There have been skirmishes in the desert nations and a plethora of small stage races on the Iberian Peninsula but this is where the warm-up ends and proper racing begins. This is Belgium, and this is the opening weekend.
2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad event preview
The 81st Omloop Nieuwsblad starts, as always, in the city of Ghent and finishes 208 kilometers later in Ninove. Along the way it sees the World Tour teams tackle eight bone-shaking cobbled sectors and 12 punishing climbs including the Eikenberg, the Bosberg and the dreaded Muur-Kapelmuur combo.
With no Mads Pedersen who is out injured or Wout van Aert who has pulled out sick, the favorite tag will be pinned on the shoulders of non other than Mathieu van der Poel. After taking a short break following his triumphant cross season he says he is rested and ready to go which is really bad news for every other rider in the peloton.
With last year coming down to a bunch sprint it’s no surprise that this year’s field is stacked with sprint talent. The likes of Biniam Girmay, Arnaud De Lie, Jasper Philipsen, and Paul Magnier will all be hoping they can navigate the perils of the cobbles and arrive in Ninove with a chance to flex their legs.
With so many big name sprinters there will be plenty of teams working hard to ensure the race does indeed finish in a bunch kick, so any riders without a powerful sprint such as Tom Pidcock will have to fight tooth and nail if they are to get away.
Coverage starts at 12:00pm GMT / 7:00am ET / 4:00am PT
Read on for everything you need to know to use a VPN to watch a 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad live stream from anywhere.
How to watch the 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad for FREE
You can watch the whole of the 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad for FREE on both VRT Max and Sporza in Belgium and NOS in the Netherlands.
Traveling overseas this weekend? Don’t forget you can use a VPN to watch your usual free service as if you were back home.
Use a VPN to watch a 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad live stream
How to watch a 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad live stream in the US
Cycling fans in the US can watch the 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad on FloBikes.
A subscription to FloBikes will set you back US$155.88 for the year or US$39.99 on a monthly basis.
If you’re out of the US but still want to watch the 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad then don’t forget to explore the VPN route set out above, which will help you access your subscriptions from anywhere.
How to watch a 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad live stream in the UK
Cycling fans in the UK can watch the 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad on TNT Sports. To access this you’ll either need to add it to your TV package, or you can take out a standalone subscription via Discovery+ which will set you back £30.99 per month, though BT Broadband customers can get a discounted rate.
You will also have access to the Premier League, Champions League and Europa League football plus Tour de France cycling, rugby, wrestling, UFC, and MotoGP.
If you’re traveling abroad, don’t worry, as you can use NordVPN to watch your usual service from overseas.
How to watch a 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad live stream in Canada
Cycling fans in Canada can watch the 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad on FloBikes. A subscription will set you back CAN$203.88 for the year or CAN$39.99 on a monthly basis.
Not at home? Use NordVPN or another VPN service to make your device think you’re still in Canada.
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