der Heijden never disappoints. She is a guarantee of a top-8 ranking, with often an upward trend. Can she really compete for victory in a classification cross again in Heusden-Zolder?

Now that most Dutch top players are absent, the foreign cyclo-cross toppers sense their opportunity. That’s what we think about first and foremost Sara Casasolaalthough the Italian gave up very early in the Koksijde World Cup. Or maybe this is the moment for the French champion Amandine Fouquenet about her moment of glory to experience. The French champion is still looking for a new contract as of January 1, 2026, so in a week and a half.

Update: Sara Casasola was on the participants list, but will not appear at the start.

Marion Norbert Riberolle – photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos

The Belgian cross enthusiasts will hope for an outlier of the strong but also changeable Marion Norbert RiberolleJulie Brouwers and the young Fleur Moors, while we are also looking forward to the Luxembourgish Marie Schreiber (will she still reach the level this winter?), Hélène Clauzel, the unpredictable Jolanda Neff and… Blanka Vas! The Hungarian returns to the field after a training period.

Weather and TV

The crossers can prepare themselves for a fairly pleasant and mild winter day on Tuesday. It remains almost dry all day, the sun occasionally gets time to break through and the temperature rises to six degrees Celsius in the afternoon.

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