"Pogacar's absence changes everything": Davide Ballerini looks ahead to a tactical edition of Omloop

Five years after his victory, Davide Ballerini will return to the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2026 start line with the know‑how of someone who has already raised his arms in Ninove. The XDS Astana Team rider resumes racing after the late‑January Classica Comunitat Valenciana.

That win in 2021, when he wore the colours of the then Deceuninck - Quick Step, came in the Belgian team’s golden era, as they dominated the cobbled classics and stacked victories at races like the Tour des Flandres and E3. That year, Ballerini prevailed from a reduced sprint of around 40 riders, showing power and composure.

Now, the landscape is different. The Italian will ride for XDS Astana Team and is not among the top favourites. Even so, he arrives confident after a long altitude block, while admitting the Belgian Opening Weekend always leaves question marks.

"First we’ll have to see how my legs react. I’m missing a bit of race rhythm, which could be a disadvantage, but I might be fresher than those who raced in Portugal or the UAE Tour," he told bici.pro.

Ballerini is not ring‑fencing Omloop as his sole objective. His ambitions span the entire cobbled block, from the Flemish opener to Paris‑Roubaix. "My goals run from Omloop to Roubaix. Every race is a chance to perform; all of them matter to me."

The Italian stresses that, in these races, it’s hard to plan a single peak. "So much can happen in the Belgian classics; you can’t assume you’ll only be good in a few specific races. You just have to be in top shape all the time." After several springs blighted by bad luck, he keeps a pragmatic view: "I’m focusing on the whole period, not one race. If you get sick or injured for a while, you sadly lose a big chunk of the season."

With four previous starts, Ballerini knows Omloop’s nuances well. "It’s a true showcase of the great classics like Flanders, but it’s not as hard as the Ronde because it has fewer kilometres and fewer climbs." That, he believes, makes the finale less predictable. "This race is more open; sometimes it finishes with 50 riders," which, in his view, heightens tension and tactical options.

Although many eyes turn to the Kapelmuur in Geraardsbergen as the decisive point, the Italian downplays its impact. "It’s a spectacular spot, but not crucial. The key point usually comes earlier, after a series of cobbles and climbs." He recalls that in his win the group reshuffled after the Muur and it all came down to a sprint. This year, the route has small tweaks, making course recon essential.

Finally, Ballerini flags an external factor that could upend the script: the absence of Tadej Pogacar, who aims for his third Tour of Flanders title. "The Tour [of Flanders] starts earlier every year. In a race like Omloop, Pogacar’s absence changes everything." Without the Slovenian forcing the pace from distance, the race may unfold more strategically and less explosively.

After wrapping the classics block, the Italian will switch focus to his major home appointment: the Giro d’Italia, where he hopes to carry spring form into the three‑week stage race.