So, Omloop. To reduce the waiting time a bit, here are some infos about the race, the copy cat race in Belgium and the real, ingame race:
Originally, the race was called Omloop van Vlaanderen, when it was founded in 1945, changing the name two years later to Omloop Het Volk, representing the Newspaper that has been sponsoring the event. Last year was the 80th edition of the race, now called Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, since 2009, when the two former rival newspapers merged (I am sure you may guess their names by now).
What hasn't changed is that it takes place in the end of February (well, last year is was March 1st) and is the beginning of the Belgian cycling season. But only since 2017, it's part of the UCI World Tour. The race starts in Ghent, Flanders and finishes in Ninove, Flanders. The race route covers the hills in the Flemish Ardennes, marking the start of the cobbled classics season in Europe. Despite annual changes, some of the regular climbs in the Omloop are the Leberg, Berendries, Taaienberg, Muur van Geraardsbergen, Eikenberg and Molenberg.
In C4F, the character is similar to the other Flanders races with cobbles, although the mountain skill does not play a role as important as RVV. Let's have a look at winners of the last 5 years:
2025: Tadej Pituch (r TAKA), Wakara Ganambarr (Big Donkey), Satwiksairaj Rankireddy (Lenny SnakeCycling), Zineddine Belaid (RV Allagen)
2024: Hugo Gil (Tukhtahuaev), Nathaniel Hawthorne (Alkworld), Shinji Inui (r TAKA), Tesfaye Tsegaye (Team FL)
2023: Sancho Ortega (free team), Cesare Camoranesi (r QUICK), Tim Roquette (Pokemonogatari), Mads Korneliussen (Bearclaw Cycling)
2022: Servulo Gutierrez (Alkworld), Greg Goossens (Bahrain-Merida), Andre Rascon (Rhodan Underdogs), Darren Berrecloth (Bearclaw Cycling)
2021: Venustiano Carranza (Alkworld), Jacob Wolfowitz (Alive And Dead), Waer Kiaby (waerl), Joel Robert (Bearclaw Cycling)
In 2021, Carranza won RVV as well, in 2023 Tim Roquette, in 2024 Shinji Inui the double Omloop and PR.
So who is favourite for 2026? is it a strong pavé rider with or without sprint? is it an allrounder like a 60-80 with good pavé and maybe some sprint? Well I guess it depends on the support, the opponents and of course some luck. But here a small subjective selection (not concluding) in no particular order. Feel free to jump in and do your own:
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Gereon Schiffbauer (Rsc spree): 58-88-76-50-64 with 86.2 pavé. Maybe the most stereotypical Omloop winner profile this year and certainly the one with the best pavé skill. And he has a good support cast.
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Seijuro Akashi (Pokemonogatari): 55-85-51-77-66 with 83.8 pavé. Not as prolific as Schiffbauer, but with more sprint and also a good support cast. And a manager who won Omloop before.
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Andrea Buccarini (Gipfelstuermer): 60-85-52-53-66 with 83.8 pavé. Or in other words: Akashi with a better mountain skill. And team mates that could even ride for their own chances without him in the team.
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Gerard Sweetman (bergwerk): 61-85-68-58-64 with 83.2 pavé. Although it's bergwerk and bergwerk and pavé.... But Sweetman looks good and so do his teammates.
As you can see, I have a certain type for rider in mind when thinking about Omloop
Of course there are many more riders with chances, buy in my opinion these riders stand out with their skills and/or their team. The other riders might have a better pavé skill, more sprint, more mountain, better flat. But on the other hand, they lack in one of these skills that might be important or simply a team to support them in such a race. And as the race this year will be 10 km longer than last year, the individual strength might be even more important than before.
But it is also important how a race is ridden. Very fast, hard race, where a late attack could also bring the win, or a slow and steady race in which these "not perfect" guys with more sprint might also have chance... Looking at the Team FL winners, we have the pavé guy with sprint (Tsegaye), the 60-80 with pavé and sprint (Franko and Garrido), the allrounder (King Küng) or the pure pavé specialist (Nederlof). Hence, a lot of types of riders are able to win this race, which makes it extra interesting, in my opinion.
Anway, I am looking forward to it. Finally again some race that mean something, where the excitement is a bit higher than usual. And races with hills and pavé
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I didn't mean to say it. But I meant what I said.