We kick off the cobbled season in style, with the very first mandatory PCT race ever. Man-Game legend, Per is at the start as well as future star and freshly trained Girmay. The favorites list also include Spengler and Gamper among many others.
For many, the goal in a cobbled classic is to get into the breakaway and hope to survive for as long as possible. Today we had 13 of these riders at front: Laporte Van Aert Orins Van Boven El-Doghmy Malale Dockx Trondsen De Kleijn Vasko Kessler Chiarucci Hansen
Inside the last 80km with the breakaway just a little over 1 minute in front of the pack, new moves were made from the pack with Sanogo being the first one to go
Stewart, Benoot, Giulietti and Schäppi joined him
Sommer, Hoole and Van Den Bossche were soon on the move as well.
Very bad luck for Giulietti, who punctured right as about the two group of attackers were about to join what was left from the original breakaway. Berckmoes, who had also attacked from the pack but never managed to join the other groups of attackers was happy to finally have someone to share the work with, but they would both be caught by the pack pretty soon
The other attackers were just slightly luckier. With little under 50km to go, the pack had caught up to all of them
A new move quickly followed as we were about to enter the decisive kilometers of the stage with many cobbled sectors coming right after the other. This time initiated by Lapeira
Benoot was on the move as well, but the he paid for the earlier efforts and he never managed to catch up the Frenchman. This was bad news for both of them as they were riding on their own against a very fast pack
And they would both eventually be reeled back in. No big attacks on the cobbles here, but some very fast pace set up by some of the favorites saw only a group of 15 riders left at the front. Girmay led the way as we entered a big flat section that would lead us to the last cobbled sector of the day. The other in the group were: Spengler Per Gamper Ovsyannikov Wisniowski Rutsch Jacobs Stavrakakis Schreurs Lampawog Rossi Nareklishvili Uhlig Owen
Jacobs was soon on the move. He managed to stay in front of the group for a while but it he never had a lead of more than 15-20 seconds
Just as the UBS riders was caught, Per launched his biggest attack yet. Quite interestingly, it's done right before the cobbled section
The Grieg riders isn't able to get a gap and we have a new round of attacks as we enter the final cobbled sector of the day. Ovsyannikov flying, with Rossi the first to respond
And the two do get a gap. This is a very good move, but there are plenty of strong riders left in the chasing group. It won't be easy to keep it until the end, but not impossible!
Per leading the chase behind as we leave the cobbles behind us for good in this race.
Only one real victim by this final cobbled section and it's Schreurs. The Everesting rider is out of the fight for the win today
Ovsyannikov is quite stronger than Rossi and he eventually leaves him behind. It's not a great move, but they were starting to lose ground to the chasing group. Just as this happens, Gamper senses the opportunity and launches a big move from behind. Girmay right in his wheel
It's not enough to catch any of the leading riders though. Girmay continues the move on his own and he eventually catches up to Rossi
Girmay is looking really good at the moment as he moves into the lead of the race as we enter the final 5 kilometers of the race, while Rossi is reeled back into the main group
Ovsyannikov manages to hang on to Girmay's wheel. The Bralirwa is not quite happy with this and he slows down. This allows Per to bridge from the chasing group
Per takes over pacing duties in the fron trio, but it's not the fiercest pace. The chasers are not far behind and no place on the podium is guaranteed!
It doesn't take long for Owen and Jacobs to bridge across as well.
But eventually the whole group is back together. 14 riders to fight off for the win in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2026 after more than 4 and a half hours of racing!
Ever since getting back into the lead of the race, Per has been setting up the pace. And he is still in front as we reach the final kilometers
The Slovenian is really playing chicken with the others and is not willing to be the one to start off the sprint. Those paying too much attention to him, might be betting on a dead horse as it's Ovsyannikov who launches first. And he looks quite fast despite his earlier efforts
He can't keep up that speed for too long though, but those who were the quickest to react to his move since to be the ones benefitting from it now as Stavrakakis, Spengler and Rutsch are looking very good at the moment, with Per and those caught behind him only launching now
Spengler is arguably the worst sprinter in the group, but he seems to have the most left in the tank and he is looking very good with the finish line in sight
And he takes it! Quite a comfortable win for the Swiss rider in the end. More than a bike lenght between him Stavrakakis, who isn't exactly a top sprinter either
Ovsyannikov manages to hold on for third in front Rutsch. The Tryg - Eni rider is awared with a podium for his huge efforts made throughout the day. Per and Girmay coming in the next couple of places. Surely, both of them are disappointed with this outcome
Lampawog, Jacobs, Owen and Tediashvili complete the top 10
