The cycling rivalry between Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel is considered among the greatest and longest lasting rivalries in the sport, as they are contemporaries and have competed against each other since they were both eight years old. They raced each other for the first time in a major event in the 2012 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships – Men's junior race and continuously since October 2013, originally in cyclo-cross and as their ambitions grew further also in road racing. The supporters of both riders, the Belgian media and later worldwide sports journalists began comparing one another regarding track record, racing style and personality.

Van Aert was born in September 1994 and Van der Poel in January 1995. Van Aert is from Belgium and has been riding for Team Visma–Lease a Bike since 2019. Van der Poel is from the Netherlands and rides for Alpecin–Deceuninck. Both were born and raised in the cycling heartland of Flanders and in both cyclo-cross and road racing they have won various similar races and achieved various similar milestones. In cyclo-cross, Van Aert has often been the better racer on heavy courses in the mud whereas Van der Poel is better on punchy courses and known for his last lap attacks. On the road, Van Aert has proved himself many times being the better time trialist, climber and mass sprinter whereas Van der Poel is the better puncheur and classics specialist.

Background

Van der Poel grew up in a true cycling family, having an older brother, David van der Poel, who is also a professional cyclist. His father Adri is a six-time National Champion and became World Cyclocross Champion in 1996. He was also twice a stage winner at the Tour de France and a winner of several Classics during his career, such as the 1986 Tour of Flanders and the 1988 Liège–Bastogne–Liège. His grandfather is Raymond Poulidor, nicknamed The Eternal Second, winner of the 1961 Milan–San Remo, 1964 Vuelta a España and a five time runner up at the Tour de France. Van Aert grew up in a non-cycling family, although his father's cousin Jos van Aert was a Dutch professional cyclist who rode together in the Collstrop Cycling Team with Adri van der Poel in 1994.

Quotes Van Aert in 2014 on the absence of Van der Poel in the U23 Cyclo-cross European Championships: "The absent are always in the wrong".” Van Aert in 2015 on his loss against Van der Poel in the Cyclo-cross World Championships: “I don't think I won silver. I lost gold. I think I can say that I was the best man in the race but that doesn't buy me anything." About Van der Poel: "He's a nice world champion. He'll show the jersey all year long.” Van Aert in 2016 after beating Van der Poel at the Cyclo-cross World Championships: “I have to thank him. Because I got stuck in his wheel I finally got into my rhythm. Merci Mathieu." As for the way Van der Poel wilted: "It's in my character never to give up. I don't race to sit up after five laps.“ Van der Poel in 2017 on Niels Albert insisting Adri van der Poel designed the Cyclo-cross World Championships course in favour of Van der Poel: "When Wout became world champion in Hoogerheide on the course that my father had set, I didn't hear anyone! Always complaining. Wanker.” Adri van der Poel in 2018 on Van Aert dominating during the Cyclo-cross World Championships: “If the difference is two minutes, that is not normal. He rides around, but he does not breathe. With all due respect, Wout does not even stand in the shadow of Mathieu in terms of victories this season.” Van der Poel in 2020: “It's really important that I have someone pushing my limits, and I do the same with him as well – we make each other stronger. I think we’ve had some really good battles in the past, and it starts to be a story of its own, and you see that it's getting bigger than the sport itself. It's pretty cool to have someone like him, and it also benefits me.” Van Aert in 2021 on his loss against Van der Poel in the 2020 Tour of Flanders: “I would have preferred to have been beaten by Alaphilippe. I would have slept more easily that night. I keep turning that over for three nights, certainly because it was Mathieu who had won. We'll never change. This rivalry has made us who we are and it's not finished.”

'Big Three' Throughout the years some riders were compared to Van Aert and Van der Poel, completing a so-called 'Big Three'. In cyclo-cross, Tom Pidcock, a multi-disciplined rider himself, was part of the Big Three since 2021. He never reached frequent wins in a cyclo-cross season and often ended on one of the lower podium spots. He became World Cyclo-cross Champion in 2022, though neither Van Aert nor Van der Poel competed in the race.

On the road, Van Aert and Van der Poel are often named in a Top Three in several lists of best classic racers. In 2020 and 2021 both Julian Alaphilippe, Van Aert and Van der Poel were at the top of their game as to the Classics. It would have come down to a three-horse battle in the final of the 2020 Tour of Flanders, if it weren't for the fall of Alaphilippe due to a motor cycle. In 2022 and 2023 the biggest contender of the 'Big Two' in Classics was Tadej Pogačar. He battled with Van der Poel in both the 2022 Tour of Flanders and 2023 Tour of Flanders and stood on the podium with Van Aert and Van der Poel in the 2023 UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race.

Cyclo-cross Cyclo-cross youth categories

Van Aert 2008-2009 Novices 2009-2010 Novices 2010-2011 Juniors 2011-2012 Juniors 2012-2013 U-23 2013-2014 U-23 2014-2015 U-23 Total Number of wins 0 1 2 5 7 12 6 33

Van der Poel 2009-2010 Novices 2010-2011 Novices 2011-2012 Juniors 2012-2013 Juniors 2013-2014 U-23 2014-2015 U-23 Total Number of wins 21 27 26 30 11 0 115

Novices In the Novice ranks not many races were contested between the pair; 6 in 2009. Van der Poel had the better results in all cyclo-cross races they contested together. Van der Poel remained in the Novice ranks in the 2010-2011 season as Van Aert moved to the Junior ranks that cyclo-cross season.

Races contested together Year and raceBest placed riderLower placed rider 2009 Horendonk Van der Poel Van Aert 6th 2009 Erpe-Mere Van der Poel Van Aert 6th 2009 Kessel Van der Poel Van Aert 5th 2009 Zwijndrecht Van der Poel Van Aert 5th 2009 Gavere Van der Poel Van Aert 10th 2009 Koksijde Van der Poel Van Aert 6th

Juniors In the Junior category only in the 2011-2012 season Van Aert and Van der Poel raced together as Van Aert switched to the Under-23 ranks a year prior to Van der Poel. At the 2012 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships – Men's junior race in Koksijde, it was Van der Poel who claimed his first world title, defeating Van Aert by eight seconds.

Races contested together Year and raceBest placed riderLower placed rider 2011 Erpe-Mere Van der Poel Van Aert 4th 2011 Kalmthout Van der Poel Van Aert 4th 2011 Ruddervoorde Van Aert Van der Poel 2011 Tábor Van der Poel Van Aert 7th 2011 Hamme Van der Poel Van Aert 2011 Gavere Van der Poel Van Aert 4th 2011 Koksijde Van der Poel Van Aert 2011 Gieten Van der Poel Van Aert 4th 2011 Diegem Van der Poel Van Aert 2011 Loenhout Van der Poel Van Aert 2012 Liévin Van der Poel Van Aert 20th 2012 Hoogerheide Van der Poel Van Aert 5th 2012 Lille Van der Poel Van Aert 2012 Hoogstraten Van der Poel Van Aert 2012 Middelkerke Van der Poel Van Aert 2012 Oostmalle Van der Poel Van Aert

UCI Men's Junior Cyclo-cross World Championships Year and categoryBest placed riderLower placed rider 2012 Junior Van der Poel Van Aert

UEC Men's Junior Cyclo-cross European Championships Year and categoryBest placed riderLower placed rider 2011 Junior Van der Poel Van Aert 4th

Under-23

In the Superprestige, the overall title went to Van der Poel with four wins to three.

Races contested together Year and categoryBest placed riderLower placed rider 2013 Ronse Van der Poel Van Aert 2013 Cauberg Van Aert Van der Poel 2013 Tábor Van der Poel Van Aert 2013 Ruddervoorde Van der Poel Van Aert 8th 2013 Koppenberg Van Aert Van der Poel 2013 Hamme Van der Poel Van Aert 2013 Hasselt Van Aert Van der Poel 2013 Koksijde Van der Poel Van Aert 15th 2013 Essen Van Aert Van der Poel 2013 Namur Van Aert Van der Poel 2013 Zolder Van der Poel Van Aert 2013 Diegem Van der Poel Van Aert 2014 Baal Van Aert Van der Poel 2014 Rome Van der Poel Van Aert 2014 Nommay Van Aert Van der Poel 2014 Lille Van Aert Van der Poel 2013 Oostmalle Van Aert Van der Poel

UCI Men's Under-23 Cyclo-cross World Championships Year and categoryBest placed riderLower placed rider2014 Under-23 Van Aert Van der Poel

UEC Men's Under-23 Cyclo-cross European Championships Year and categoryBest placed riderLower placed rider 2013 U-23 Van der Poel Van Aert 4th

Cyclo-cross elite category Van Aert 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025 2025-2026 Total Number of wins 1 11 18 17 9 4 1 5 9 9 3 2 0 91

Van der Poel 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025 2025-2026 Total Number of wins 1 11 11 22 31 32 24 10 0 7 13 8 13 183

Cyclo-cross World Cup

Each of them won a round of the 2014–15 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup. Van Aert rode a full 2015–16 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup season, won the opening round in Las Vegas and secured the overall, while Van der Poel had a knee injury and had to skip the first two rounds. He did win the final four. The 2016–17 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup was again dominated by Van Aert, as again Van der Poel missed the opening rounds due to an injury. Van Aert won four of the rounds and the overall, Van der Poel won three of them.

In the 2017–18 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup Van der Poel won the overall as he finally rode a complete season. He won seven rounds, Van Aert beat him in the other two. In 2018–2019 Van der Poel won all six rounds he attended, Van Aert won one, but neither of them won the overall as Toon Aerts had a consistent World Cup season and finished top-4 in all rounds which got him enough points to beat the Big 2.

In the 2019–20 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup Van Aert was not fully recovered from his 2019 Tour de France crash and did not win a round, as Van der Poel won all five of the rounds he contested. Again Toon Aerts secured the overall. The 2020-21 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup season was shortened duo to the Covid pandemic. Van Aert rode all rounds as Van der Poel skipped the first one in Tabor. They both won two rounds, Van Aert won the overall for the third time. In 2021–2022 Van der Poel had a heavy back injury and did not win a round, Van Aert won two rounds. In the 2022–23 UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup Van Aert won again two rounds and Van der Poel five.

Van Aert TotalWorld Cup wins 17World Cup Overall series wins 3 Van der Poel TotalWorld Cup wins 51World Cup Overall series wins 2