Belgium 28 Feb 2026 Class 1.UWT – 1 day – UCI Men’s WorldTour
Website www.omloopnieuwsblad.be
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The 81st Omloop Het Nieuwsblad takes place tomorrow, Saturday, February 28, 2026. As the traditional opening of the Belgian cycling season, it marks the first UCI WorldTour race on European soil this year.
Below is the official program for both the Elite Men’s and Women’s races, as well as the amateur “Cyclo” event.
Race Schedule: Saturday, February 28, 2026
The professional races both start at the legendary ‘t Kuipke velodrome in Ghent and finish in Ninove.
| Event | Time (CET) | Activity |
| Elite Men | 08:30 | Doors open at ‘t Kuipke (Ghent) |
| 09:25 | Official Team Presentation | |
| 11:05 | Race Start (Neutralized) | |
| ~15:52 | Estimated Finish (Ninove) | |
| Elite Women | 12:00 | Official Team Presentation |
| 13:35 | Race Start | |
| ~17:10 | Estimated Finish (Ninove) |
Race Details & Route
The course remains a grueling test of endurance, featuring the iconic cobblestones and “hellingen” (climbs) of the Flemish Ardennes.
- Distance (Men): 207.6 km
- Distance (Women): 137 km
- Key Climbs: The finale features the legendary duo of the Muur van Geraardsbergen followed by the Bosberg, before the flat run-in to the finish on the Elisabethlaan in Ninove.
- Key Sectors: The Molenberg is expected to be the site where the final selection is made, alongside the long cobblestone stretch of the Haaghoek.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Cyclo: Sunday, March 1
For amateur riders, the “Cyclo” event takes place the day after the pros.
- Distances: 60 km, 80 km, 120 km (starting from Ninove) and 150 km (starting from Ghent).
- Start Times: Between 07:30 and 11:00, depending on the chosen distance.
How to Watch
In Belgium, the race will be broadcast live on VRT (Sporza) and RTBF (Tipik). For international viewers, coverage is typically available via Eurosport/Discovery+ and FloBikes (North America).
Pro Tip: If you’re attending the start in Ghent, get to ‘t Kuipke early—the atmosphere during the team presentations is one of the most electric in all of cycling!
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
The men’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is the legendary “curtain-raiser” of the European cycling season. For many fans and riders, this is where the “real” racing begins, moving away from the sunny, warm deserts of the Middle East and into the grit, mud, and crosswinds of Flanders.
1. Origins: A Newspaper Rivalry (1945)
The race was born out of a media war. In 1945, the Flemish newspaper Het Volk wanted to challenge the popular Tour of Flanders (organized by rival paper Het Nieuwsblad).
- The First Name: It was originally called the Omloop van Vlaanderen.
- The Rename: The Tour of Flanders organizers protested the similar name, so it was changed to Omloop Het Volk in 1947.
- The Merger: In 2008, the two rival newspapers merged. In 2009, the race finally took the name we know today: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
2. Course Evolution: From Ghent to Ninove
Historically, the race started and finished in Ghent. However, the route has shifted over the decades to incorporate more iconic Flemish terrain:
- The Finish: For years, the finish was in Lokeren (1996–2007) before returning to Ghent.
- The “New” Finale (2018–Present): Since 2018, the finish moved to Ninove. This change made the finale a carbon copy of the classic Tour of Flanders route used between 1973 and 2011, featuring the brutal duo of the Muur van Geraardsbergen and the Bosberg.
3. Promotion to the WorldTour (1.UWT)
The race has always been prestigious, but it officially joined the UCI WorldTour in 2017. This cemented its status as a top-tier event, ensuring the participation of all major professional teams and stars like Wout van Aert, Peter Sagan, and Greg Van Avermaet.
4. “Hard Men” and Record Holders
The race is famous for its punishing weather—snow and freezing rain are common. In fact, it was canceled due to snow in 1986 and 2004.
- Triple Winners: Three riders share the record for most wins (3):
- Ernest Sterckx (1952, 1953, 1956)
- Joseph Bruyère (1974, 1975, 1980)
- Peter Van Petegem (1997, 1998, 2002)
- The Cannibal: Eddy Merckx won the race twice (1971, 1973).
Recent History (2025–2026)
- 2025 Champion: Søren Wærenskjold (Norway) won a stunning uphill sprint in Ninove, marking one of the few times a non-Belgian/Dutch rider has dominated the opening weekend recently.
- 2026 Edition: The race takes place tomorrow, February 28, 2026. It covers 207.2 km, starting at the ‘t Kuipke velodrome in Ghent and tackling 12 climbs and 9 flat cobbled sectors.
