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

 

[Netserk]

with the predicted weather i see four phases of the race

initial phase from the start to oudenaarde
middle phase from oudenaarde to the foot of eikenberg the second time
pre finale from eikenberg to geraardsbergen
finale from geraardsbergen to the finish

i expect much more from the race in the middle phase this year just like two years ago

 

[Samamba]

with the predicted weather i see four phases of the race

initial phase from the start to oudenaarde
middle phase from oudenaarde to the foot of eikenberg the second time
pre finale from eikenberg to geraardsbergen
finale from geraardsbergen to the finish

i expect much more from the race in the middle phase this year just like two years ago

It's also significantly more wind than 2 years ago. 2 years ago lots of riders were surprised, this time they won't but if its actually over 30km/h it will split nonetheless cause I doubt no one will try. Enough open spots after oudenaarde.

 

[LookProGoSlow]

Thunderpoel time.

 

[Netserk]

odds

* * * * * - van der poel
* * * *
* * * - magnier , pidders , brennan , big phil , laporte , de lie , wellens
* * - girmay , abra , vacek , van baarle , turner , awp , wærenskjold
* - vermeersch , kubis , lund , pithie , meeus

pithie is underrated here

 

[Netserk]

official startlist https://www.omloophetnieuwsblad.be/en/files/87045250-1151-11f1-9f83-0050569301fd/1772204345

UNO-X MOBILITY

WÆRENSKJOLD Søren1 NOR
ABRAHAMSEN Jonas2 NOR
BÉVORT Carl-Frederik3 DEN
BYSTRØM Sven Erik4 NOR
HOELGAARD Markus5 NOR
RESELL Erik Nordsaeter6 NOR
TILLER Rasmus7 NOR


ALPECIN-PREMIER TECH

PHILIPSEN Jasper11 BEL
BAYER Tobias12 AUT
BELMANS Lennert13 BEL
GROVES Kaden Alexander14 AUS
PLANCKAERT Edward15 BEL
VAN DER POEL Mathieu16 NED
SENECHAL Florian17 FRA


BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS

MOHORIC Matej21 SLO
GRADEK Kamil22 POL
MIQUEL DELGADO Pau23 ESP
SEGAERT Alec24 BEL
STANNARD Robert25 AUS
VALTER Attila26 HUN
VAN MECHELEN Vlad27 BEL


DECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM

LUND ANDRESEN Lund31 DEN
BISSEGGER Stefan32 SUI
BOL Cees33 NED
DE PESTEL Sander34 BEL
DEWULF Stan35 BEL
NAESEN Oliver36 BEL
PEDERSEN Søjberg Rasmus37 DEN


EF EDUCATION - EASYPOST

ASGREEN Kasper41 DEN
ALBANESE Vincenzo42 ITA
HOBBS Alfred Bruce Noah43 GBR
HONORÉ Frølich Mikkel44 DEN
LAMPERTI Luke45 USA
SIMMONS Colby46 USA
VAN DEN BERG Marijn47 NED


GROUPAMA-FDJ UNITED

MADOUAS Valentin51 FRA
BARTHE Cyril52 FRA
GRUEL Thibaud53 FRA
HUENS Axel54 FRA
JACOBS Johan55 SUI
RUSSO Clément56 FRA
TRONCHON Bastien57 FRA


INEOS GRENADIERS

KWIATKOWSKI Michal61 POL
HEIDUK Kim Alexander62 GER
SHEFFIELD Magnus63 USA
SHMIDT Artem64 USA
SWIFT Ben65 GBR
TURNER Ben66 GBR
WATSON Sam67 GBR


LIDL-TREK

KRAGH ANDERSEN Søren71 DEN
SKUJINS Toms72 LAT
PHILIPSEN Withen Albert73 DEN
TEUTENBERG Tim Torn74 GER
THEUNS Edward75 BEL
VACEK Mathias76 CZE
VERGAERDE Otto77 BEL

LOTTO INTERMARCHÉ

DE LIE Arnaud81 BEL
BRAET Vito82 BEL
BERCKMOES Jenno83 BEL
BEULLENS Cedric84 BEL
GRIGNARD Sébastien85 BEL
VAN BOVEN Luca86 BEL
VAN SINTMAARTENSDIJK87 NED


MOVISTAR TEAM

ADRIA OLIVERAS Roger91 ESP
AULAR SANABRIA Orluis92 VEN
BARRENETXEA GOLZARRI93 ESP
CANAL BLANCO Carlos94 ESP
GARCIA CORTINA Ivan95 ESP
MACIEJUK Filip96 POL
MORO Manlio97 ITA


NSN CYCLING TEAM

GIRMAY Biniam101 ERI
ASKEY Lewis102 GBR
BOIVIN Guillaume103 CAN
LOUVEL Matis104 FRA
MULLEN Ryan William105 IRL
SHEEHAN Riley106 USA
VAN ASBROECK Tom107 BEL


RED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE

MEEUS Jordi111 BEL
DRIZNERS Jarrad Eriks112 AUS
PITHIE Laurence113 NZL
VAN DIJKE Mick114 NED
VAN DIJKE Tim115 NED
MARIT Arne116 BEL
VERMEERSCH Gianni117 BEL


SOUDAL QUICK-STEP

LAMPAERT Yves121 BEL
MAGNIER Paul122 FRA
PEDERSEN Phillip Casper123 DEN
REINDERINK Pepijn124 NED
VERVENNE Jonathan125 BEL
VAN BAARLE Dylan126 NED
VAN GESTEL Dries127 BEL


TEAM JAYCO ALULA

CAPIOT Amaury131 BEL
DE BONDT Dries132 BEL
DE POOTER Dries133 BEL
DONALDSON Robert134 GBR
FOLDAGER Anders135 DEN
KRIJNSEN Jelte136 NED
O’BRIEN Kelland137 AUS


TEAM PICNIC POSTNL

DEGENKOLB John141 GER
DE JONG Timo142 NED
FLYNN Sean143 GBR
RENARD HAQUIN Henri144 FRA
ROOSEN Timo145 NED
VAN DEN BERG Julius146 NED
VAN DEN BROEK Frank147 NED


TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE

MATTIO Pietro151 ITA
AFFINI Edoardo152 ITA
BRENNAN Matthew153 GBR
HAGENES Per Strand154 NOR
KIELICH Timo155 BEL
LAPORTE Christophe156 FRA
ZINGLE Axel157 FRA


UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG

WELLENS Tim161 BEL
ALVES OLIVEIRA Rui Filipe162 POR
JOHANSEN Julius163 DEN
HERREGODTS Rune164 BEL
MOLANO BENAVIDES Juan165 COL
POLITT Nils166 GER
VERMEERSCH Florian167 BEL


XDS ASTANA TEAM

BALLERINI Davide171 ITA
BETTIOL Alberto172 ITA
GATE Aaron173 NZL
GONOV Lev174
LIVYNS Arjen175 BEL
ROMELE Alessandro176 ITA
TEUNISSEN Mike177 NED


COFIDIS

ALLEGAERT Piet181 BEL
ANIOŁKOWSKI Stanisław182 POL
BIERMANS Jenthe183 BEL
KIRSCH Alex184 LUX
PAGE Hugo185 FRA
RENARD Alexis186 FRA
TEUNS Dylan187 BEL


PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM

PIDCOCK Thomas191 GBR
DE GENDT Aime192 BEL
FRISON Frederik193 BEL
MAŁECKI Kamil194 POL
MEURISSE Xandro195 BEL
VAN MOER Brent196 BEL
WRIGHT Alfred Brockwell197 GBR


BURGOS-BURPELLET-BH

ALLENO Clement201 FRA
BOUGLAS Georgios202 GRE
CAVIA SANZ Daniel203 ESP
BURNETT Josh204 NZL
MAYER Henri Alexandre205 MRI
KMÍNEK Vojtěch206 CZE
MACIAS ESTRADA Cesar207 MEX


TUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM

KÜNG Stefan211 SUI
HALLER Marco212 AUT
KELEMEN Petr213 CZE
MIKUTIS Aivaras214 LTU
MOZZATO Luca215 ITA
PLUIMERS Rick216 NED
TRENTIN Matteo217 ITA


TEAM FLANDERS - BALOISE

DEWEIRDT Siebe221 BEL
LAMBRECHT Michiel222 BEL
LANHOVE Milan223 BEL
VERCOUILLIE Victor224 BEL
VAN HEMELEN Vincent225 BEL
VANDENSTORME Dylan226 BEL
VANHOOF Ward227 BEL


TOTALENERGIES

BRUNEL Alexys231 FRA
DUJARDIN Sandy232 FRA
GACHIGNARD Thomas233 FRA
LEROUX Samuel234 FRA
BONNET Thomas235 FRA
TURGIS Anthony236 FRA
VADIC Baptiste237 FRA


UNIBET ROSE ROCKETS

BLOEM Joren241 NED
FELDMANN Karsten Larsen242 NOR
KOPECKÝ Casper Matyáš243 CZE
KOPECKÝ Cornelius Tomas244 CZE
KUBIŠ Lukáš245 SVK
LARSEN Niklas246 DEN
RASENBERG Martijn247 NED

 

[Boehmand]

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.

Feltet.dk writes that the last 65K will mainly have crosswinds - possibly strong enough to create echelons (9-10 m/s).

Further that there is a good chance of showers and a temperature around 8C.

If we get all 3 - crosswinds, wet cobbles and cold temperatures - the race could be pure fireworks the last 80K

 

[Lievro]

Hyped. Year after year. Having a 'prono' with friends and family and the start is the Omloop and the end in Liege. Wonderful time!

Who wants to see my final trailer (no entry possible ) :

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVRHYvujNUQ/?igsh=NGJ2Mjg3ZjdqNmNl

 

[Tim Cahill]

Great to see Niermann dampening the pressure, tempering the expectations on his young athletes by hitting the media rounds today saying he doesn’t rule out Brennan following Van Der Poel on the attack.

 

[Netserk]

good to have a lightning rod so that laporte can sneak away

 

[Didinho]

Even more wind expected tomorrow.
4-5 Beaufort with gusts around 60-70 kph.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Is the Peloton prepared for Niklas Larsen tomorrow?

 

[Netserk]