Omloop Het Nieuwsblad - 24 February, Belgium

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad heralds the start of the European cobbled Classics season, part one of two in the blockbuster double-header that is Belgium’s Opening Weekend, alongside Kuurne-BrusselsKuurne.

- Tom Thewlis

Taking place this Saturday, the 79th edition of Omloop will see strong line-ups for both the men’s and women’s races, including Lotte Kopecky, Tom Pidcock and Wout van Aert.

The race takes place in the heart of the region on many of the same hills and bergs made famous by the area’s biggest race, the Tour of Flanders.

Visma-Lease a Bike’s van Aert cut back his cyclo-cross campaign this winter in order to be in top shape for the cobbled Classics that he still hasn’t won.

“The first part of my season is about building up to Flanders and Roubaix. I will wear a number on the ‘Opening Weekend’ of the Classics and then not race for a while,” he explained.

“I want to get out of my comfort zone and try something different,” he added.