Soudal - Quick-Step unveil Opening Weekend lineup as Paul Magnier leads bid for 14th Omloop/Kuurne triumph

The cobbles are calling again, and Soudal - Quick-Step have shown their hand.

The Belgian squad have confirmed their selections for both Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne, opening their 24th consecutive Spring Classics campaign with a clear structure built around Paul Magnier.

Between the two races, the team have claimed 13 victories in their history. Omloop has been won four times under the Quick-Step banner, while Kuurne accounts for nine triumphs.

It is a legacy rooted in cobbles, positioning and numbers in the finale rather than reliance on a single card.

Runner-up at Omloop on debut last season, Magnier returns in strong condition after two stage wins and the points classification at the Volta ao Algarve. The Frenchman will ride both days of Opening Weekend, signalling the team’s confidence in his ability to handle the demands of the Belgian terrain.

He is joined across the weekend by Jasper Stuyven and Dylan van Baarle, giving the squad proven experience in navigating cobbled finales. Van Baarle is a former Omloop winner, while Stuyven has previously taken victory at Kuurne.

For Saturday’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the lineup is completed by Yves Lampaert, Casper Pedersen, Pepijn Reinderink and Dries Van Gestel.

The 2026 Omloop stretches to 207 kilometres and features a revised finale. Tenbosse and Parikeberg have been added inside the final 40 kilometres before the Muur-Kapelmuur and Bosberg sequence, increasing the likelihood of repeated accelerations rather than a conservative wait for the line.

Sports director Tom Steels underlined both the tension and opportunity in the team’s official release, stating: “Omloop is always special, because it’s the first cobblestone race of the season. It will be a nervous race, but at the same time, an exciting one. We have a strong team, and we are curious to see how the dynamic will work with the new guys in the squad. Anything can happen in a race like this, but we are confident in our chances and motivated to play the cards we have on Saturday.”

Twenty-four hours later, Magnier, Stuyven and van Baarle will line up again for the 194.9-kilometre Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne. They will be supported by Laurenz Rex, Bert Van Lerberghe, Cerial Desal and neo professional Jonathan Vervenne.

Iljo Keisse framed Sunday as tactically open, saying: “We have several riders who will do the double this weekend, which means we’ll see Paul, Jasper and Dylan also in Kuurne. The course is a demanding one, with many climbs and narrow roads, and even though the final part is a flat one, it’s not certain there will be a bunch sprint. I’d say the chances of having one to decide the winner are fifty-fifty, so the attackers also have their opportunities, especially as there will be some wind that could make a selection. We’ll try to be in the finale with Paul, who’ll rely on a strong team to support him there.”

What stands out in this selection is not a split between a Classics unit and a sprint unit. Instead, the leadership core remains intact across both races.

That approach mirrors the team’s traditional Opening Weekend blueprint. Control the race through numbers. Keep multiple options deep into the finale. Avoid becoming dependent on one scenario.

Magnier’s early-season form makes him the obvious focal point, but the surrounding experience ensures flexibility. If Omloop turns selective on the revamped climbs, they have engines to respond. If Kuurne drifts toward a sprint, they retain finishing power without sacrificing strength in the wind.

Opening Weekend often sets the tone for the spring. With 13 past victories across the two races and a young leader in form, Soudal - Quick-Step arrive not just to participate, but to reassert their presence on terrain that has long defined their identity.