Wout Van Aert has been selected to represent Belgium at the 2020 UCI Cyclocross World Championships in Dübendorf, Switzerland, on February 2. Van Aert returned in December from a devastating leg injury suffered in last July's Tour de France, and the country's national coach, Sven Van Torenhout, is confident that he will be at his best at the championships.

Although he is behind two compatriots who did not make the cut (Gianni Vermeersch and Jens Adams), Van Aert, a three-time world champion in the discipline, is the team's main goal, and a dominant force in the elite men's race Mathieu van der Pol, can play a key role in making it difficult for him to win again.

"I spoke to Wout this morning," Van Aert told Sporza.be (opens in new tab). 'His ambition for the World Championships has increased over the last few weeks. He is in good condition. I expect his best Wout Van Aert this season. I don't know if it is his best so far. But I am confident he will play a very important role."

Van Aert was the last rider to beat a Dutch rider in a major race, the 2018 World Championship in Valkenburg. Since then, Van der Pol has been on a roll, winning all but three cyclocross races he has started.

Before his second World Tour season in Jumbo-Visma, Van Art will have to adjust his training a bit to be at his best." His training sessions have not, to date, been a function of the races he has already completed. But there are signs of change. I also spoke with his trainer. In Duvendorf we will see the best version of Van Aert."

The Tour de France stage winner is not the only rider on the Belgian team. The team will feature Eli Iserbitt, World Cup leader Toon Artz, Belgian champion Laurens Sweek, Michael Vanthourenhout, Tim Mellier, and Quinten Hermans.

"Van Aerts is an important piece off the bike as well. He is a leader and has a record. He is respected. When he opens his mouth, the other players listen. That's important, too. He gets involved if he needs to, and then everything comes into line."

Hellmans was selected ahead of Gianni Fermersch after a strong performance at the Nomei World Cup this weekend.

Van Hollenhout expects the course in Dübendorf to be mostly flat, wide, and fast.

"It could work out well for us. It's not the kind of track you see almost every week in Belgium, where you have to make a hundred turns on a small track, so to speak. It has a lot of long corners where you can keep the speed high, and it has a lot of long straights. In the dry, it's a completely different track. It makes it very difficult to make selections and allows for tactical racing.

It is not just the elite men's title that Van Tulenhout is after. He is still confident about defending elite women's champion Sanne Kant, even if she has been edged out this season by Dutch rivals like Ceylin Carmen del Alvarado, Annemarie Worst, and Lucinda Brand.

"Last year we won six medals. The female athletes have given me a hard time, but I have full confidence in Sanne Canto. I believe she will still fight for medals and I expect the best."

"In the youth category we are doing quite well. He did not name Thibaut Nyss, who has been dominant in the junior boys. But internally we are taking bets and I still envision two titles."

Elite Men Toon Arts, Quinten Hellmans, Eli Iserbitt, Tim Merlier, Lawrence Sweek, Wout van Aert, Michael Van Tulenhout Reserve Jens Adams, Thijs Arts, Gianni Vermeersch.

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

U23 Women: Kiona Klave, Marte Trujen

U23 Men: Jentl Bekar, Jelle Kamps, Timo Kielich, Thun Vandebosch, Niels Vandeputte. Reserve: Jarno Berens, Ryan Cortiens, Gerben Kuipers

Junior girls: Julie Blowers, Julie de Wilde, Myrte van den Brande, Steele Verfloot

Junior boys: Renate Bellmans, Ward Heubus, Jørben Lauridsen, Jente Michels, Tibau Nys, Emil Verstlinge Reserve: Jetze van Campenhout