Opening Weekend double? Mathieu van der Poel may also race Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne after season debut at Omloop het Nieuwsblad

After confirming his presence at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2026, the big question now is: will Mathieu van der Poel also tackle Kuurne–Brussel–Kuurne the following day? According to several reports, there is a strong chance the Dutchman will complete the Opening Weekend double.

The Alpecin–Premier Tech rider made it clear on social media that it is time to race again. “It’s time to return,” he wrote on Instagram alongside an image of a private jet.

Since July last year he has had a partnership with the Belgian company FLYINGGROUP, which specializes in private and business aviation, and used it to fly to Belgium for the start of his road campaign.

Although his start on Sunday is not confirmed, Van der Poel is listed as a reserve for Kuurne and a final decision will be made on Saturday night. It will depend on how he absorbs his first road race of 2026. If the sensations are good, organizers could boast an even more attractive start list for the weekend’s second fixture.

His presence would change fully the outlook on the race; which could become much less of an affair for the sprinters, and could instead see plenty more attacks early on, whilst simultaneously increase the chances of early attackers to succeed.

The Dutchman’s spring is already packed: Tirreno–Adriatico, Milano–Sanremo, E3 Saxo Classic, Middelkerke - Wevelgem, the Tour of Flanders, and Paris–Roubaix. Last season he sealed a prestigious treble with wins in Sanremo, E3 and Roubaix; underlining his dominance in the cobbled classics even in the presence of a peak form Tadej Pogacar.

On Thursday, Van der Poel reconned the Omloop route alongside Greg Van Avermaet. During that ride he learned that Wout van Aert would miss the weekend due to illness, a development that further reshapes the competitive landscape.

The question now is whether the Dutchman will also test himself at Kuurne or keep something in reserve for the major objectives in the coming weeks. A lot of conclusions are to be taken over Saturday.