Racing in Belgium, cycling: Van der Poel again against Van Aert

Have we been joking so far? No, but… Because Jonathan Milan has already confirmed himself as the king of sprints with five victories between Saudi Arabia (AlUla Tour: 2) and UAE Tour (3) in the United Arab Emirates. And Remco Evenepoel impressed with the new Red Bull jersey, in the time trial, in the breakaway and uphill, before failing completely (with cramps and perhaps even his head) on the first finish at altitude in the UAE Tour. Jonas Vingegaard, who will debut at the Giro d’Italia in May, made headlines more for the discussion with a cyclist who was not respectful of the champions, for the consequent fall on the descent in training and then for the flu that stopped him: the Dane is still in box, will begin on March 8 at Paris-Nice. Just as Tadej Pogacar, the super king of everything, is still: the Slovenian will not change his program and this time too the Strade Bianche di Siena (won three times), on Saturday 7 March, will be his stage for the first race of the season.

route and rivals

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Were we joking then? No, but… Because on Saturday the season opens in Belgium and the real party begins on the Flemish roads. That of walls and cobblestones, narrow streets and sky-high tension. The race is called Omloop Nieuwsblad, Saturday 28 February from Bruges to Ninove, 207 kilometers. Nine Walls of the Tour of Flanders, including some iconic ones such as the Muur of Geraardsbergen 16 km from the finish, on which Bartoli and Museeuw built their triumphs in the Ronde, and 14 cobbled sectors. A taste of the battle. Because he will be there, Mathieu Van der Poel. The Dutch champion closed the cyclocross season with a record eighth world title and will now open the road season in Belgium, where he lives. From one record to another: why Van der Poel never raced the Omloop Nieuwsblad: it seems strange, but it’s exactly like that. And with the Dutchman there will be Wout Van Aert, his Flemish twin, the always rival, from the road to the trails: it is the duel that has characterized at least the last 15 years of cycling, starting with the youth categories. Van Aert is recovering from the microfracture of his ankle, 57 days ago in Mol’s cross, but he has recovered well and is very confident of starting well in front of his fans. The big names in the classics are all there: Van der Poel, Van Aert, Philipsen, Stuyven, Magnier, Pidcock, Girmay, Trentin, De Lie, Brennan, Wellens, Vermeersch, Withen Philipsen.

plan

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After Saturday’s Omloop, Van der Poel will set his sights on Italy: Tirreno-Adriatico (9-15 March) and Milan-Sanremo on Saturday 21 March, the Classicissima which he has already won twice (2023 and 2025). Then the Northern campaign: Friday 27 March E3 Saxo Classic in Harelbeke, Sunday 29 March In Flanders Fields (the new name of Ghent-Wevelgem), Sunday 5 April the Tour of Flanders at Easter with the aim of being the first to conquer it four times (his in 2020, 2022 and 2024) and Sunday 12 April Paris-Roubaix. VdP has already won the Queen of the Classics three times (from 2023 to 2025) and with the fourth triumph it would join Roger De Vlaeminck and Tom Boonen, the only ones to have played poker.