Omloop het Nieuwsblad – this year’s classic season begins in Belgium for the well -received most of the cycling professionals. Nils Politt is one of them. The Cologne native has a lot of ambitions.
At the beginning of January, Nils Politt was alien. The 30-year-old, who is usually shifting as a cycling professional in the most important street races in the world, cheered in the Bremen town hall in the Bremen town hall. Together with his Dutch partner Yoeri Havik, he had won the victory at the six -day race there.
“It was super hard, but it was a lot of fun”said the 30-year-old on the winner’s podium. Then he quickly put the train wheel into the corner again. And rose to the road wheel – after all, the most important tasks for the Cologne native stand there.
“Omloop” and “Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne”-the first highlights
The “Omloop Het Nieuwsblad” takes place in Belgium this Saturday. The one-day classic is the first real highlight of the season for Politt and Co. The “Omloop” traditionally heralds the season of spring classics. Sizes such as the tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix, follow a little later. Depending on the weather, the professionals are imminent in cold and mud. Toughest conditions.
The “Omloop” with its almost 200 kilometers length across the Belgian Ardennes is something like the “little relative” of the upcoming major events – and usually provides an important finger at whom will be expected to be expected in the season. The last climbs include the Wall of Geraardsbergen and Bosberg in 2025, while the destination in Ninove will probably offer an entertaining final.
| Date | Run |
|---|---|
1.3. | Omloop het Nieuwsblad |
2.3. | Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne |
8.3. | Strade Bianchi |
22.3. | Milan Remo |
26.3. | Classic Bruges-de |
28.3. | E3 Saxo Classic |
30.3. | Ghent-Wevelgem |
2.4. | Across Flanders |
6.4. | Flanders tour |
13.4. | Paris-Roubaix |
20.4. | Amstel Gold Race |
23.4. | Flech Wallonne |
27.4. | Liège-Bastogne-Liège |
1.5. | Eschborn-Frankfurt |
Politt goes into the weekend as a fellow favorite
Politt, who won third place in the tour of the Flanders and fourth place at Paris-Roubaix last season, would like to go one better this year. He sees the “Omloop”, in which he took second place in 2024, as an important start. “I think we can do just as well as last year when we were on the podium twice”says Politt in front of the “Opening Weekend”, when the “Omloop” stands together with the “Kuurn-Brussels-Kuurne” following on Sunday.
The characteristics of the two races differ from each other. While the “Omloop” is a thing for a tempo -like all -rounder, the route profile on Sunday favors a different driver: it is usually to be expected with a reduced mass sprint, as there are no climbs in the second half of the race. Although it is a relatively sprint -friendly race, late attacks are quite common.
Nils Politt in the UAE team jersey
Harmonious duo with Tim Wellens
Politt’s team UAE Emirates goes with the greatest ambitions to the most important in -day races of spring. And that on the opening weekend without Dominator Tadej Pogacar, who is not yet on the starting line. In addition to Politt, Uae, with the Belgian Tim Wellens, which is three years older, has a second highly ambitious Sieg driver, who understands polite and forms a kind of double tip.
“With Tim the thing is just very harmonious”Politt recently explained in an interview with the specialist magazine “Tour”. With a look back at the past season, he describes the processes between the two: “At the Nieuwsblad he said: ‘Watch out, I’m trying to prepare an attack here now and when you get away, you will get away.’ At the next race I said: ‘Watch out, yesterday was my day, today is your day.’ “
Van Aert and Pidcock in view
In addition to UAE, other teams of course also have the biggest ambitions for the next few days. While Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin – Deceuninck) only later entered the classic season, Wout van Aert (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) is at the top of the list of favorites. With Tiesj Benoot and Matteo Jorgenson, he has team -mates who can control the race but also design.
Tom Pidcock started brilliantly into the season. So far, the Briton was well on the jersey of his new team Q 36.5. If he caught the crucial attack or launched it himself, he could add another one to his three classic victories – Amstel (2024), Strade (2023), arrow by Brabant (2021).
Youngster Behrens fails
Of course, you have to keep an eye on the last year’s winner at the “Omloop”. Jan Tratnik, who is now the number one of the last year’s winner for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, is more likely to be assigned outsider chances. His team -mate Oier Lazkano may have greater chances with the first cobblestone classic.
Too bad from a German perspective: Niklas Behrens from “Team Visma | Lease a Bike” will not be able to start at the weekend. The German young hopes fell on the final stage of the UAE Tour and contracted a broken collarbone. Behrens has already been operated on. After a short recovery phase, the U23 world champion from Zurich should then go back to training. “We wish him a quick recovery and look forward to seeing him again soon in the peloton”his team explained on social media.