The world's top two men's cyclo-cross racers, Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel have both announced their programmes for this winter now, setting the scene for five thrilling face-offs.

Two of those will be in the UCI World Cup series , two in the top-tier X2O Trofee and one at the Exact Cross at Mol on January 2.

Although their seasons these days are built around the road, both riders are former cyclo-cross world champions and World Cup winners, and even now start as favourites in any race they enter. Van der Poel ( Alpecin-Deceuninck ) is the more prolific of the two, having won five World Cup rounds and the Elite Men's World Championships last season – and beaten Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) twice while doing so. Best picks for you

'I don't have any doubts that I can

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