2025 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Odds and Predictions

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On Saturday, March 1, the 78^th edition of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad gets underway in Belgium with many of cycling’s stars taking the starting line at Ghent.

The Omloop Het Nieuwsblad became an official UCI World Tour race in 2017. However, it remains the unofficial start to the Spring Classics and the Belgian Classics. It’s also the first UCI World Tour race of the season to be held in Europe.

Yet, the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is not the first UCI World Tour race of the year, as that honor is typically bestowed up on Australia’s Tour Down Under stage race.

Organized by the Flanders Classics, the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is a one-day race first held in 1945, and a proud tradition for any Belgian rider. In fact, Belgians have won 56 of the previous 77 editions of this race.

Slovenia’s Jan Tratnik is the reigning champ of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. He made it three wins in a row for Visma-Lease A Bike, formerly known as Team Jumbo-Visma. This season, Tratnik rides for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe which opens the door for his former teammate Wout van Aert to potentially lead Visma to a fourth straight win.

Van Aert, the 2022 race winner, is the odds-on favorite to win the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday. He’s also joined by Arnaud De Lie, Tom Pidcock, and Jhonatan Narvaez, who won the 2025 Tour Down Under, as betting favorites. Other cycling stars like Biniam Girmay and Jasper Philipsen are looking to upstage the favorites this weekend.

Let’s take a look at the latest cycling odds, courtesy of the top sports betting sites, and make our Omloop Het Nieuwsblad predictions.

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Route

The 2025 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad starts at the ‘t Kuipke velodrome in Ghent and spans roughly 198km before finishing in Ninove. Along the way, riders will traverse over 11 climbs and eight separate cobbled sections.

Here’s a look at the 11 climbs on the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad route:

• Leberg at 52.5km mark (144.5km left)
• Leberg at 120.9km mark (76.1km left)
• Valkenberg at 128.9km mark (68.2km left)
• Eikenberg at 141.4km mark (55.6km left)
• Wolvenberg at 144.5km mark (52.5km left)
• Molenberg at 154.5km mark) (42.5km left)
• Leberg at 162km mark (35km left)
• Berendries at 166km mark (31km left)
• Elverenberg-Vossenhol at 168.5km mark (28.5km left)
• Muur-Kapelmuur at 181.3km mark (15.7km left)
• Bosberg at 185.2km mark (11.8km left)

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Odds

Check out the latest Omloop Het Nieuwsblad cycling odds:

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Favorites

The following cyclists are considered odds-on favorites to win the 2025 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad:

Wout van Aert +450        

If we’re to read more into the results of the Volta ao Algarve, then everyone not named Tadej Pogacar should be concerned that Visma-Lease a Bike is back. More specifically, Wout van Aert and Joanas Vingegaard are back near their full potential.

The two men finished first and second in the individual time trial and looked like they’ve both recovered from health problems they experienced last year. Van Aert is making a return from a bad crash at the Vuelta a Espana.

As for his health heading into this weekend’s race, van Aert made the following comments:

“This week has been ideal, and I hardly feel any discomfort from my knee. My right knee remains my weakest, even more than before, so we are all working on that in the team. It was also good to spend time regaining confidence at being in a peloton.”

These comments and his result at Algarve should have this Saturday’s peloton taking notice. It’s certainly why sportsbooks and many of the best handicappers are siding with the talented Belgian to win the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

As mentioned above, van Aert won this race in 2022. He skipped the 2023 edition before returning last year and finishing third behind former teammate Tratnik and Nils Politt. Both will be in this year’s edition as well.

Prior to his 2022 win, van Aert’s best result was 11^th. Can the super talented Belgian win the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday?

Arnaud De Lie +800

Saturday’s second overall pre-race favorite is Lotto’s Arnaud De Lie. The 22-year-old Belgian has one race win this year and put together two decent showings in the Algarve against some of the top competition in the sport.

He’s the current Belgian National Champion and is coming off an excellent training over the winter that has his team confident in his earl-season chances for victories.

De Lie has put a great deal of focus on this weekend’s race as he’s performed well in the past and loves the Spring Classic more than other races:

“There’s one time I really want to go for a result and that’s in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. That’s where I have the most experience of the last few years and I know I can win. It’s really become a special race for me. But it is also the Omloop as a race itself that I love. That starts with the atmosphere in the Kuipke and the atmosphere is often very special throughout the race. In the Belgian jersey that will probably be even more fun. It is a big goal.”

You can’t help but root for the kid as he continues to evolve as one of the top young Belgian riders. Saturday’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad appearance will be the third time he’s competed in this race. Last year he finished 10^th, which was a step down from his second-place finish in 2023.

De Lie has the speed and the motivation to win this race. But does he have the team to compete with the big squads and favorites like van Aert’s Visma-Lease A Bike and Narvaez’s UAE Emirates?

Jhonatan Narvaez +1100

Adding Jhonatan Narvaez to UAE Emirates was arguably the best off-season move in cycling. And, it didn’t take long for that move to pay off as Narvaez won the 2025 Tour Down Under in January. I initially picked him to win, but then changed my mind to go with an Australian while still believing he would be on the podium.

Needless to say, I am kicking myself over that one. The Ecuadorian is incredibly talented and in his prime which not only makes him an excellent help for Pogacar, but it also makes Narvaez a contender in the majority of races he enters like the Omloop this weekend.

Narvaez has two previous starts in this race. Both were forgettable finishes as he failed to crack the Top 30 in 2021 and 2022. With that said, I think you can throw those results out because this is a different team and situation.

In fact, Narvaez’s appearance in the race has knocked down his teammate’s chances to win. Last year’s runner up Nils Politt is now a +3300 favorite to win. It’s clear that UAE will support Narvaez if he has the legs.

And, if his win at the Tour Down Under and the Ecuador National Men’s Road Race are any indication, Narvaez is in fine form and a real threat two win the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

Mathias Vacek +1400

The 22-year-old Lidl-Trek rider is being overlooked this weekend despite having a decent start to the season so far. He does have a win on the year and is one of two cyclists who could end up as the leader of the team this Saturday. I wouldn’t completely dismiss Jasper Stuyven just yet.

Lidl-Trek has put together a solid squad, even if they lack the star power compared to other teams. With that said, Vacek will make his second start in the Omloop this weekend. His only appearance came in 2023 and he finished 79^th.

I expect a far better result this weekend, but I also see Vacek well below the other favorites in this race. In fact, there’s better options than the Czech rider this weekend.

Tom Pidcock +1600          

Tom Pidcock shook up Britain’s cycling scene by leaving INEOS and signing with a small Swiss squad called Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team. He quickly became the top rider on this team based on his skills and success spanning multiple cycling disciplines in addition to road racing.

With this move, Pidcock has a renewed dedication to becoming a top-tier cyclist in the peloton and not with just one-day events. He’s targeting a move up the proverbial GC ladder to contend with the big names of cycling like Pogacar, Vingegaard, and Evenepoel. It’s why he’s skipping the 2025 Tour de France to focus on the 2026 edition.

Although the move was heavily criticized, Pidcock has already proven that it was the right decision. It also shined a light on the dysfunction and downfall of the once might INEOS Team. Yet, that’s a story for another day.

As for Pidcock, he’s already picked up three wins on the year so far. The 25-year-old won two stages in the AlUla Tour and the overall race. He followed that up with a stage win and an overall third-place finish at the Vuelta a Andalucia. Keep in mind, he’s doing this with a vastly inferior squad compared to the rest of the peloton’s top teams.

It also shows just how talented the British cyclist is and what kind of success he could have it a team was built around him. That was never the case with INEOS as they had a number of big names to ride for.

Saturday marks the fifth appearance for Pidcock in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Last year, he finished 8^th overall. His best result was in 2023, when he finished 5^th. I would not be surprised if we see Pidcock crack the Top 5 again. But will he have enough to beat out the favorites?

The Best Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Betting Value

The following cyclists offer betting value based on their current odds, overall skill set and previous success at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad:

Jasper Philipsen +2200

It’s quite surprising to see the sport’s top sprinter sit with odds this large. However, this is due to his inability to win a sprint stage at the UAE Tour that ended last week. In fact, it’s the first time that he’s failed to win a sprint stage in a stage race since 2022.

Philipsen has been remarkable at winning stages over the last few years, especially at the Tour de France where sprinters etch their names into immortality. Just ask Mark Cavendish about that.

Last year, Philipsen won three stages but failed to capture the green jersey. He was beaten out by Biniam Girmay who we will talk more about shortly.

Although Philipsen is considered to be an elite sprinter, he sees himself as a Classics’ rider until May. At that point, his focus shifts from trying to win the one-day classics to taking the throne as the sport’s top sprinter.

With that said, Philipsen is taking the starting line at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad for the 5^th time in his career. His best result was 33^rd in 2023. However, what makes him so appealing this weekend is the fact that Alpecin Deceuninck will be riding for him.

Typically, the squad is focused on one of the top Classics’ riders in the world – Mathiue van der Poel. He will not be racing in this year’s Omloop. Additionally, in years past, Philipsen would often finish second or just behind his teammate MVDP in these spring races. So, with the reigns to the team, you have to like his chances to compete for the race win this weekend.

Another reason why I think Philipsen offers value, is the fact that he’s already got a week of racing under his legs. Last year, the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad was his opening race of the season. This year, he entered the UAE Tour and got podium finishes on two stages.

The week-long racing will help Philipsen this weekend as he will be in better form. Last year, after starting off with the Omloop and then the Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne the next day, he rounded into form the next week at Tirreno-Adriatico where he won a stage. He would also win the 2024 Milano-Sanremo a few weeks later.

I think the star sprinter can be a contender for the race win and I love his betting value.

Biniam Girmay +2800

If you are not a fan of Biniam Girmay, then there’s something wrong with you. Girmay burst on the scene a few years ago when he stunned the field by winning the 2022 Gent-Wevelgem. As mentioned above, Girmay then won the green jersey in the Tour de France and became a true star of cycling especially in Africa.

The talented Intermarche-Wanty rider has competed in a few races already this season. Sure, they’re not as tough as the upcoming Classics, but these events allowed Girmay to get in better shape and put miles of racing under his legs.

Although he doesn’t claim to be 100% in form, the Eritrean is completely focused on the Classics and trying to win some of the sport’s most well-known races:

“I’m not at 100% right now, but for this kind of race, with this kind of sprint, I’d be happy to win a stage. But my main goal is to do well in the classics, that’s what I’m working on my form for. I hope to be at my best there.”

Girmay made his Omloop Het Nieuwsblad debut last year and finished 55^th. I expect a far better result for the talented sprinter who is also one of the best hilly riders in the peloton. If he can stay out of trouble, which you can say about most of the cyclists in this race, then I believe the Eritrean will be in contention for the race win by time it’s all said and done.

Top Longshot To Win The Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Jasper Stuyven (+4000) is my top longshot bet to win the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. He won this race in 2020, and still has the overall skillset to win a Classic Race this season as well.

The reason why he’s not listed higher with the sportsbooks is due to how solid his Lidl-Trek team has become. As seen above, Mathias Vacek is most likely going to be the team leader for the Omloop this weekend. So, Stuvyen’s role might require him to ride in support. It’s something that he’s discussed heading into the Classics:

“My role will depend on the specific situation. Mads can always pull out his sprint, a great weapon in the classics. Gent-Wevelgem was a good example, where Mads also finished first. Those are the moments we have to try to aim for.”

Saturday will mark Stuyven’s 10^th appearance in the Omloop. In addition to winning the 2020 edition, he’s also had four other Top 10 finishes. Last year, Stuyven finished 7^th overall. So, he clearly still has the ability to compete with the favorites.

However, it will all come down to Vacek’s legs and if the peloton splits up in the latter portions of the race. That’s why he’s a longshot this year.

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Predictions

I think the oddsmakers were pretty accurate with their pre-race favorites for the Omloop. And, among the favorites, I really like van Aert, Narvaez, Pidcock and Vacek. Yet, I also like Girmay and Philipsen as well. 

If van Aert was in great form coming into this weekend, I would pick the Visma-Lease a Bike rider without any hesitation. But he’s still regaining his form after the bad knee injury he sustained in last year’s Vuelta a Espana.

Nevertheless, I still think van Aert can compete for the win this weekend. It won’t be due to just riding away from the pack like in year’s past. This time around, I see WVA using his strong team to keep him near the front and slingshot WVA to victory. Keep an eye on his teammate Matteo Jorgenson.

The American could easily take the leadership role on the course if van Aert struggles. He will also be the one to help WVA the most along with Tiesj Benoot.

Van Aert showed over his last few road races that he’s getting back to top form. If it weren’t for his teammate Vingegaard needing to win the time trial on the final stage of the Volta ao Algarve last weekend, then van Aert would’ve picked up a victory this year. Instead, he finished second on the final stage of the race.

Let’s also not overlook the fact that he picked up two Cyclocross wins and a second at the World Championships for Cyclocross after returning from his injury. So, with recent Cyclocross success, along a week of road racing under his legs, I believe we see van Aert return to victory at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

If you are uncomfortable taking the betting favorite, then look at Narvaez or Vacek. Also, don’t discount Girmay or Philipsen, especially the latter.

Bet: Wout van Aert (+450)

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Winners

The following is a list of the most recent Omloop Het Nieuwsblad winners: