The Classics season just delivered a massive shock before the first pedal stroke.

Wout van Aert is officially out of Opening Weekend.

Team Visma | Lease a Bike confirmed the heartbreaking news. Wout fell ill this week. He will not be on the start line this Saturday, February 28.

“Obviously it’s a big blow for me to miss out on my first race, having prepared for the classics season the whole winter," said van Aert.

"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.”

This is terrible news for Team Visma. They were already sweating over Christophe Laporte after his recent crash in Spain. The team suddenly looks vulnerable.

The Plot Twist: Mathieu van der Poel Is Racing

Just as one superstar leaves, another arrives.

Mathieu van der Poel is officially racing tomorrow.

He announced the surprise addition to his schedule yesterday. He will start his road season at Omloop Nieuwsblad for Alpecin-Premier Tech.

Van der Poel ended his winter cyclocross campaign completely unbeaten. Now he is turning his focus to the road. The team says he feels race-ready and confident after a few focused weeks of preparation.

This changes the entire dynamic of the race. He is instantly a top favorite. He is using Opening Weekend as a launchpad for the rest of the Spring Classics.

Tom Pidcock Is Still Flying Ahead of Omloop

Even with Mathieu in the mix, do not forget about Tom Pidcock.

He is coming into Belgium red-hot. He dominated the final stage of the Ruta del Sol in Spain just days ago. He launched a massive attack on the final climb. No one could hold his wheel.

Pidcock has the explosive power for the short bergs. He rides for Pinarello Q36.5 now and has Canadian Nicholas Zukowski supporting him. Pidcock has the form and the momentum.

The weather in Belgium will be brutally cold. Expect temperatures between 43 and 48 degrees Fahrenheit. And a chance of rain.