Omloop from Visma’s tactical perspective: “Ideally you make Van der Poel chase for 150 kilometres”

Does Visma | Lease a Bike want to be the leading team again between Ghent and Ninove? “That’s always the goal, in every race.” But… “Mathieu van der Poel is the big favourite and we hope we can play a role and show the yellow-and-black.”

Van der Poel’s name has been mentioned — and in recent years he has more than once been the springtime tormentor of Van Aert and company. Tiesj Benoot, now a Visma rider, already called this winter for teams not to fall too easily into a controlling role when the Dutchman — or his Slovenian counterpart Tadej Pogačar — is on the start line of a Classic.

In other words: is Visma going to show that this weekend and not do the work for Alpecin–Premier Tech? “I can’t tell you that now, but I think you know the answer.” A little later, wrapped in nicer wording: “Alpecin–Premier Tech are the favourites. Not only with Mathieu, but also Jasper Philipsen and Kaden Groves.”

“Winning Together” has been Visma’s credo in recent years, but with the growing dominance of Pogačar and Van der Poel, does that become “Dare to Lose” in 2026? “We’ve always dared to do that, but it gets harder in races where the route has been known for years and years. Ideally, you make Alpecin and Van der Poel chase you for 150 kilometres from the first passage of the Haaghoek. But this course has fewer surprises now — even if you keep looking for them.”

That’s “PlayStation cycling”, Niermann says — and he knows it all too well from experience. “Take the 2024 edition. We rode flat-out with 140 kilometres to go,” he says of the race in which Visma | Lease a Bike first had five riders in a front group of 23, and later — after the Wolvenberg — found themselves with three of the six riders at the head of the race: Van Aert, Matteo Jorgenson and Christophe Laporte, alongside Tom Pidcock, Toms Skujiņš and Arnaud De Lie.

“Only: after the Bosberg, a group of I don’t know how many riders came back — riders we hadn’t seen for who knows how long… fortunately Jan Tratnik was still there for us.” The Slovenian — who had been completely out of the action and out of sight all day — went on to win Omloop for Visma | Lease a Bike that year.

Niermann used Thursday in Deerlijk to rewatch the 2025 edition in detail. Does he expect a similar scenario this year, with a rider like Søren Wærenskjold winning? “He was the last rider on the Muur van Geraardsbergen, but still wins. That’s Omloop: anything can happen and you have to know that. And I told Matthew that as well,” he says, looking at his spearhead sitting to his right. “Though the wind is different — last year it was a full headwind.”

In that edition, the German was not happy with his own team’s performance. “The positioning wasn’t good at the critical points, because only Matteo Jorgenson was in the right place when it mattered. That has to be better this year and the guys know it. I’m confident they’ll hit those key points with the knife between their teeth — with the Molenberg first and foremost.”

To spice up the finale, the organisers have chosen a different approach towards the Muur. “It doesn’t change that much,” Niermann says. “The section between the Berendries and the Muur might be a bit better for small groups out front, because it’s a bit harder. But the finale was already hard — and the critical points are still the same.”

At those key points, the leaders have to show up. “It’s clear we’re not immediately aiming for a sprint against all the fast men and Matthew — and that goes for both Omloop and Kuurne. He can handle a hard race and we want to make the race. But if it becomes a sprint, then we’re going for Matthew. Christophe seems OK after his crash — for now it looks like one without too much damage.”

And it’s not only about Brennan and Laporte, but also Axel Zingle, Timo Kielich and Per Strand Hagenes. The latter was sidelined from the Critérium du Dauphiné onwards last year with an unknown virus, but is now back on the right track.

“Per missed a long time, but he was important for Matthew again at the Tour Down Under and he feels good. He’s also shown himself in the Classics over the last two years with strong work for the team. Maybe he can be one of those surprises.”