The defining rivalry of modern cyclocross is back for another chapter. Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert will meet again across a condensed but fiercely loaded block of racing through December and early January, setting the stage for a familiar clash of styles and histories.
Their programmes are lighter than they once were, yet every meeting still carries the weight of a decade of duels. With Van Aert skipping Namur and Van der Poel only marking it as a provisional opener, their battle begins one week later on the sand of Koksijde, the first confirmed head-to-head of the winter.
A rivalry written in mud
The Van der Poel–Van Aert rivalry is the axis around which much of the last ten years of elite cyclocross has revolved. Between them they have:
- 11 elite world titles
- Dozens of World Cup victories
- Complete domination of the sport’s major series
Their contrasts fuel the rivalry:
Van der Poel’s explosive power and ability to shred a course apart with a single attack; Van Aert’s diesel strength, consistency, and surgical race craft. At their peak, the pair could turn a race into a private duel minutes ahead of the field.
Their most iconic moments still shape the sport – the brutal 2018 Valkenburg Worlds where Van Aert completed his three-in-a-row; Van der Poel’s revenge years later as he reached seven world titles; their shoulder-to-shoulder battles in Belgian mud, Dutch sand, and the Arctic chill of a northern European winter.
Last season, Van der Poel was untouchable, winning every race he started. Van Aert, recovering from injuries and turning focus toward the road, raced far less but still delivered podiums that underlined just how high his baseline remains.
This winter, the sample size is smaller, but every meeting is magnified.
Where they meet in 2025-26
With Van Aert not racing Namur, and Van der Poel’s opener potentially shifting, their rivalry resumes on the Belgian coast.
Below are the confirmed races where both riders are set to compete.
Confirmed head-to-head races
| Date | Race | Series |
|---|---|---|
| 20 December | Antwerp | UCI World Cup |
| 21 December | Koksijde | UCI World Cup |
| 22 December | Hofstade | X2O Trofee |
| 23 December | Heusden-Zolder | Superprestige |
| 26 December | Gavere | UCI World Cup |
| 29 December | Loenhout | X2O Trofee |
| 2 January | Mol | Exact Cross |
| 4 January | Zonhoven | UCI World Cup |
What to expect when the lights turn green
This is no longer the all-consuming 20-race seasons of their early careers. Both now balance road ambitions: Van Aert rebuilding toward the Spring Classics, Van der Poel managing the demands of world-class campaigns across road, cyclocross and mountain bike.
But the competitive core remains untouched.
Van der Poel enters as the overwhelming favourite. On the basis of last winter, he starts every race as the man to beat. His technical superiority and raw power remain unmatched.
Van Aert, however, has made a habit throughout his career of upsetting the expected narrative. His Christmas block is intentionally dense, providing the kind of rhythm he thrives on. He has beaten Van der Poel before when few expected it – the 2023 Heusden-Zolder Superprestige being the most recent example.
The context may change, but the essence does not: when they line up together, the sport tilts a little.
Why this winter matters
With the World Championships in Hulst on 1 February, every December and January clash becomes a study in form, sharpness, and intent.
Van der Poel is hunting an eighth world title – a record-breaking number that would move him beyond Erik De Vlaeminck.
Van Aert is chasing another championship jersey after several winters disrupted by injuries and altered schedules.
Their rivalry has defined a generation. This winter might give fewer chapters, but each one will be written in bold strokes.
