Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2026: The Route

Saturday 28 February – The Classics season opens with a 207.6-kilometre race. Eight cobbled sectors and twelve climbs spice up the course. The finale features the iconic Muur van Geraardsbergen and the Bosberg before a flat run-in to the line.

First Flemish Classic of the Season
Contenders: Mathieu van der Poel, Tom Pidcock, Paul Magnier
Defending Champion: Søren Wærenskjold
Record holders: Ernest Sterckx, Joseph Bruyère, Peter Van Petegem (3 wins each)

Last updated: 28 February 2026 (addition of results/race report link)

This year's finale is a bit tougher than in previous editions. Whereas the run-up to the Kapelmuur and Bosberg was fairly tame for years, the organisers have now added two climbs, Tenbosse and the Parikeberg. As a result, the riders move from one cobbled sector to the next climb in the final 60 kilometres, which obviously suits riders with an aggressive, attacking style.

But first, let’s start at the beginning. After two opening cobbled sectors, the Leberg forms the first climb after just over 60 kilometres, and shortly afterwards comes the Eikenberg. The race then stays relatively calm for the next 40 kilometres.

The cobbles of the Lange Munte, with nearly 95 kilometres remaining, are somewhat isolated. The same goes for the combination of the Haaghoek and Leberg, but when the riders grind up the cobbles of the Eikenberg, the Omloop really starts to heat up. Once over the top, there are still 61.5 kilometres to go. From then on all the way to the finish, it's full throttle with non-stop action.

After the Eikenberg, obstacles comes thick and fast, be it cobbled sectors or (cobbled) climbs. Roughly every 5 kilometres there’s something to conquer.

Following the Eikenberg, riders push on at a high pace over the Holleweg, Wolvenberg, Kerkgate, Jagerij, Molenberg, Haaghoek, Leberg, Berendries, and the new pair, Tenbosse and the Parikeberg. Then, a few kilometres later, they reach the cobbles of the Kapelmuur – 475 metres and insanely steep. There is barely any time to recover, as less than 4 kilometres later the Bosberg awaits: 980 metres at 5.8%, half of it cobbled.

From the top of the Bosberg, there remain 11.8 kilometres to the finish in Ninove. That final section is entirely flat.

The organisers may very well have opted to make the run-in to the finale harder because they were unhappy with last year’s outcome. And with good reason, the finale was rather tame in 2025. After a group of around twenty riders crested the Kapelmuur and Bosberg together, only Stefan Küng dared to attack. His solo effort was brave but doomed, especially when the chasing group swelled to around fifty riders.

As a result, the Omloop ended in a bunch sprint for the first time in years. A golden opportunity for Jasper Philipsen, you might think – but no. He launched his sprint too early, allowing Søren Wærenskjold and Paul Magnier to come past. The Norwegian took the win.

If Magnier wants to improve on that result this year, he will have to get the better of Van der Poel and Pidcock. For the Dutchman, it marks his debut in the traditional curtain-raiser to the Flemish cycling season.

Fancy riding the route yourself? Download GPX Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2026.

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is expected to finish at around 16:00 local time (CET). For details, see ‘scheduled times’ in the slideshow below this article; specifications of all obstacles can be found under ‘climbs & cobbles’, while a full overview of the climbs is available in ‘climbs’.

Other interesting reads: results/race report and start list 2026 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.