“He wasn’t allowed to work with Mathieu” – Red Bull - BORA master tactics secure Tim van Dijke podium at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe left Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2026 with more than just a podium. They left with validation.

On a day defined by chaos, crosswinds and perfectly timed aggression from Mathieu van der Poel, Tim van Dijke rode to second place behind the Dutchman, finishing ahead of Florian Vermeersch. But the story of that podium was not simply strength. It was control.

“He wasn’t allowed to work with Mathieu, let’s be honest about that,” sports director Sven Vanthourenhout said afterwards in quotes collected by HLN, laying the tactical cards on the table.

“We still had Jordi Meeus behind. At one point, we could have ridden with him, but first we had to get over the Berendries and Tenbosse. From there, we could possibly change and let him contribute. We were in a good position and wanted to hold on to that.”

The decisive move of the race began on the Molenberg, when Florian Vermeersch forced the split and Van der Poel bridged across after narrowly avoiding a crash. Van Dijke followed, forming a powerful trio that would shape the final hour.

Behind them, the peloton was fractured by crashes and mechanical problems. The race never fully reset.

Vanthourenhout had anticipated exactly where the damage would occur. “Van Dijke first had to make it over the Berendries and Tenbosse, climbs that really suit Mathieu. We knew he was going to make a move on the Muur, so it was about holding on with Florian. We quickly realised that Tim was certainly his equal. Whether it’s second or third doesn’t matter, just go all in for the podium.”

The instruction was clear. Survive the decisive hills. Protect the numbers advantage. Do not contribute unnecessarily to Van der Poel’s momentum while Jordi Meeus remained in the chasing group with a sprint as insurance.

That discipline proved decisive.

When Van der Poel attacked on the Muur van Geraardsbergen, the dynamic changed. The Dutchman rode clear with authority, and the fight shifted to the remaining podium places.

“After the Muur, he was allowed to work, but by then Mathieu was gone. We still had riders behind, with Meeus, who has a sprint in his legs. But in the final part, together with Florian, we took responsibility and went full gas all the way to Ninove.”

Van Dijke and Vermeersch committed fully over the Bosberg and into the final twelve kilometres, securing second and third behind a rider Vanthourenhout could only admire. “Mathieu was today again who he so often is, and we can only admire that.”

For Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe, the result carried additional weight. The previous spring had fallen short of expectations, and this winter was spent recalibrating approach and preparation. “I think everyone is happy. Last year, the spring wasn’t what it should have been for the team. Now we’ve put a lot of time and energy into being ready straight away. We shouldn’t get too euphoric about it, but it’s good to see that we’re ready and that everyone showed up.”

From kilometre zero, Vanthourenhout insisted, the execution was precise. “It was important to be there at the moments we needed to be there. They didn’t miss anything. From kilometre zero everyone was attentive and in position. We rode a perfect race.”

A podium place in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad may not eclipse Van der Poel’s solo victory, but for Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe it signalled something equally important: readiness. “A podium place in Omloop for a team like ours is hugely important.”

Vanthourenhout’s first Classic as sports director ended with confirmation rather than consolation. “My first Classic has been a success. In the last few days we spent a lot of time together, talking through many scenarios. I can only be very happy with this.”

They did not beat Van der Poel.

But they executed exactly as planned.