The anticipation is palpable as the cycling world eagerly awaits the return of three legendary riders to the cyclocross arena: Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, and Tom Pidcock. These athletes have dominated the sport in recent years, with van der Poel claiming 11 world titles and van Aert and Pidcock making significant contributions to the sport's growth and popularity. But when will they grace the mud-laden courses again? Let's delve into the details and explore the potential timelines for their season debuts.
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck):
Mathieu van der Poel, the Dutch cycling icon, had a truncated season last year, participating in just eight races. His campaign commenced in December, and he dominated the UCI World Cup and UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships. Currently, van der Poel is in Spain, training alongside his frequent training partner, Freddy Ovett. Given his previous season's start date, it's reasonable to speculate that he might be back in action around mid-December this year. However, his team will provide a more definitive timeline once the route for the cyclocross World Championships is unveiled at the end of the month.
Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike):
Wout van Aert, van der Poel's arch-rival, has also adopted a similar approach in recent seasons, limiting his cyclocross appearances. Like van der Poel, van Aert is likely to commence his campaign in December. Interestingly, there are hints that he might get underway before his Dutch counterpart. Van Aert, who took a post-season holiday with his family, resumed training in late October and then embarked on a sponsor trip to California, which concluded on November 7. His statement about waiting for a few weeks of training before resuming suggests that a December debut for the 2025-26 season is a strong possibility.
Tom Pidcock (Q36.5):
Tom Pidcock, the 2022 cyclocross world champion, took a break from the sport last season. Since ending his road season with a sixth-place finish at Il Lombardia, he has been focusing on gravel racing. He secured sixth place at the UCI Gravel World Championships and then went on holiday. Upon his return, he resumed training on gravel bikes in late October for the week-long South African stage race, Gravel Burn, where he claimed a stage victory. As of now, there have been no public announcements regarding Pidcock's cyclocross plans for this year. However, his coach, Kurt Bogaerts, has indicated that it is highly unlikely that he will race this winter, emphasizing the importance of rest and build-up periods for the 2026 road season, where Pidcock aims to compete in the spring Classics and Grand Tours.
The cycling community is abuzz with speculation, and the wait for these riders' returns is almost palpable. As we eagerly await their season debuts, the question remains: When will these champions grace the cyclocross courses once again? The answers may be closer than we think, and the cycling world is ready to embrace their return with open arms.
