"I have no doubt I'll be ready for the Spring Classics" - Stefan Kung ready to unleash at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

The Opening Weekend is here, and with it marks Stefan Küng’s ninth appearance at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. The 31-year-old’s best result in this race came in 2020 when he finished ninth, he will certainly be hoping to finish closer to front this year.

Küng’s highest ever finishes in a classic or monument have been third place. He achieved this at Paris-Roubaix in 2022, E3 Saxo Bank Classic in 2022, and Dwars door Vlaanderen last year. Could 2025 be the year he finally secures a major classics victory?

Speaking to Cyclingnews during the Volta ao Algarve, his only prior race before Omloop, Küng reflected on his form.

"It's the first race of the season, you always work hard over the winter and you never know exactly how you are doing.

"You have an idea, but it's always good to be back in racing and to be focused on this good start to the season. Because once this (Algarve) is done, the serious business starts."

Last year was a significant one for Küng, as he secured his first Grand Tour stage win on the final day of the Vuelta a España with a time trial victory.

"I wanted to finish the Volta ao Algarve with a good feeling on the bike, but sometimes it's better when it's not 100% yet, to give the body time to recover and be ready for the Opening Weekend and what comes after.

"Now I'm not flying yet, so I'm not very, very happy, but it's the first race of the season, we changed our approach a bit, so we have to trust the process because the work we did over the winter was good. I have no doubt I'll be ready for the Spring Classics."

Küng acknowledged that his different approach means he is not yet at peak form, but emphasised that "for sure the big goals are in April."

"I just need to stay calm, recover, do Omloop and Paris-Nice and the legs will only improve. As an athlete, you like to have nice feelings in the first race of the season, but it is still only the first race. So I think my experience helps me to stay calmer than I would have been five years ago."

Reflecting on the importance of early-season racing, Küng explained, "I would say you can learn a lot because there are the results, there's how you are feeling and there's how you react to efforts in the race. It gives you an indication of how you stand.

"Also, it's good to have race kilometres in the legs before the start of the Classics for sure. That's always going to help."

He also pointed out that his team has undergone some changes, saying, "We've also got some new guys in the team, too, there's been a bit of a turnover, so we'll know more after it.

"I know this race suits me but it's the first of the season so it's hard to predict anything in particular. Until you race that first Classic, you never really know how you are."