The 2026 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, a prestigious Belgian one-day cycling race, is set to commence on Saturday, February 28, 2026. While the event has attracted a stellar lineup of cyclists, several prominent riders will notably be absent due to various reasons.
Wout van Aert: The Belgian cyclist, who clinched victory in the 2022 edition, has been ruled out of the race due to illness. Visma-Lease a Bike announced that Van Aert will take the necessary time to recover, with Pietro Mattio stepping in as his replacement. (cyclingnews.com)
Jasper Stuyven: The Soudal-QuickStep rider has also withdrawn from the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad due to illness. Stuyven, a former winner of both Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, was expected to make his Classics debut with the team but will now miss the Opening Weekend races. (yahoo.com)
Tiesj Benoot and Olav Kooij: The French team Decathlon CMA CGM will be without two key riders. Benoot is recovering from hernia surgery, while Kooij is battling a virus. Both riders will miss the Opening Weekend, with Tobias Lund Andresen now serving as the team’s sprinter. (wielerflits.be)
Mads Pedersen: The Danish former world champion was not initially listed for the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. However, he recently suffered a fall during the Tour de la Provence, resulting in a broken wrist and collarbone. His participation in the spring classics is now uncertain. (wielerflits.be)
Neilson Powless and Tim Merlier: Both riders are sidelined due to injuries. Powless is out with a knee injury, while Merlier is also unavailable for the race. (wielerflits.be)
Filippo Ganna: The Italian cyclist has opted to skip the Opening Weekend, focusing instead on the upcoming Milan-San Remo. Ganna stated he is building up to the major goals of the season, with his form expected to peak in a month’s time. (wielerflits.be)
These absences highlight the unpredictable nature of the cycling season, where health and strategic decisions play pivotal roles in shaping race line-ups.
Key Riders Withdraw from Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2026:
- ‘A big blow’ – Wout van Aert ruled out of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Published on Thursday, February 26
- ‘I am confident that I will be able to return to racing soon, just not this Saturday’ – Wout van Aert ruled out of Omloop Nieuwsblad with illness, Published on Thursday, February 26
- Van der Poel ‘asusta’ a Pogacar en los entrenamientos, Published on Friday, February 27