Tenbosse and Parikeberg in finale of Omloop het Nieuwsblad
In just over a month, on Saturday 28 February, we will kick off the new Flemish spring in Ghent. After the traditional team presentations at ’t Kuipke, the riders will head towards Ninove, where we will crown the successors of Søren Wærenskjold and Lotte Claes. Among others, Wout van Aert, Lotte Kopecky, Arnaud De Lie and Tom Pidcock have already announced their presence at the opening classic.
On Saturday 28 February, all cycling eyes will once again be focused on Flanders. Omloop het Nieuwsblad is traditionally the first UCI WorldTour race of the season to be held on European soil. Before the spectacle gets underway, the riders will receive a warm welcome at ’t Kuipke in Ghent, from where the opening classic will also start for the next six years.
Programme 't Kuipke
- 8:30 | Doors open
- 9:30 | Start team presentation men
- 11:05 | Start men's race
- 12:00 | Start team presentation women
- 13:35 | Start women's race
Fans who cannot attend the team presentations will not have to miss a single second of the spectacle thanks to the Proximus livestream.
From Ghent, both pelotons head towards the Flemish Ardennes. The men face a route of about 207 km, while this year’s Omloop het Nieuwsblad for women covers 137 km. The first half of the men’s race includes two passages over the Haaghoek-Leberg duo, which traditionally plays a key role in the opening classic. The finale is identical for both races. After the cobbles of Kerkgate and Jagerij, about 45 km from the finish, the route heads to the Molenberg, followed by a (for the men third) passage over Haaghoek-Leberg. After the Berendries, the riders continue to Tenbosse and Parikeberg before facing the Muur-Kapelmuur and Bosberg in the last part of the race. The successors of Søren Wærenskjold and Lotte Claes will also be crowned this year on Elisabethlaan in Ninove.
Programme Elisabethlaan
- 15:52 | Earliest expected finish men
- 17:17 | Earliest expected finish women
Teams
In addition to all the UCI WorldTeams, seven UCI ProTeams will start in Ghent for the men’s race. Cofidis, Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, and Tudor Pro Cycling Team were automatically guaranteed a wildcard thanks to their 2025 performances. They are joined by Burgos-Burpellet-BH, Team Flanders – Baloise, TotalEnergies, and Unibet Rose Rockets.
In the women’s race as well, all UCI Women’s WorldTeams will be present in Ghent. They will be joined by seven UCI Women’s ProTeams: Cofidis Women Team, Laboral Kutxa – Fundación Euskadi, Lotto Intermarché Ladies, Ma Petite Entreprise, Mayenne Monbana My Pie, St Michel – PREFERENCE HOME – Auber93, and VolkerWessels Cycling Team.
