“Already more than good enough” – Mathieu van der Poel skips Kuurne after Omloop win as Alpecin prioritise control over risk

Less than 24 hours after a dominant solo victory at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Mathieu van der Poel will not take the start at Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne.

The decision was confirmed by Alpecin–Premier Tech sports director Christoph Roodhooft, who made clear that the call was strategic rather than reactive.

“But especially the course and a few small elements made us decide that Mathieu will not race today,” Roodhooft explained in comments collected by HLN.

There had been genuine uncertainty on Saturday evening. Van der Poel himself admitted after his Omloop triumph that “nothing has been decided yet” regarding Kuurne, adding that the team would discuss it later on the bus.

By Sunday morning, the calculation had shifted. “Yesterday in the Omloop, Mathieu also showed that he is already more than good enough,” Roodhooft said. “Then in training, there is, for example, less risk of crashing.”

The subtext was clear. After a chaotic, crash-heavy Omloop that left multiple riders hospitalised, there was little to gain and more to risk by doubling up. Van der Poel had already demonstrated sharp form, decisive power on the Molenberg and Muur, and the ability to finish off a race solo in harsh conditions.

With Tirreno–Adriatico looming, restraint made sense.

Rather than line up again in Kuurne, Van der Poel will remain in Belgium to train through the coming week. From there, he will travel to Italy to begin Tirreno–Adriatico on Monday, 9 March.

The decision reflects a broader pattern in modern Classics preparation. Winning form in late February is valuable, but protecting it is often more important. After showing he could attack from distance, survive chaos on the Molenberg and ride clear on the Muur, there was no urgent need to prove anything further.

Omloop delivered confirmation. Kuurne was optional.

By stepping back, Alpecin–Premier Tech have chosen control over accumulation and preserved their leader for the bigger objectives that lie ahead.