Mathieu van der Poel is back on the road and ready to ignite the Classics. After weeks of speculation, Alpecin-Premier Tech confirmed he’ll start at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, setting up a blockbuster spring packed with cobbled showdowns and marquee rivals.
Mathieu van der Poel is officially back on the road. Alpecin-Premier Tech confirmed on February 25 that the Dutch star will begin his Classics campaign this Saturday at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, ending weeks of speculation about his early-season schedule.
Van der Poel delayed his decision until completing an initial training block following the cyclocross world championships, where he secured a record eighth elite men’s rainbow jersey.
After a short break and several weeks of focused road preparation, the team announced he “feels ready to compete” and will line up for Opening Weekend.
His spring calendar closely mirrors last season, with Tirreno-Adriatico serving as preparation for Milano-Sanremo.
From there, the cobbled campaign intensifies: E3 Saxo Classic, Gent-Wevelgem, Ronde van Vlaanderen, and Paris-Roubaix. The notable addition is Gent-Wevelgem, which he skipped last year but now includes as part of a packed cobblestone block.
Team sports manager Christoph Roodhooft previously indicated the importance of Opening Weekend for a Belgian squad, and this year van der Poel answers that call.
The peloton he rejoins will be stacked. Wout van Aert is expected to race despite a recent ankle fracture, while Tom Pidcock also headlines the field.
With his program confirmed, the Classics narrative sharpens into focus, and once again, much of it revolves around van der Poel.
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