🎥 Van der Poel smiles his way up the Muur van Geraardsbergen during Omloop recon

Not long after Wednesday’s news that Van der Poel will kick off his road campaign at Opening Weekend, the Dutchman posted a photo showing his private jet ready to take him from Spain to Belgium.

Van der Poel can let the brakes off on Saturday, although his early-season road debuts in recent years have not always brought immediate success. After Omloop, he will not add Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne and/or Le Samyn to his calendar. Instead, just like last season, Tirreno–Adriatico comes next.

The Italian stage race will serve as his build-up for the Italian spring, with Milano–Sanremo on 21 March as the major — and only — target there. After that, focus shifts fully to the Flemish Classics, with E3 Saxo Classic, Gent–Wevelgem, the Tour of Flanders and Paris–Roubaix following in quick succession.

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Tirreno-Adriatico
Milan-Sanremo
E3 Saxo Classic
In Flanders Fields
Tour of Flanders
Paris-Roubaix