With Mathieu van der Poel looking for his sixth career title at the elite cyclocross world championships in Tabor on February 4, Belgium, considered the strongest team, may have to settle for silver and bronze.

Belgium is missing out on a great chance to win the rainbow jersey as former champion Wout van Aert wrapped up his 2023-2024 cyclo-cross campaign with his third win of the season in Benidorm.

Visma-Lease A Bike star Van Aert overcame a late-season crash to top the Belgian podium behind Michael Vanthourenhout and Tibau Nys.

Belgian national coach Sven Vanthourenhout said Van der Pol would need to make a similar mistake for his rider to win the UCI cyclocross world championship.

"It will be very hard to beat him," Van der Pol said. He rarely makes mistakes at crucial moments."

"That's why we have to stay sharp. We don't want Mathieu to fall behind and we respect him.

Speaking to Het Nieuwsblad, Vanthourenhout admitted that it was unusual for the overwhelming favorite in the rainbow jersey to make such a mistake.

"Mistakes can always happen, and unfortunately bad luck is part of the sport. However, the fact remains that every cross has to be raced.

"It says a lot that Mathieu Van der Pol himself has already said that the World Championships is the most important race in his cyclocross campaign. When he scores a goal, he rarely misses it."

Belgium will line up with a team that includes double bronze medalist Eli Iserbyt, 2018 silver medalist and current European champion Vanthourenhout, and U23 world champion Nys.

On paper, they will be the strongest of Tabor's elite men's teams, but none have reached Van der Pol's level. Van Tulenhout said he was "disappointed" that VanArt decided not to compete.

"It's a shame, but we've known that for some time. I'm not trying to convince him anymore. I'm not trying to convince him anymore. [He replied], 'Do it without me this year.'"

"If there is something that needs to be done for the medal candidates, like Eli and Michael, it will be done. We have a good group of people. It would be a shame if [the podium] didn't work out, but I have confidence in the team."