The boring part of winter is finally over.

Real racing returns next Saturday, February 28. It is time for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. This is the official start of the European Classics season.

You can stream the whole thing live on FloBikes in the United States and Canada. Check the link at the bottom to get signed up. You do not want to miss the start of the action.

We are done with sunny warm-up rides. This is Opening Weekend in Belgium. The road to Paris-Roubaix starts now.

The Return of Wout van Aert

The biggest headline is Wout van Aert.

He is back.

He fractured his ankle earlier this winter during a cyclocross race. He needed surgery. It sounded like a disaster for his season. But his recovery speed has been shocking. He was back on the bike days after the operation. He has been logging heavy training miles in Spain ever since.

This race is his 2026 road debut.

If he is fit, this is a massive problem for everyone else. Team Visma | Lease a Bike wants an early win. Van Aert wants to prove his ankle is fine.

The weather forecast looks terrible. Expect rain and temperatures around 48°F. That means cold muscles and chaos. It is the exact kind of weather Wout loves.

A Meaner Omloop 2026 Course

The race starts at the velodrome in Gent. The route covers eight cobbled sectors and twelve climbs.

Organizers made it harder this year. They removed the Valkenberg. They added two trips up the Eikenberg instead. They want to avoid a big sprint finish like last year.

The end of the race is brutal. The riders face the Tenbosse and the Parikeberg. Then comes the legendary Muur van Geraardsbergen and the Bosberg.

If the rain falls, those stones will be like ice. It will be slippery and dangerous. Staying on the bike will be half the challenge.\

Who To Watch In Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2026 

Søren Wærenskjold is the defending champion for Uno-X. He won last year in a sprint. He will try to defend his title against a much deeper field.

Jasper Philipsen is leading Alpecin. He is dangerous. If he survives the hills, he is the fastest man in the group.

Biniam Girmay looks great right now. He is racing for NSN Cycling Team. He has the power for these short, punchy climbs.

Arnaud De Lie is another major threat. He can climb with the best and finish fast.

Keep an eye on Tom Pidcock. He is on his new Pinarello Q36.5 bike. He knows how to attack on the Muur. He's supported by Canadian Nicholas Zukowski.

Stefan Küng is riding for Tudor. If he gets away solo, the race is over.

We also have a stacked list of Americans. Watch out for Magnus Sheffield, Artem Schmidt, Luke Lamperti, Colby Simmons, and Riley Sheehan.

Why Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2026 Matters

Omloop is a tone-setter.

It is the first psychological battle of the cobbled season. A win here builds massive confidence for the Monuments later this spring. A loss puts you on the back foot immediately.

The cobbles are waiting.