The 2026 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad signals the true beginning of the European cycling season. This UCI WorldTour race is the first cobbled Classic of the year and forms part of the revered Opening Weekend. Cycling enthusiasts worldwide eagerly await this event, held on February 28, 2026. The race is known for its challenging terrain, featuring iconic cobbled sections and bergs that define Flemish cycling. With a start in Ghent and a finish in Ninove, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad promises intense competition and strategic battles from start to finish. This race sets the tone for the entire Spring Classics campaign, making it a crucial event for riders aiming for glory on the cobblestones.
Event Preview
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is traditionally the inaugural WorldTour race on European soil, marking the opening of the Flemish cycling spring. The course navigates the demanding Flemish Ardennes, incorporating notorious cobbled sectors and climbs shared with the Tour of Flanders. Key challenges include the Muur van Geraardsbergen (0.91km, 6.8% avg gradient), Bosberg (1.05km, 6.1% avg gradient), Haaghoek, Leberg, and Paddestraat. First held in 1945, this race carries significant historical weight. The 2026 edition features five former winners on the start list: Jasper Stuyven (2020), Davide Ballerini (2021), Wout van Aert (2022), Dylan van Baarle (2023), and Søren Wærenskjold (2025). This year’s event is particularly anticipated for a potential showdown between Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert. Route changes for 2026 have increased the difficulty in the finale, incorporating 12 categorised climbs and 8 cobblestone sectors. No specific team form or recent news is available as the event is two days away, ensuring an unpredictable and thrilling contest.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2026 Odds
| Selection | Ybets | 1Red | Betista |
| Mathieu va der Poel | 1.80 | 1.55 | 1.73 |
| Paul Magnier | 11.00 | 10.00 | 13.00 |
| Tom Pidcock | 11.00 | 10.00 | 13.00 |
| Matthew Brennan | 15.00 | 12.00 | 17.00 |
| Jasper Philipsen | 21.00 | 15.00 | 21.00 |
| Christophe Laporte | 21.00 | 15.00 | 21.00 |
| Tim Wellens | 17.00 | 16.00 | 23.00 |
| Arnaud De Lie | 34.00 | 23.00 | 23.00 |
| Ben Turner | 41.00 | 31.00 | 41.00 |
| Mathias Vacek | 41.00 | 26.00 | 34.00 |
| Biniam Girmay | 34.00 | 26.00 | 34.00 |
| Dylan van Baarle | 51.00 | 31.00 | 41.00 |
| Jonas Abrahamsen | 67.00 | 31.00 | 67.00 |
| Albert Withen Philipsen | 51.00 | 31.00 | 67.00 |
| Florian Vermeersch | 67.00 | 41.00 | 67.00 |
| Lukas Kubis | 51.00 | 51.00 | 81.00 |
| Soren Waerenskjold | 34.00 | 34.00 | 81.00 |
| Jasper Stuyven | 100.00 | 81.00 | 100.00 |
| Tobias Lund Andresen | 67.00 | 61.00 | 100.00 |
| Laurence Pithie | 81.00 | 61.00 | 81.00 |
| Jordi Meeus | 81.00 | 61.00 | 81.00 |
| Matej Mohoric | 81.00 | 81.00 | 81.00 |
| Tom Skujins | 150.00 | 100.00 | 150.00 |
| Anthony Turgis | 150.00 | 125.00 | 125.00 |
| Nils Politt | 125.00 | 100.00 | 150.00 |
| Axel Zingle | 100.00 | 61.00 | 150.00 |
| Matteo Trentin | 125.00 | 100.00 | 125.00 |
| Alberto Bettiol | 125.00 | 100.00 | 125.00 |
| Fred Wright | 67.00 | 125.00 | 150.00 |
| Rasmus Tiller | 150.00 | 125.00 | 150.00 |
| Magnus Sheffield | 200.00 | 125.00 | 200.00 |
| Jenno Berckmoes | 200.00 | 81.00 | 200.00 |
| Riley Sheehan | 200.00 | 200.00 | 200.00 |
| Stefan Kung | 125.00 | 125.00 | 125.00 |
| Kasper Asgreen | 150.00 | 125.00 | 150.00 |
| Gianni Vermeersch | 200.00 | 125.00 | 200.00 |
| Casper Pedersen | 250.00 | 250.00 | 250.00 |
| Rasmus Sojberg Pedersen | 200.00 | 250.00 | 250.00 |
| Samuel Watson | 150.00 | 125.00 | 200.00 |
| Soren Kragh Andersen | 200.00 | 150.00 | 200.00 |
| Juan Sebastian Molano | 200.00 | 250.00 | 250.00 |
| Kaden Groves | 200.00 | 150.00 | 200.00 |
| Tim Van Dijke | 200.00 | 250.00 | 250.00 |
| Ivan Garcia Cortina | 200.00 | 150.00 | 200.00 |
| Davide Ballerini | 250.00 | 150.00 | 150.00 |
| Timo Kielich | 250.00 | 250.00 | 250.00 |
| Rui Oliveira | 250.00 | 250.00 | 250.00 |
| Lewis Askey | 250.00 | 200.00 | 300.00 |
| Bastien Tronchon | 200.00 | 200.00 | 250.00 |
| Roger Adria | 250.00 | 300.00 | 300.00 |
| Tim Torn Teutenberg | 250.00 | 300.00 | 200.00 |
| Rick Pluimers | 250.00 | 300.00 | 300.00 |
| Matyas Kopecky | 250.00 | 400.00 | 400.00 |
| Luke Lamperti | 250.00 | 250.00 | 250.00 |
| Per Strand Hagenes | 250.00 | 125.00 | 400.00 |
| Marijn Van Den Berg | 250.00 | 250.00 | 250.00 |
| Luca Mozzato | 250.00 | 250.00 | 300.00 |
| Valentin Madouas | 250.00 | 250.00 | 250.00 |
| Vincenzo Albanese | 500.00 | 500.00 | 500.00 |
| Mike Teunissen | 250.00 | 300.00 | 300.00 |
| Thibaud Gruel | 250.00 | 400.00 | 400.00 |
| Yves Lampaert | 500.00 | 400.00 | 500.00 |
| Marco Haller | 500.00 | 500.00 | 500.00 |
| Jon Barrenetxea | 500.00 | 400.00 | 400.00 |
| Arne Marit | 250.00 | 400.00 | 400.00 |
| Michal Kwiatkowski | 500.00 | 300.00 | 300.00 |
| Mick Van Dijke | 500.00 | 400.00 | 400.00 |
| Oliver Naesen | 500.00 | 400.00 | 400.00 |
| Arjen Livyns | 500.00 | 450.00 | 300.00 |
| Markus Hoelgaard | 500.00 | 600.00 | 600.00 |
| Aaron Gate | 500.00 | 450.00 | 500.00 |
| Mikkel Frolich Honore | 500.00 | 600.00 | 600.00 |
| Rune Herregodts | 500.00 | 450.00 | 600.00 |
| Sandy Dujardin | 500.00 | 450.00 | 600.00 |
| Dries De Bondt | 500.00 | 450.00 | 500.00 |
| Stefan Bissegger | 150.00 | 600.00 | 500.00 |
| Dylan Teuns | 750.00 | 600.00 | 500.00 |
| Attila Valter | 500.00 | 600.00 | 600.00 |
| Jenthe Biermans | 750.00 | 600.00 | 600.00 |
| Hugo Page | 750.00 | 600.00 | 600.00 |
| Noah Hobbs | 500.00 | 600.00 | 600.00 |
| Artem Shmidt | 750.00 | 600.00 | 800.00 |
| Dries Van Gestel | 750.00 | 600.00 | 800.00 |
| Tomas Kopecky | 750.00 | 800.00 | 800.00 |
| Amaury Capiot | 750.00 | 800.00 | 800.00 |
| Florian Senechal | 750.00 | 600.00 | 800.00 |
| Alexis Renard | 750.00 | 800.00 | 800.00 |
| Axel Huens | 750.00 | 600.00 | 800.00 |
| Orluis Aular | 750.00 | 800.00 | 800.00 |
| Alex Kirsch | 500.00 | 450.00 | 800.00 |
| Jelte Krijnsen | 750.00 | 800.00 | 800.00 |
| Anders Foldager | 750.00 | 800.00 | 800.00 |
| Brent van Moer | 750.00 | 600.00 | 800.00 |
| Carlos Canal | 750.00 | 800.00 | 800.00 |
| Frank van den Broek | 750.00 | 800.00 | 800.00 |
| Alec Segaert | 750.00 | 450.00 | 800.00 |
| Piet Allegaert | 750.00 | 800.00 | 800.00 |
| Stan Dewulf | 1000.00 | 750.00 | 800.00 |
| Tom Van Asbroeck | 1000.00 | 1000.00 | 1000.00 |
| Ben Swift | 1000.00 | 750.00 | 1000.00 |
| Xandro Meurisse | 1000.00 | 1000.00 | 500.00 |
| Kelland OBrien | 1000.00 | 800.00 | 800.00 |
| Robert Stannard | 1000.00 | 1000.00 | 1000.00 |
| Aivaras Mikutis | 1000.00 | 1000.00 | 750.00 |
| Alessandro Romele | 1000.00 | 750.00 | 1000.00 |
| Edward Planckaert | 1000.00 | 750.00 | 1000.00 |
| Edoardo Affini | 1000.00 | 750.00 | 1000.00 |
| Sven Erik Bystrom | 750.00 | 1000.00 | 1000.00 |
| Edward Theuns | 1000.00 | 800.00 | 800.00 |
| Stanislaw Aniolkowski | 1000.00 | 750.00 | 1000.00 |
| Kim Heiduk | 750.00 | 1000.00 | 1000.00 |
| Carl-Frederik Bevort | 1000.00 | 1000.00 | 750.00 |
| Colby Simmons | 1000.00 | 1000.00 | 1000.00 |
| Ryan Mullen | 1000.00 | 1000.00 | 1000.00 |
| Aime De Gendt | 1000.00 | 1000.00 | 800.00 |
| Guillaume Boivin | 1500.00 | 1500.00 | 1000.00 |
| Frederik Frison | 1000.00 | 1500.00 | 1500.00 |
Start Time
The official start time for the Elite Men’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2026 is 11:15 CET in Belgium. The expected finish time is around 16:00 CET. Variations in timing exist, with some schedules indicating a start as early as 11:05 CET and a finish as late as 15:52 CET, or a finish at 15:50 CET.
- UK (GMT): 10:15
- Eastern Time (ET – USA/Canada): 05:15
- Pacific Time (PT – USA/Canada): 02:15
- Australia (AEDT): 21:15
The Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2026 promises a thrilling start to the cobbled Classics season. With its challenging course and a star-studded field, including a highly anticipated battle between Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert, this race is a must-watch for all cycling fans. Tune in to witness the drama unfold on the iconic Flemish roads. Check your local listings for broadcast details and don’t miss the action.