Mathieu van der Poel’s possible Omloop Het Nieuwsblad debut remains undecided as the Alpecin-Deceuninck leader waits until the final days before February 28 to assess his form, keeping the Belgian Opening Weekend in suspense.
Mathieu van der Poel has not yet confirmed whether he will ride Omloop Het Nieuwsblad this Saturday, February 28, leaving his possible debut at the Belgian Opening Weekend in doubt.
With only days remaining before the start in Ghent, the leader of Alpecin-Deceuninck is still weighing his options.
Earlier this month, before the Cyclocross World Championship in Hulst, Van der Poel said he was considering taking part in Omloop. After that race, however, he made clear that no final decision had been taken.
The Dutch rider plans to evaluate how he feels in the days leading up to the event before making a call. He has followed a similar approach in the past, confirming race appearances at short notice depending on his form and preparation.
Within the team, there is support for his participation. Sports manager Christoph Roodhooft recently said he would welcome Van der Poel at the start, noting the importance of the Opening Weekend for a Belgian team.
At the same time, he stressed that the rider will only compete if his preparation aligns with the broader season plan.
Van der Poel has never started Omloop before, having focused on other races in recent years. If he does line up on Saturday, it would immediately change the outlook of the race.
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