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Dani Ostanek

Can Wout van Aert beat Mathieu van der Poel at the cyclocross World Championships?

Van Aert van der Poel Wout Van Aert Mathieu van der Poel Het Nieuwsblad World Cup
Dutch rider Mathieu Van Der Poel rides ahead of Belgian rider Wout van Aert during the Men's Elite race at the UCI World Cup Cyclocross cycling event stage 9 (out of 14) in Antwerp, on December 23, 2023. (Photo by JASPER JACOBS / Belga / AFP) / Belgium OUT.

Wout van Aert's decision to take on Mathieu van der Poel at Sunday's UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships has boosted ticket sales for the event, with many in Belgium believing Van Aert can challenge Van der Poel as a favourite for the Cyclo-cross World Championship men's title.

Van Aert had planned a limited winter cyclocross campaign, and had opted out of the Worlds, following a long rehabilitation from his road season-ending crash at the Vuelta a España. However, on Sunday, the three-time 'cross world champion announced a change of heart.

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