Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2026, February 28

[Boehmand]

I have Albert Philipsen winning this one

He's a dark horse to me, but Lidl is bringing a pretty good team with Vacek, Skujins and Kragh, and they might want it to be a "learning experience" for him, rather than throwing him to the wolves in his first try.

But he may be the one they let go in the mid-race break and then anything can happen, because so far he appears to be a generational talent for exactly this type of race.

All realistic signs point to MvdP bossing the race though

 

[Gratemans]

Maybe he knows he's not ready?

Ready for what? It's not like Omloop is some big target for him. Don't know about Belgium but in the Netherlands, there's a pretty big flu epidemic going around. So maybe, this time he actually is sick.
His usual MO is announcing he'll start, say right beforehand he hasn't been feeling 100%, had a bit of the sniffles, and then just goes and race very well anyway, which I find pretty annoying. The fact that he actually isn't starting tells me he's actually sick.

 

[Andre]

I have Albert Philipsen winning this one

do you think he can beat Jasper?

 

[Oldman]

Ready for what? It's not like Omloop is some big target for him. Don't know about Belgium but in the Netherlands, there's a pretty big flu epidemic going around. So maybe, this time he actually is sick.
His usual MO is announcing he'll start, say right beforehand he hasn't been feeling 100%, had a bit of the sniffles, and then just goes and race very well anyway, which I find pretty annoying. The fact that he actually isn't starting tells me he's actually sick.

Likely so. To your point; if he was seriously on form he might try. This early in his recovery he shouldn't. Hope he keeps his recovery on track because his team desperately need the healthy version.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

My stars for the race:

***** Van der Poel
**** Magnier, Brennan, Philipsen
*** Laporte, Pidcock, De Lie, Girmay
** Wellens, Abrahamsen, F. Vermeersch, Van Baarle
* Wærenskjold, Withen, Vacek, Meeus, Andresen

 

[Samamba]

Latest predictions give up to 30km/u wind. That's plenty for echelons in open parts where the wind direction is fine. The part from km 80 till 110 should be good, basically ones we leave Oudenaarde. Wouldn't surprise me if we have splits before live broadcast.

 

[Panda Claws]

Will De Lie finally do something?

 

[HalfOfTheHill]

Will De Lie finally do something?

No.

If MVDP steamrollers this, folk wisdom dictates he at least won't then steamroller the Ronde. But I guess in this day and age that just points to another Pog win.

 

[Cycling111]

The good news this year is that mads perdersen is not riding, so there's a chance that the other teams will use their numbers against MVDP instead of just towing him to the win. Belgian pozzato could ruin that though.

Also omloop in 2025 was one of the worst classics. A more attacking race this year would be good and MDVP should help that .

Certainly think this is much more open than strade or liege for instance with pocagar present. Those races aren't even worth watching

But you'll see them to complain about in the thread.

 

[Rob5091]

Will De Lie finally do something?

Arnaud has finally realized that being a bit smart helps!

https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...ack-or-sprint-finish-at-omloop-het-nieuwsblad

"To follow Mathieu, I'm still lacking 50 watts. On the other hand, a day on the attack with Mathieu and snatching a podium spot wouldn't be bad either."
"With him, you never know where the finale will break loose. It could very well be on the Molenberg. Will I follow him? Maybe I should be a bit smarter. Like last year during the Renewi Tour where I opted for a lower gear on the Muur and raced defensively."

 

[Boehmand]

do you think he can beat Jasper?

He's not a sprinter - he's closer to MvdP in rider type.

 

[Pantani_lives]

There will be headwind between the Berendries and Ten Bosse; sidewind before and after the Muur; and backwind after the Bosberg. So the logical place to attack is on the Muur or Bosberg. A longer solo seems unlikely.

 

[Netserk]

i think the race will blow up before that