Søren Wærenskjold wins the sprint at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in which Van Aert finishes outside the top 10

The Norwegian Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) has achieved victory in an exciting, and atypical, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad that was resolved in a sprint. Paul Magnier (Soudal-QuickStep) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) finished second and third respectively. Van Aert, a strong favorite, was a key player in the race but ended up outside the top 10.

Søren Wærenskjold wins Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2025

Starting in the Belgian city of Ghent, the 80th edition of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad kicked off the 2025 Classics season today with an exciting race that was decided in a massive sprint.

The race, with 197 km and 11 cobblestone sections, began with an early breakaway of seven cyclists, but the peloton, led by Visma - Lease a Bike and UAE Emirates XRG, kept the gap under control and gradually caught up to them.

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The first move by UAE Emirates XRG occurred on the Lange Munte cobblestone section and although there were no major splits, the peloton stretched out and the first mechanical problems of the day began. In the Eikenberg section, Matthew Brennan (Visma | Lease a Bike), Tim van Dijke (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), and Vito Braet (Intermarché-Wanty) launched another unsuccessful attack.

The last kilometer of the Men Elite race.
Massive sprint by Wærenskjold! #OHN25 #FLCS pic.twitter.com/9MjFDgHbjh

— Omloop Nieuwsblad (@OmloopHNB) March 1, 2025

But it was on the Molenberg when chaos hit the peloton and major splits began. One of them caught Wout van Aert inside and Visma had to work as a team to help him reconnect with the main group before the decisive Muur van Geraardsbergen.

No more successful moves were made, not even the escape attempt by Stefan Küng (INEOS Grenadiers) which was neutralized with 1 kilometer to go, and the race came down to a chaotic sprint where Wærenskjold was unbeatable.

1. Søren Wærenskjold - Uno-X Mobility - 04:37:53
2. Paul Magnier - Soudal Quick-Step - + 00
3. Jasper Philipsen - Alpecin-Deceuninck - + 00
4. Brent Van Moer - Lotto - + 00
5. Sam Watson - INEOS Grenadiers - + 00
6. Lukas Kubis - Unibet Tietema Rockets - + 00
7. Piet Allegaert - Cofidis - + 00
8. Vincenzo Albanese - EF Education-EasyPost - + 00
9. Marijn van den Berg - EF Education-EasyPost - + 00
10. Lewis Askey - Groupama-FDJ - + 00

Van Aert had a tough day: I didn't feel good during the race

Although this crowded finish could have benefited Wout van Aert, the favorite for victory, he did not have good sensations throughout the race. His post-race statements only confirmed what we saw during the race.

"I didn't feel good during the race. I was never in a good position and didn't have the right legs" explained the cyclist from Visma - Lease a Bike. "On the Molenberg I was behind the group, and I knew what was going to happen. I simply wasn't in the right position, that's why I ended up behind the split"

Van Aert ultimately had to settle for 11th place. "I didn't have enough confidence in my sprint, because I already felt that I didn't have the best legs". "I tried, but there was nothing left".