Wout Van Aert says he will play a different role at the UCI Cyclocross World Championships, where the three-time champion plans to offer his services and experience to his Belgian teammates on Sunday in Dubendorf.

In an interview on the Belgian Cycling Federation's website, Van Aert said he has always planned to be at his best at the world championships, but in his battle with race favorite Dutch leader Mathieu van der Pol, the superdomestique role He said he was more than happy to play his part.

"I'm happy about that. Belgian national coach Sven Vanthourenhout said the 25-year-old is the "cement" of the team.

"Indeed, I think so this year.

"I wish I could come back as a team leader, but at this point I think there are other players who are better prepared for this World Championship. As the only guy who knows what it means to win a World Championship, maybe I can teach them something."

"I trust them first. I want to use my experience to their benefit, and it's great that the national coach is thinking about these things."

Laurens Sułek, who leads the Superprestige standings with four wins this season, and Toon Arts, who has three UCI World Cup wins and two second places in the last two World Cups, are the main candidates to replace Van Aert to lead Belgium

Van Aert is also the main candidate to replace Van Aert.

For Van Aert, the 2019-20 campaign is very different from his usual "cross" campaign. Having spent months recovering from injuries sustained in a crash at the Tour de France, he made his debut at the Azen Cross in late December.

The lowered expectations that accompanied his late return to racing were a pleasant experience for him. He also said that he was able to take it relatively easy this time around, rather than focusing on the World Championships for several months in advance.

"That was actually one of the main reasons I wanted to race cyclocross this winter. It's good to race every time and progress, and it's not expected of you. Having said that, I should add that I also wanted to schedule my races so that I would be in the best shape for the World Championships.

"My approach to racing is completely different. Usually it's in my head months in advance, but now I only think about it for the last few weeks."

Nevertheless, Van Aert returned to the top of the cross peloton, if not in great form. In three races since his return, including the Belgian National Championships, he has finished in the top five three times, and in the Castiel Cross he finished second behind Van der Pol.

In his last race before the Swiss GP, the World Cup at Hoogerheide, he crashed on the last lap and finished eighth. Before that race, however, Van Aert had a team-building session with his Belgian teammates, which he enjoyed.

"A year ago, it would have been quite normal to participate in the World Championships as part of the Belgian team, but this year is completely different," Van Aert said. But the pre-World Cup team building in Vogelheide brought back the special atmosphere of the World Championships."

"I'm really happy to be part of the team again. That in itself is a big victory over this difficult time. I was a little scared when I got to the start of Azen Cross, because it wasn't until December that I was able to start training in earnest.

"Of course, I secretly hoped to be able to race at the top again, but at the time it seemed like a dream to get a good result at the All-Japan Championships and compete at the World Championships. I didn't dare think about it because I knew it wasn't realistic."

"Before the All-Japan Championships started, I realized that my level was good enough to go to Dubendorf. Not only because it would be a good incentive to look ahead to the spring, but also because racing cross is still my favorite thing to do and I think it would be a lot of fun to try again. "

Elite Men: Laurence Sweek, Toon Arts, Eli Iserbitt, Michael Vanthourenhout, Quinten Hermans, Tim Mellier, Wout Van Aert, Gianni Vermeersch, Jens Adams, Thies Arts

Elite Women: Sanne Kant, Ellen van Rooij, Laura Verdonschot

U23 Men: Toon Vandebosk, Niels Vandeputte, Timo Kielich, Jelle Kamps, Jentl Bekaert, Jarno Berens, Gerben Kuipers, Ryan Kortians

U23 Girls Marte Truijen, Kiona Crabb

Junior Boys Tibau Nys, Renate Bermans, Emil Verstlinge, Jente Michels, Ward Heubus, Jorben Lauridsen, Jetze van Kampenhout

Junior girls Julie de Wilde, Julie Brouwers, Steele Verflote, Mirthe van den Brande

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