"I'm feeling better than last year" - But can Jan Tratnik beat Wout van Aert and Tom Pidcock at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad?
Cycling
Jan Tratnik is gearing up to take on Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
this weekend, aiming to defend the title he won in epic fashion last year.
However, this time around, the Slovenian will be racing in new colours, having
moved from Team Visma | Lease a Bike to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe over the
winter. Can he repeat his win in new colours?
Tratnik’s victory at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2024 was one of
the best moments of his career to date. In a chaotic and hectic race, he made
the winning move inside the final 10 kilometres, dropping Nils Politt and
holding off Wout van Aert to secure his biggest ever one victory.
It was an incredibly bold attack and powerful solo effort that
forced Visma into a position where they had to control the chasing group,
allowing him to ride to victory, even with Van Aert on the team! Now, as the
defending champion, he will be taken much more seriously if he makes a break
for victory again and show that last year was no fluke.
Tratnik believes he is in better form than last year, even
if his early-season results do not reflect it. Speaking to Cyclingnews, he said, "I'm feeling better than last year though the results are not the
same.
“Ok, Bessèges was a bit of a chaotic race and I couldn't
really test myself there. But already on the stage 2 summit finish here, I saw
that I pushed higher numbers than last year."
He also noted that his Algarve campaign had been different
this time, given his role supporting Primoz Roglic, who joined Red
Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe in 2024.
"Here in the Algarve, too, I'm coming in with a
different approach because we have Primoz Roglic. But we are on the right
track, I'm on the right track, the team is on the right track. So I'm happy
with these numbers and with my performance."
Tratnik will be part of a well-rounded Red Bull – Bora - hansgrohe
squad at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, featuring Oier Lazkano, Roger Adrià, Jonas
Koch, Jordi Meeus, and twins Mick and Tim van Dijke. They will be up against
some of the biggest names in the sport, including Wout van Aert, Biniam Girmay,
Tom Pidcock, and Jasper Philipsen, and it will be incredible if Tratnik can
pull off another win.
Wout van Aert will be hoping to deny his former teammate the victory
The Slovenian acknowledges that success will require a tactical
approach, rather than focusing solely on one leader.
"We have quite a strong team with young guns, and you
know how it goes with those races, it's quite hard to say it's only going to be
with one leader, because so many scenarios can play out. You need to have more
bullets in the pocket to play well."
He also embraces the idea of shared leadership within the
squad.
"I'm a rider who likes to share leadership with the
others too and it's a race where we want to play more cards. It doesn't matter
which rider is the best. It's important that we try to win as a team, not as an
individual."
Tratnik has been balancing his one-day racing ambitions with
Grand Tour preparations, and while the cobbled classics remain a key part of
his season, they are no longer his sole focus.
"For me, it's a different race plan every year. Maybe
I'll be doing the cobbles, or two Grand Tours – like in 2025 – but each time
the cobbled Classics are a little bit less on my programme."
That said, he still sees himself as a versatile rider who
can adapt to any terrain.
"Finally, though, it doesn't matter where I go or what
I do: I'm good on every kind of terrain and the team can use me if it's hilly
or the cobbled Classics or whatever."
Tratnik and Primoz Roglic were teammates at Visma, and their
reunion at Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe adds an interesting dynamic. However, it
also means Tratnik will have to battle against Wout van Aert if he wants to
retain his title.
"Yeah, the good thing about that is that now if I'm on
the front, I can just follow him and I will be in a winning position."
Tratnik has spent time reconning the final 80 kilometres of
the route and feels confident in his knowledge of the race. However, he
acknowledges that weather conditions can play a major role.
"I'll do the last 80 kilometres of the race as a recon
on Friday, and then it's enough. I know the route already, in any case, but
what can really change from one year to the next is the weather. Hopefully,
it'll be sunny and there won't be any snow."
And while he is known for his well-timed attacks, he remains
open to early aggressive moves.
"It's what happens in the race that matters the most,
because these days you never know what can happen. Maybe I'll go on the attack
150 kilometres from the line."
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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