Van der Poel was sublime to win the cyclo-cross world championship in Hoogerheide, although Van Aert had given the impression during the season that he had a slightly more powerful engine.
Now the challenge moves to the road: last week, Van Aert joined his teammates on the road at Jumbo-Visma atop Mount Teide in Tenerife, Spain. Van der Poel, on the other hand, is in Spain always training with some teammates on the road.
This year's spring classics on the road promise to be even more spectacular, as the van Aert and Van der Poel duo always have big surprises in store.
Soudal Quick-Step will be there with his team of 90 pieces for this type of race. Tadej Pogačar is a guaranteed factor in races such as Strade Bianche, the Tour of Flanders and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
And other athletes like Peter Sagan (Total Energies), Mads Pedersen and Jasper Stuyven (Trek Segafredo) will have their say.
WHERE VAN DER POEL AND VAN AERT WILL CHALLENGE
The races where there will most likely be a direct match will be:
– White roads, 4 March
– Tour of Flanders, 2 April
– Paris-Roubaix 9 April
3 cycling classics that will become unmissable.
