Norway’s Søren Wærenskjold took a shock victory at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, outsprinting Paul Magnier and home favourite Jasper Philipsen in a bunch finish in Ninove.
The 24-year-old was a late addition to the Uno-X line-up due to the forecasted headwind that was expected to neutralise attacks, and his team’s gamble paid off. Wærenskjold latched onto the wheel of Sam Watson, who was first to launch, before powering up the right-hand barriers to claim the biggest win of his career.
Headwind stifles attacking racing, Küng’s late attack falls short
With the wind playing a decisive role, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad lacked the usual aggression associated with Opening Weekend. Seven early breakaway riders were given leeway by the peloton, which was content to let them stay out front for most of the race.
Teams such as UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Visma | Lease a Bike attempted to force selections, but their moves were always reeled in. Josh Tarling made the most significant solo attack, going clear 50km from the finish. However, his effort was neutralised on the Berendries with 29km to go, and the break was caught soon after.
The decisive final phase saw a group of 18 briefly distance the peloton after the Muur van Geraardsbergen, but the headwind and team tactics ensured it never gained enough ground. Mathias Vacek launched an attack on the Bosberg but was unable to make it stick.
With 10km to go, Stefan Küng made the last real attempt to prevent a sprint, using his time-trial strength to build a 15-second lead with 6km left. However, as the two chasing groups merged, the increased firepower brought him back just before the flamme rouge.
“It was a kilometre too long, unfortunately,” Küng said afterwards. “I had to try, but I knew it would be difficult against the sprinters.”
Photo Credit: GettyUno-X executes perfectly as Van Aert and Pidcock struggle
With the race coming down to a fast finish, Alpecin-Deceuninck and Soudal Quick-Step worked to position their leaders, Philipsen and Magnier, for the sprint. Uno-X, however, had quietly guided Wærenskjold through the key climbs, and the Norwegian capitalised on their efforts.
“I was coming on the inside and thought ‘this could actually work’,” Wærenskjold said of the final dash. “I saw the finish line and just went for it. I didn’t know how far it was, but I kept my momentum going. It feels a bit strange, but I’m really happy. It’s a step up in my career.”
Wout van Aert had a low-key start to his Classics campaign, finishing 11th. Despite efforts from himself and Matteo Jorgenson, Visma never had the opportunity to dictate the race as they had in previous editions.
“I didn’t have the feelings I’d hoped for,” Van Aert admitted. “I felt like I was never really in contention. The headwind played a role, but it was also about how the teams raced. Apart from UAE and us, a lot of teams were focused on a sprint.”
Van Aert now looks to Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on Sunday, where he will hope for a stronger showing.
Tom Pidcock also had a quiet race, finishing 38th after losing key positioning before the Muur. His new team’s first cobbled test exposed areas for improvement, though the Briton remained optimistic.
“There are so many good riders, and that’s all I can say,” Pidcock said. “Normally, people’s legs fall off near the end, but today the weather was pretty good, and a lot of strong guys stayed in. It’s a positive start, but we’ve got some improving to do.”
2025 Omloop het Nieuwsblad Men result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: Getty
