Classics programme: Cycling star Mathieu van der Poel already starts at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

The world champion from Alpecin-Deceuninck makes his decision after several weeks of targeted preparation. After the UCI Cyclocross World Championships, van der Poel had announced that he would first complete a training block before deciding on his road programme. The preparation phase went according to plan, meaning that the Dutchman will now make his comeback at the Belgian season opener.

Preparation for the monuments

Tirreno-Adriatico is once again the central stage race in van der Poel's spring planning. The Italian stage race prepares him for Milan-Sanremo, the first Monument of the season. The 291-kilometre route from Milan to the Ligurian coast traditionally opens the series of the five most important one-day races on the cycling calendar.

The structure of Mathieu van der Poel's programme is the same as last season. Van der Poel is thus relying on the tried-and-tested processes in his race preparation and utilising the experience from 2025 for his planning. The combination of stage races and targeted one-day races has proven to be effective for the Dutchman in the past. Last year, after Milan-Sanremo, he also won the E3 Saxo Classic and Paris-Roubaix. Only at the Tour of Flanders in the spring did the cycling star have to admit defeat on classics terrain.

Focus on cobblestone classics

After Milan-Sanremo, Van der Poel's focus shifts completely to the cobblestone races. E3 Saxo Classic and In Flanders Fields serve as final preparation for the Tour of Flanders, the second monument of the spring. The two races in Belgium with their characteristic sections will be the perfect test for the upcoming monuments.

Paris-Roubaix is the finale of the spring classics for Mathieu van der Poel. The Monument is considered one of the most prestigious one-day races on the calendar and is the highlight of the cobbled season. This race marks the end of van der Poel's spring programme before he turns his attention to preparing for tours.