Opening Weekend kicks off the cobbled Classics, and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is the first real test. It’s unpredictable, hard to control, and rarely “just preparation” — the winners set the tone for spring, whether by sprint, break, or a decisive move on the Muur or Bosberg.
Opening Weekend marks the true start of the cobbled Classics season, and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is the first major test. It may come early in the calendar, but it is not just preparation for bigger races.
Riders want to win this one. It sets the tone for the spring.
The race is known for being unpredictable. With little Classics racing beforehand, it is hard to know who is strongest or which teams will control the action.
Still, past editions show there are several clear ways to win.
A bunch sprint is one option. It does not happen often in cobbled Classics, but if enough teams work to control attacks, the race can finish with a larger group fighting for victory. In 2025, Søren Wærenskjold won the men’s race from a sprint in Ninove. Davide Ballerini did the same in 2021.
An early breakaway can also succeed. It requires strong cooperation at the front and hesitation from the peloton. In 2025, Lotte Claes went clear in the opening kilometres of the women’s race and stayed away all day, eventually sprinting for victory after the peloton failed to organise the chase.
The Muur van Geraardsbergen is a key point in the race. Many winning moves are made on its steep cobbles, around 20km from the finish. Riders such as Jasper Stuyven, Lotte Kopecky and Chantal van den Broek-Blaak built winning moves on its steep cobbled slopes.
Others wait for the Bosberg, the final climb, launching one decisive attack before the run to Ninove. Wout van Aert attacked there in 2022 and rode clear to win.
Finally, there is the long solo move, rare but unforgettable. In 2008, Philippe Gilbert launched a bold move nearly 50km from the finish and claimed victory.
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