Wout van Aert Returns to Racing at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad After Successful Recovery

Belgian cyclist Wout van Aert is set to make his 2026 season debut at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the opening classic of the Flanders season, on Saturday. This return comes after a surprisingly swift recovery from a fracture of the lateral malleolus of his right fibula sustained on January 2nd during the Zilvermeercross of Mol, which required surgery [1].

Rapid Recovery and Ambitious Spring Schedule

Van Aert’s recovery has been remarkable, resuming outdoor training on January 12th and completing a preparation block at altitude in the Sierra Nevada. He announced in January his intention to compete through to Paris-Roubaix, including returns to Strade Bianche and Milan-Sanremo, races he has not participated in recently [2]. The Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix remain key objectives for the season.

Strong Support Team for the Opening Weekend

At Omloop, Van Aert will be supported by a strong lineup including Christophe Laporte and Matthew Brennan, both of whom have secured victories for the team this season, along with Timo Chalice, Axel Zingle, Per Strand Hagenes, and Edoardo Affini [1].

On Sunday, Van Aert will not participate in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, where Laporte and Brennan will lead the Visma | Lease a Bike team. Visma has a strong history in this race, winning in 2023 with Tiesj Benoot and in 2024 with Van Aert himself.

Visma | Lease a Bike Returns to Le Samyna

Visma | Lease a Bike will also return to Le Samyna after a nearly decade-long absence on March 3rd. Van Aert will join Laporte and a group of young talents – Loe Van Belle, Matisse Van Kerckhove, Pietro Mattio, Aldo Taillieu, and Per Strand Hagenes – for this classic. Brennan will not be participating in Le Samyna.

Aiming for Consistent Performance and a Monument Victory

Visma | Lease a Bike is focused on regaining its position as a leading force in the northern classics, having only won the Grand Prix de Denain with Brennan last year. Van Aert has expressed his ambition to win a Monument, stating it would be “the icing on the cake” of his career, but prioritizes a consistent season, hoping to avoid the ups and downs of recent years [1].

Van Aert signed a contract with Team Visma | Lease a Bike through the end of his active career in late 2024 [3], and achieved a stage win in the 2025 Giro d’Italia and a solo finish on the Champs-Élysées in the Tour de France [1].