Brussels, Belgium – Wout van Aert will miss Saturday’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the opening race of the Belgian Classics season, due to illness, his team Visma-Lease a Bike announced Thursday. The absence of the 2022 champion removes a key rival for Mathieu van der Poel, who is making his debut in the race.
Van Aert, who has been recovering from an ankle fracture sustained in a cyclo-cross race in January, had been anticipating his first competitive outing of the road season. “Obviously, it’s a big blow for me to miss out on my first race, having prepared for the classics season the whole winter,” Van Aert said in a statement released by his team. “We had a good training camp at Sierra Nevada, and I was feeling really strong. But unfortunately, it’s also that time of the year where it’s easy to fall ill. I remain positive about the feeling I had on training and am confident that I will be able to return to racing soon. Just not this Saturday.”
The Visma-Lease a Bike team did not disclose the specific nature of Van Aert’s illness, nor did they provide a definitive timeline for his return. However, the team indicated that Van Aert hopes to be fit for the Ename Samyn Classic on March 3rd, which would serve as a preparatory race ahead of the Strade Bianche and the major spring Classics.
Van Aert’s withdrawal follows a similar announcement from Soudal Quick-Step, who will be without Jasper Stuyven due to illness. He will also miss Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne. Decathlon CMA CGM will be without Tiesj Benoot, who is recovering from surgery to address a herniated disc, raising concerns about his participation in the Tour de France later this year.
Despite the absences, the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad will still feature a strong field, with Mathieu van der Poel as the clear favorite. Van der Poel will be making his debut in the race, and his presence is expected to draw significant attention. Tim Wellens of UAE Team Emirates-XRG expressed optimism ahead of the race, stating, “For us Belgians, it’s the moment when we say the season really starts, so it’s extremely important. I’m always in shape at the beginning of the season and I had great sensations in my last race.”
Last year’s edition of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad saw a dramatic finish, with Søren Wærenskjold surprisingly defeating Paul Magnier and Jasper Philipsen in the sprint. Joshua Tarling had launched a strong attack late in the race, but was ultimately reeled in before the final kilometers. Wout van Aert finished eleventh in that race.
