After years of watching from the sidelines, Mathieu van der Poel will finally make his debut at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday, a rare Belgian classic that has eluded his otherwise dominant palmarès. The race, traditionally the kickoff to the Flemish cycling season, will see the cyclocross world champion test his form against a field that includes Wout van Aert, though several other key contenders are sidelined.
Van der Poel, fresh off securing his eighth world title in cyclocross in Hulst, admitted he initially questioned his readiness for the road season. “In that short period you obviously don’t lose all your condition, but to be honest, it was a bit disappointing at first,” he said Friday, referring to his initial training sessions after the cyclocross season. He spent time on Spain’s Costa Blanca to regain his road legs, and only confirmed his participation on Monday.
The decision to participate marks a shift for Van der Poel, who has often bypassed Omloop in the past due to its proximity to the cyclocross season. “When I watched Omloop on TV, I often felt it was a pity not to be there,” he stated. This year, however, he aims to build momentum for a campaign focused on the major spring classics – Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix – and views the race as valuable preparation. He will also compete in Tirreno-Adriatico, the E3 Saxo Classic, and In Flanders Fields.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, at 207km, is known for its challenging terrain, including the iconic Muur van Geraardsbergen and Bosberg climbs. While these ascents are pivotal, Van der Poel cautioned against assuming they will definitively decide the outcome. “The Muur and Bosberg are important, but whether it will be decided there tomorrow, we’ll only know then,” he said.
The field will be without several prominent riders. Jasper Stuyven and Tiesj Benoot are among those currently sidelined, potentially opening the door for Van der Poel. However, competition will come from riders like Tim Wellens (UAE Emirates-XRG) and Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5). Van der Poel acknowledged the presence of strong sprinters, including Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step), Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling), Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike), and Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Intermarché), and indicated a desire to thin the field before a potential bunch sprint.
Alpecin-Premier Tech brings additional firepower with Jasper Philipsen and Kaden Groves, providing options should the race conclude in a mass finish. “It’s a tough race, but often a fairly closed one as well, where it’s difficult to make big differences,” Van der Poel noted. “Not all the pressure is on my shoulders.”
Saturday’s race will offer the first glimpse of Van der Poel’s road form as he prepares for potential clashes with Tadej Pogačar later this spring. The Dutchman arrived in Belgium via private jet, a detail noted by rival Yves Lampaert of Soudal Quick-Step, who acknowledged Van der Poel as the immediate favorite. Lampaert told Het Laatste Nieuws that the team was aware of Van der Poel’s presence and the challenge he presents.
Van der Poel’s participation also comes with the question of whether he will compete in the Tour de France this summer, a decision that remains unconfirmed. For now, his focus is on the cobbled classics and adding Omloop Het Nieuwsblad to his impressive list of achievements.
