Omloop Nieuwsblad 2026: How crashes and the Muur shaped the men's and women's race

Omloop Nieuwsblad 2026: How crashes and the Muur shaped the men's and women's race

Omloop Nieuwsblad 2026 turned on crashes and the Muur, where Mathieu van der Poel recovered from a Molenberg scare to win solo as Demi Vollering took the women’s race in Ninove.

By Peter Stuart · · 5 min read

Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) won Omloop Nieuwsblad on his first attempt, attacking from a seated position on the steepest pitches of the Muur van Geraardsbergen with 16km remaining and soloing into Ninove 22 seconds clear. Tim van Dijke (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) outsprinted Florian Vermeersch (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) for second.

Results

Ghent - Ninove • Feb 28 • 207.6km

Velora
PosRiderTeamTime
🥇
Mathieu van der Poel
ALPECIN-PREMIER TECH4:53:55
🥈
Tim van Dijke
RED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE+0:22
🥉
Florian Vermeersch
UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG+0:24
4
Christophe Laporte
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+0:53
5
Aime de Gendt
PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM+0:54
6
Tobias Lund Andresen
DECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM+0:57
7
Jordi Meeus
RED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE+0:57
8
Anthony Turgis
TOTALENERGIES+0:57
9
Alexis Renard
COFIDIS+0:57
10
Luke Lamperti
EF EDUCATION - EASYPOST+0:57
11
Paul Magnier
SOUDAL QUICK-STEP+0:57
12
Matyáš Kopecký
UNIBET ROSE ROCKETS+0:57
13
Laurence Pithie
RED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE+0:57
14
Nils Politt
UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG+0:57
15
Matteo Trentin
TUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM+0:57
16
Jenno Berckmoes
LOTTO INTERMARCHÉ+0:57
17
Jonas Abrahamsen
UNO-X MOBILITY+0:57
18
Jelte Krijnsen
TEAM JAYCO ALULA+0:57
19
Vincent van Hemelen
TEAM FLANDERS - BALOISE+0:57
20
Dylan Teuns
COFIDIS+0:57
21
Cedric Beullens
LOTTO INTERMARCHÉ+0:57
22
Mick van Dijke
RED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE+0:57
23
Per Strand Hagenes
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+1:34
24
Alex Kirsch
COFIDIS+1:34
25
Jon Barrenetxea Golzarri
MOVISTAR TEAM+1:55
26
Mike Teunissen
XDS ASTANA TEAM+1:55
27
Gianni Vermeersch
RED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE+1:59
28
Thibaud Gruel
GROUPAMA-FDJ UNITED+2:02
29
Jenthe Biermans
COFIDIS+2:02
30
Sandy Dujardin
TOTALENERGIES+2:02
31
Dries van Gestel
SOUDAL QUICK-STEP+2:02
32
Kasper Asgreen
EF EDUCATION - EASYPOST+2:02
33
Axel Zingle
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+2:02
34
Robert Donaldson
TEAM JAYCO ALULA+2:02
35
Luca van Boven
LOTTO INTERMARCHÉ+2:02
36
Toms Skujins
LIDL-TREK+2:02
37
Ben Turner
INEOS GRENADIERS+2:02
38
Vito Braet
LOTTO INTERMARCHÉ+2:02
39
Alec Segaert
BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS+2:02
40
Vincenzo Albanese
EF EDUCATION - EASYPOST+2:02
41
Davide Ballerini
XDS ASTANA TEAM+2:02
42
Hugo Page
COFIDIS+2:02
43
Stan Dewulf
DECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM+2:02
44
Sébastien Grignard
LOTTO INTERMARCHÉ+2:02
45
Tim Wellens
UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG+2:02
46
Dylan van Baarle
SOUDAL QUICK-STEP+2:02
47
Julius Johansen
UAE TEAM EMIRATES XRG+2:02
48
Thomas Pidcock
PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM+2:09
49
Axel Huens
GROUPAMA-FDJ UNITED+2:16
50
Sven Erik Bystrøm
UNO-X MOBILITY+2:16
51
Robert Stannard
BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS+2:58
52
Tom van Asbroeck
NSN CYCLING TEAM+2:58
53
Michiel Lambrecht
TEAM FLANDERS - BALOISE+2:58
54
Ivan Garcia Cortina
MOVISTAR TEAM+3:00
55
Tim Torn Teutenberg
LIDL-TREK+3:00
56
Xandro Meurisse
PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM+3:00
57
Kaden Alexander Groves
ALPECIN-PREMIER TECH+3:00
58
Edward Planckaert
ALPECIN-PREMIER TECH+3:00
59
Lewis Askey
NSN CYCLING TEAM+3:00
60
Timo Kielich
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+3:33
61
Biniam Girmay
NSN CYCLING TEAM+3:46
62
Arnaud de Lie
LOTTO INTERMARCHÉ+3:46
63
Oliver Naesen
DECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM+5:02
64
Yves Lampaert
SOUDAL QUICK-STEP+5:02
65
Søren Wærenskjold
UNO-X MOBILITY+5:02
66
Johan Jacobs
GROUPAMA-FDJ UNITED+7:34
67
Cyril Barthe
GROUPAMA-FDJ UNITED+7:37
68
Clément Russo
GROUPAMA-FDJ UNITED+7:37
69
Casper Pedersen
SOUDAL QUICK-STEP+7:37
70
Martijn Rasenberg
UNIBET ROSE ROCKETS+7:37
71
Ward Vanhoof
TEAM FLANDERS - BALOISE+7:37
72
Søren Kragh Andersen
LIDL-TREK+7:37
73
Markus Hoelgaard
UNO-X MOBILITY+7:37
74
Marijn van den Berg
EF EDUCATION - EASYPOST+7:37
75
Michal Kwiatkowski
INEOS GRENADIERS+7:37
76
Arne Marit
RED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE+7:37
77
Luca Mozzato
TUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM+7:37
78
Niklas Larsen
UNIBET ROSE ROCKETS+7:37
79
Rasmus Pedersen
DECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM+8:31
80
Alfred Brockwell Wright
PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM+9:23
81
Riley Sheehan
NSN CYCLING TEAM+9:45
82
Kamil Gradek
BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS+9:45
83
Attila Valter
BAHRAIN VICTORIOUS+9:45
84
Lukáš Kubiš
UNIBET ROSE ROCKETS+9:45
85
Edoardo Affini
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+9:45
86
Rasmus Tiller
UNO-X MOBILITY+9:45
87
Stanisław Aniołkowski
COFIDIS+9:45
88
Erik Nordsaeter Resell
UNO-X MOBILITY+9:45
89
Alexys Brunel
TOTALENERGIES+9:45
90
Baptiste Vadic
TOTALENERGIES+9:45
91
Pietro Mattio
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+9:45
92
Dries de Pooter
TEAM JAYCO ALULA+9:45
93
Filip Maciejuk
MOVISTAR TEAM+9:45
94
Kamil Małecki
PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM+9:45
95
Carlos Canal Blanco
MOVISTAR TEAM+9:45
96
Amaury Capiot
TEAM JAYCO ALULA+9:45
97
Sander de Pestel
DECATHLON CMA CGM TEAM+9:45
98
Florian Senechal
ALPECIN-PREMIER TECH+9:45
99
Bastien Tronchon
GROUPAMA-FDJ UNITED+9:45
100
Alberto Bettiol
XDS ASTANA TEAM+9:45
101
Kelland O’Brien
TEAM JAYCO ALULA+9:45
102
Tomas Kopecký
UNIBET ROSE ROCKETS+9:45
103
Vojtěch Kmínek
BURGOS-BURPELLET-BH+9:47
104
Daniel Cavia Sanz
BURGOS-BURPELLET-BH+9:47
105
Tobias Bayer
ALPECIN-PREMIER TECH+9:47
106
Dries de Bondt
TEAM JAYCO ALULA+9:47
107
Julius van den Berg
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+9:47
108
Kim Alexander Heiduk
INEOS GRENADIERS+9:47
109
Lennert Belmans
ALPECIN-PREMIER TECH+9:47
110
Jonathan Vervenne
SOUDAL QUICK-STEP+9:47
111
Magnus Sheffield
INEOS GRENADIERS+9:47
112
Albert Philipsen
LIDL-TREK+9:47
113
Milan Lanhove
TEAM FLANDERS - BALOISE+9:47
114
Clement Alleno
BURGOS-BURPELLET-BH+9:47
115
Victor Vercouillie
TEAM FLANDERS - BALOISE+9:47
116
Mathias Vacek
LIDL-TREK+9:47
117
John Degenkolb
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+9:47
118
Pepijn Reinderink
SOUDAL QUICK-STEP+9:47
119
Frederik Frison
PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM+9:47
120
Brent van Moer
PINARELLO-Q36.5 PRO CYCLING TEAM+9:47
121
Aaron Murray Gate
XDS ASTANA TEAM+9:47
122
Thomas Bonnet
TOTALENERGIES+9:47
123
Ryan William Mullen
NSN CYCLING TEAM+9:47
124
Artem Shmidt
INEOS GRENADIERS+9:47
125
Alessandro Romele
XDS ASTANA TEAM+9:47
126
Valentin Madouas
GROUPAMA-FDJ UNITED+9:47
127
Karsten Larsen Feldmann
UNIBET ROSE ROCKETS+9:47
128
Guillaume Boivin
NSN CYCLING TEAM+9:47
129
Carl-Frederik Bévort
UNO-X MOBILITY+9:47
130
Piet Allegaert
COFIDIS+9:47
131
Joren Bloem
UNIBET ROSE ROCKETS+9:47
132
Roel van Sintmaartensdijk
LOTTO INTERMARCHÉ+9:47
133
Jarrad Eriks Drizners
RED BULL - BORA - HANSGROHE+9:47
134
Marco Haller
TUDOR PRO CYCLING TEAM+9:47
135
Siebe Deweirdt
TEAM FLANDERS - BALOISE+9:47
136
Matis Louvel
NSN CYCLING TEAM+9:47

Crashes claimed domestiques and disrupted favourites throughout: Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) was distanced after mechanical trouble on the Eikenberg, Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) needed two bike changes, and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech) flatted and had to chase back.

The near miss

The race turned with 44km to go on the Molenberg. Vermeersch launched a hard acceleration on the cobbles, but behind him a Tudor Pro Cycling rider slid out directly in Van der Poel's path.

The Dutchman unclipped, avoided the fallen rider and still bridged to Vermeersch by the summit. Van Dijke joined shortly after, and the trio quickly built close to a minute on a fragmented peloton where Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike) was caught up in a separate crash.

On the Kapelmuur's 20% ramps, Van der Poel accelerated seated and opened daylight immediately. Late counter-attacks from the peloton came too late, with Laporte winning the sprint for fourth, 53 seconds back.

The redesigned finale, with Tenbosse and Parikeberg inserted before the Muur-Bosberg sequence, resulted in a more fractured peloton at the Muur compared to last year's edition, which regrouped into a 49-rider sprint. Organisers wanted a harder race. Van der Poel obliged.

"This wasn't on our list yet, so I'm really happy with today," he said, already looking ahead to a cobbled spring where, historically, no rider has doubled Omloop and Tour of Flanders in the same year.

The men's contenders picture:

Tim van Dijke – Trained with Van der Poel all winter, bridged to the lead group on the Molenberg, outsprinted Vermeersch for second. Career-best result.

Florian Vermeersch – Attacked on the Molenberg but a jammed chain and cramp on the Muur ended his challenge. Third. Blamed Van Dijke for not collaborating.

Christophe Laporte – Blocked by the Pluimers crash, missed the decisive split. Fought back to fourth in his first Flandrien classic in two years.

Tom Pidcock – Derailleur hit in a crash, forced a bike change, never recovered in freezing conditions. Finished 48th.

Paul Magnier – Mechanical on the Eikenberg at 60km out dented his race.

Brennan crashed near the Muur but should start Kuurne. De Lie finished 62nd.

Vollering takes women's win

Demi Vollering (FDJ United-SUEZ) won the 2026 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Women on Saturday, attacking on the Muur van Geraardsbergen and then outsprinting Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto) in a two-up finish in Ninove. A mass crash on wet roads with 20km remaining had already disrupted the peloton and distanced Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime).

Results

Ghent - Ninove • Feb 28 • 130km

Velora
PosRiderTeamTime
🥇
Demi Vollering
FDJ UNITED - SUEZ3:35:51
🥈
Katarzyna Anna Niewiadoma-Phinney
CANYON//SRAM ZONDACRYPTO+0:00
🥉
Lorena Wiebes
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+0:21
4
Catrin Ferguson
MOVISTAR TEAM+0:21
5
Franziska Koch
FDJ UNITED - SUEZ+0:21
6
Karlijn Swinkels
UAE TEAM ADQ+0:21
7
Shari Bossuyt
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+0:21
8
Millie Couzens
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+0:21
9
Nina Berton
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+0:21
10
Letizia Paternoster
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+0:21
11
Juliette Berthet
FDJ UNITED - SUEZ+0:21
12
Kamilla Aasebø
UNO-X MOBILITY+0:21
13
Daniek Hengeveld
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+0:21
14
Elise Chabbey
FDJ UNITED - SUEZ+0:21
15
Eleonora Camilla Gasparrini
UAE TEAM ADQ+0:21
16
Letizia Borghesi
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+0:25
17
Anna van der Breggen
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+0:47
18
Elisa Balsamo
LIDL - TREK+1:26
19
Susanne Andersen
UNO-X MOBILITY+1:26
20
Arlenis Sierra Canadilla
MOVISTAR TEAM+1:26
21
Marthe Goossens
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+1:26
22
Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka
CANYON//SRAM ZONDACRYPTO+1:26
23
Alison Jackson
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+1:26
24
Quinty Ton
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+1:26
25
Flora Perkins
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+1:26
26
Babette van der Wolf
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+1:26
27
Imogen Wolff
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+1:26
28
Ruby Roseman-Gannon
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+1:26
29
Marthe Truyen
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+1:26
30
Ilse Pluimers
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+1:26
31
Victoire Berteau
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+1:26
32
Cedrine Kerbaol
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+1:26
33
Sophie von Berswordt
VOLKERWESSELS CYCLING TEAM+1:26
34
Katharina Sadnik
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+1:26
35
Jeanne Korevaar
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+1:26
36
Margot Vanpachtenbeke
LIDL - TREK+1:26
37
Fleur Moors
LIDL - TREK+1:26
38
Shirin van Anrooij
LIDL - TREK+1:31
39
Lotte Kopecky
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+1:31
40
Anna Henderson
LIDL - TREK+1:31
41
Christina Schweinberger
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+1:33
42
Zoe Backstedt
CANYON//SRAM ZONDACRYPTO+2:11
43
Josie Nelson
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+2:17
44
Alicia Gonzalez Blanco
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+2:17
45
Gladys Verhulst Wild
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+2:17
46
Caroline Andersson
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+3:22
47
Clémence Chereau
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+3:22
48
Laura Tomasi
UNO-X MOBILITY+3:22
49
Alison Avoine
MA PETITE ENTREPRISE+3:22
50
Anna van Wersch
LOTTO INTERMARCHE LADIES+3:22
51
Idoia Eraso Lasa
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+3:22
52
Mirre Knaven
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+3:22
53
Linda Riedmann
LOTTO INTERMARCHE LADIES+3:22
54
Mischa Bredewold
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+3:22
55
India Grangier
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+3:22
56
Alexandra Volstad
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+3:26
57
Megan Jastrab
UAE TEAM ADQ+3:33
58
Anastasiya Kolesava
CANYON//SRAM ZONDACRYPTO+3:33
59
Malwina Mul
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+4:40
60
Marta Jaskulska
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+4:40
61
Allison Mrugal
MAYENNE MONBANA MY PIE+4:40
62
Elyne Roussel
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+4:40
63
Caroline Wreszin
ST MICHEL - PREFERENCE HOME - AUBER93+4:40
64
Lily Williams
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+4:40
65
Anne Knijnenburg
VOLKERWESSELS CYCLING TEAM+4:40
66
Eva van Agt
FDJ UNITED - SUEZ+4:40
67
Chiara Consonni
CANYON//SRAM ZONDACRYPTO+4:40
68
Noa Jansen
LIV-ALULA-JAYCO+6:24
69
Lotte Claes
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+6:24
70
Clara Lundmark
MINIMAX CYCLING TEAM+6:24
71
Aude Biannic
MOVISTAR TEAM+6:24
72
Elena Cecchini
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+6:24
73
Arianna Fidanza
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+6:24
74
Femke Markus
TEAM SD WORX - PROTIME+6:24
75
Alessia Vigilia
UNO-X MOBILITY+6:24
76
Katrijn de Clercq
LOTTO INTERMARCHE LADIES+7:43
77
Lani Wittevrongel
-+7:43
78
Cleo Kiekens
CITYMESH - CUSTOMM PRO CYCLING TEAM+7:43
79
Alexis Magner
EF EDUCATION - OATLY+7:43
80
Camilla Rånes Bye
MINIMAX CYCLING TEAM+7:43
81
Natalie Quinn
MAYENNE MONBANA MY PIE+7:43
82
Gwen Nothum
MINIMAX CYCLING TEAM+7:43
83
Nienke Veenhoven
TEAM VISMA | LEASE A BIKE+7:43
84
Emilie Fortin
MINIMAX CYCLING TEAM+7:43
85
Thalita de Jong
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+7:43
86
Audrey de Keersmaeker
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+7:43
87
Fiona Mangan
MAYENNE MONBANA MY PIE+7:43
88
Maggie Coles-Lyster
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+7:43
89
Sara Fiorin
LABORAL KUTXA - FUNDACION EUSKADI+7:43
90
Kathrin Schweinberger
HUMAN POWERED HEALTH+7:43
91
Marieke Meert
LOTTO INTERMARCHE LADIES+7:43
92
Linda Zanetti
UNO-X MOBILITY+7:43
93
Alana Castrique
AG INSURANCE - SOUDAL TEAM+7:43
94
Teuntje Beekhuis
UNO-X MOBILITY+7:43
95
Kristýna Burlová
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+7:43
96
Amber van der Hulst
VOLKERWESSELS CYCLING TEAM+7:43
97
Maud Rijnbeek
VOLKERWESSELS CYCLING TEAM+7:43
98
Margot Marasco
MA PETITE ENTREPRISE+7:43
99
Lucie Fityus
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+7:43
100
Valentine Fortin
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+7:43
101
Britt de Grave
CITYMESH - CUSTOMM PRO CYCLING TEAM+7:43
102
Marion Borras
COFIDIS WOMEN TEAM+7:43
103
Mia Griffin
TEAM PICNIC POSTNL+7:43
104
Evy Kuijpers
FENIX-PREMIER TECH+7:43
105
Loes Adegeest
LIDL - TREK+7:43
106
Elynor Backstedt
UAE TEAM ADQ+7:43
107
Brodie Chapman
UAE TEAM ADQ+7:43
Demi Vollering of FDJ-SUEZ looks focused during the Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes professional cycling race.

The crash removed key contenders and reshaped the race before Vollering forced the decisive selection on the remaining climbs.

Entering the Muur van Geraardsbergen (1.1km at 7.5%), German champion Franziska Koch (FDJ United-SUEZ) drove a hard lead-out for her team leader. On the steepest cobbled ramps, Vollering accelerated clear. Only Niewiadoma-Phinney could hold the wheel. That was the split.

By the top of the Bosberg with 11km remaining, the pair held a 40-second gap over the chasers. Behind, Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) drove the pursuit to set up sprinter Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime), but the deficit barely budged, still sitting just under 40 seconds at the 2km banner. Cooperation up front and hesitation behind kept the gap stable.

Inside the final kilometre, Niewiadoma-Phinney briefly moved to the front, but Vollering led out the sprint from 500 metres and had the legs to hold it. The European champion crossed the line first, arms raised, for her 59th professional victory and her first at this race. In 2022, she lost a similar two-up sprint here to Annemiek van Vleuten. This time the outcome was different.

Wiebes took third comfortably from the chase group, while Cat Ferguson (Movistar) finished fourth.

The women's contenders picture:

Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney – Matched Vollering on the Muur and stayed with her to the line, but lacked the sprint power. Second. Reported knee pain from a dropped chain.

Lorena Wiebes – SD Worx-Protime's sprinter took third from the chase group, 21 seconds back. Van der Breggen drove the pursuit but the gap never closed.

Lotte Kopecky – Derailleur damaged in a crash just before the Muur, couldn't shift, took a teammate's bike. Lost a minute at the worst moment. Said her legs felt good.

Cat Ferguson – Fourth for Movistar. Quiet but consistent ride through the chaos. Continues to build her cobbled classics credentials in her second WorldTour season.

Franziska Koch – Didn't feature in the result but drove the decisive lead-out on the Muur for Vollering. Key tactical contribution from the German champion.

Cover image credit: Zac Williams/SWpix.com

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Peter

Peter Stuart

Editor

Peter is the editor of Velora and oversees Velora’s editorial strategy and content standards, bringing nearly 20 years of cycling journalism to the site. He was editor of Cyclingnews from 2022, introducing its digital membership strategy and expanding its content pillars. Before that he was digital editor at Cyclist and then Rouleur having joined Cyclist in 2012 after freelance work for titles including The Times and The Telegraph. He has reported from Grand Tours and WorldTour races, and previously represented Great Britain as a rower.