For the third year in a row, two-time UCI Cyclocross World Champion Wout van Aert has traveled to the States to tackle the U.S. World Cups.
Until last Sunday’s 2017 Jingle Cross World Cup, the young Belgian has been undefeated in his American racing over the last three years, winning the 2015 CrossVegas World Cup over Sven Nys, winning the 2016 Trek CXC Cup C1 race, overcoming a broken toe to defend the title in 2016, and then limping up Mt. Krumpit at lightspeed with his broken toe to run away and dominate in the Jingle Cross World Cup debut.
Wout van Aert readies for his UCI Cyclocross World Championship defense, as documented in this SRAM Open the Road video.
This year, Van Aert spent more time on the road preparing for the cyclocross season and his defense of the rainbow jersey. SRAM followed Van Aert and spoke with his team manager, former World Champ Niels Albert, about his preparation and mentality, in the company’s latest installment of the Open the Road and The Other Side of Victory video series.
Wout van Aert readies for his UCI Cyclocross World Championship defense, as documented in this SRAM Open the Road video.
See the dramatic two-minute video on Van Aert and his pre-season preparation below, and check back throughout the weekend for full coverage of the UCI World Cup Waterloo cyclocross race.
Van Aert’s stateside trip is especially valuable to his American sponsors, which include SRAM, Felt Bicycles and Bontrager.
While most SRAM-sponsored racers rely on Force 1 components, Van Aert (and Jeremy Powers) races on SRAM RED eTap HRD. Learn more about the group here, and test your knowledge with 11 things you might not know about eTap.
Like many, we’re anxious to put a group to the test. Stay tuned.
