Tight margins expected as Van Aert and Van der Poel duel at Cyclo-cross Worlds

Belgian Wout Van Aert and Dutch Mathieu Van Der Poel pictured in action during the men elite race of the World Cup cyclocross in Dendermonde third stage out of five of the UCI World Cup competition in Dendermonde Sunday 27 December 2020 BELGA PHOTO DAVID STOCKMAN Photo by DAVID STOCKMANBELGA MAGAFP via Getty Images
(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Belgian national coach Sven Vanthourenhout believes Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel’s anticipated duel at the Cyclo-cross World Championships could come down to a two-up sprint like their battle at the Tour of Flanders last October.

Van der Poel edged out his Belgian rival on that occasion, and Van Aert will be eager to make amends on the North Sea coast on Sunday afternoon. Van Aert beat Van der Poel to the Overijse World Cup last weekend, but he has claimed that the Dutchman is the favourite to defend his title at the Worlds.

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