With the cyclocross worlds looming this weekend in Switzerland, three-time champion Wout Van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) says that his goal is winning the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix, and not a fourth title.

The Belgian is returning to his best after crashing out of the Tour de France and suffering a deep muscle cut to his right upper leg. Already last season, he had made the road his focus.

"A fourth cyclocross title? I think that will be definitely not be possible, this 'cross season is all about having fun again, level up to do the spring classics and just enjoying being a bike rider again," he told FloBikes.

"Yeah, in the future, I hope so. Three is nice, but four is even more nice. But on the other hand, I think I've won quite everything in cyclocross. I definitely want some better seasons than I had last season. I want to win again, and go into the battle with Matthieu [van der Poel] again but it's a bigger challenge to win a race like Flanders and Roubaix than winning a fourth cyclocross title."

Van Aert, 25, won his titles in 2016, 2017, and 2018. He began a shift to the road in 2018 and joined Jumbo-Visma in 2019. Last year, he won a stage in the Tour de France and was on the way to winning the time trial stage in Pau when he crashed.

"I think noticing the last two years, I have to say I want to win Flanders and Roubaix one day and maybe it's the biggest goal left in my career after after my cyclocross titles. I want to do everything to be strong enough in the final and going for wins in those kind of races. I think this is the next step."

Heading to the World Championships this weekend in Dübendorf, Switzerland, Mathieu van der Poel (Corendon-Circus) is the favourite to win and defend his title.