The official news of Mathieu van der Poel's participation in the Ename Samyn Classic only arrived yesterday, but public success is already guaranteed. Just last Friday, the organizers of the Belgian classic were contacted by Alpecin – Deceuninck and when the news of the Dutch champion's presence was announced yesterday, the cobblestone sections of Quaregnon and Dour Kobe Audenart were immediately filled with campers.

"Alpecin-Deceuninck contacted me on Friday to tell me there was a good chance Mathieu could race with us – explained Philippe Liénart, one of the race's managers - Naturally, I was very excited at that moment, I couldn't believe it. But if I'm being honest, I already knew before the opening weekend of races that Van der Poel would be at the start of our race".

Liénart was already satisfied with his race's starting list without Van der Poel's presence, but now the Dutch champion's participation has given an important media boost and media accreditation requests, as well as the participation of last-minute sponsors, have jammed the organization's phone lines.

"We'll have Paul Magnier and he's a super talent and I think he can finish among the top 5. Then we'll have our Walloon bull, Arnaud De Lie. Sure, he had a bit of bad luck at the Omloop, but I think he'll be super motivated and want to erase Saturday's disappointment".

Liénart naturally expects something important from Van der Poel and doesn't rule out that he might win. "To be clear, Mathieu isn't coming here to have fun. He'll probably win right away. Hofstetter will also be here, who has already won with us, he's a very popular rider and after Sunday's third place, he definitely wants to win something". In 2021, Van der Poel wasn't very lucky in the final part of the race, he had handlebar issues and finished far back, and after 4 years he might be looking for revenge. Regardless of the result, his participation has brought extraordinary interest, and thus success is guaranteed.

"I've received phone calls from the press all day long. What Mathieu is bringing with him for this season's start is not normal. It's obviously an honor to welcome him for his first race day of the year. Moreover, he immediately creates a shock effect among the public. Yesterday morning, campers were already lined up on the cobblestone road of Rue de Belle Vue. It will be a great national celebration for the Carnival finale and we'll also have good weather, what more could we want? All the ingredients are there for a memorable edition".

START LIST

Intermarché - Wanty
1. REX Laurenz
2. ARTZ Huub
3. PETIT Adrien
4. MARIT Arne
5. VAN BOVEN Luca
6. VAN DER HOORN Taco
7. VAN HOECKE Gijs

Arkéa - B&B Hotels
11. SÉNÉCHAL Florian
12. BIERMANS Jenthe
13. CAPIOT Amaury
14. GILLET Baptiste
15. GLOUX Swann
16. MOZZATO Luca
17. HOUCOU Emmanuel

Alpecin - Deceuninck
21. VAN DER POEL Mathieu
22. DEHAIRS Simon
23. GAZE Samuel
24. KIELICH Timo
25. SENTJENS Sente
26. VAN TRICHT Stan
27. BELMANS Lennert

XDS Astana Team
31. FEDOROV Yevgeniy
32. GATE Aaron
33. GAZZOLI Michele
34. KANTER Max
35. ROMELE Alessandro
36. SYRITSA Gleb
37. GONOV Lev

Team Picnic PostNL
41. VAN REES Christiaan
42. BITTNER Pavel
43. EDDY Patrick
44. EDMONDSON Alex
45. GAL Ryan
46. NABERMAN Tim
47. VAN UDEN Casper

Groupama - FDJ
51. BARTHE Cyril
52. ASKEY Lewis
53. LE GAC Olivier
54. LE HUITOUZE Eddy
55. DAVY Clément
56. BOWER Lewis
57. BYSTRØM Sven Erik

Bahrain - Victorious
61. BRUTTOMESSO Alberto
62. BURATTI Nicolò
63. ERMAKOV Roman
64. ERŽEN Žak
65. SKERL Daniel
66. VAN MECHELEN Vlad
67. MIHOLJEVIĆ Fran

Lidl - Trek
71. TEUTENBERG Tim Torn
72. DECLERCQ Tim
73. PEDERSEN Martin
74. EGHOLM Kristian
75. SÖDERQVIST Jakob
76. GRINDLEY Sebastian

Soudal Quick-Step
81. MAGNIER Paul
82. GELDERS Gil
83. BASTIAENS Ayco
84. VANDEN HEEDE Lars
85. SVRČEK Martin
86. VANGHELUWE Warre
87. WARLOP Jordi

Lotto
91. DE LIE Arnaud
92. DE BUYST Jasper
93. DE SCHUYTENEER Steffen
94. SEGAERT Alec
95. BEULLENS Cedric
96. VAN MOER Brent
97. KOCKELMANN Mathieu

Team TotalEnergies
101. BRUNEL Alexys
102. DUJARDIN Sandy
103. GACHIGNARD Thomas
104. JEANNIÈRE Emilien
105. LEROUX Samuel
106. TURGIS Anthony
107. DAUPHIN Florian

Uno-X Mobility
111. RESELL Erik Nordsæter
112. BLUME LEVY William
113. WALLIN Rasmus Bøgh
114. FREDHEIM Stian
115. HVIDEBERG Jonas Iversby
116. PEDERSEN Henrik
117. BLIKRA Erlend

Team Novo Nordisk
121. BEADLE Hamish
122. DE GRAEVE Quinten
123. IRVINE Declan
124. KOPECKÝ Matyáš
125. PERRACCHIONE Alessandro
126. POLI Umberto
127. RIDOLFO Filippo

Euskaltel - Euskadi
131. ISASA Xabier
132. LÓPEZ DE ABETXUKO Andoni
134. HENNEQUIN Paul
135. BONILLO Iker
136. BERASATEGI Xabier
137. MARTÍN Gotzon

Unibet Tietema Rockets
141. HUENS Axel
142. BOMBOI Davide
143. JOHANNINK Jelle
144. BLOEM Joren
145. BUDDING Martijn
146. KUBIŠ Lukáš
147. KOPECKÝ Tomáš

Wagner Bazin WB
151. BARBIER Pierre
152. VERMOOTE Jelle
153. DESAL Ceriel
154. BEZZA Quentin
155. VLIEGEN Loïc
156. RENARD-HAQUIN Henri-François
157. VAN ROOY Kenneth

Team Flanders - Baloise
161. HESTERS Jules
162. CRABBE Tom
163. DEMAN Brem
164. VANHOOF Ward
165. VANDENSTORME Dylan
166. VANDENBRANDEN Noah
167. VERCOUILLIE Victor

Israel Premier Tech Academy
171. HOFSTETTER Hugo
172. VAN ASBROECK Tom
173. VAN TRICHT Floris
174. VERBRUGGHE Jens
175. WATTS Kiaan
176. WOODLIFFE Euan
177. BIBIC Dylan

Van Rysel Roubaix
181. ÄRM Rait
182. ÅRNES Daniel
183. AVOINE Kévin
184. MORIN Emmanuel
185. PLANCKAERT Baptiste
186. TABELLION Valentin
187. THÉOT Killian

Tarteletto - Isorex
191. DUPONT Timothy
192. VERWILT Mauro
193. VANDENBULCKE Alex
194. TEUGELS Lennert
195. DECOTTIGNIES Jordy
196. SANTY Arne
197. CLAEYS Robbe

Team Lotto Kern-Haus PSD Bank
201. HUPPERTZ Joshua
202. COSGROVE Joseph
203. GRUPP Louis
205. KESS Alexandre
206. KÖCH Silas
207. MORANG Mil

BEAT Cycling Club
211. TUSVELD Martijn
212. COPPENS Michiel
213. APPEL Stijn
214. MELLAERTS Robbe
215. PLUTO Mārtiņš
216. DISSEL Bram
217. VAN VEENENDAAL Hidde

Illes Balears Arabay
221. MARÍN José
222. GAMUNDI Joan
223. GONZALEZ Asier Pablo
224. CURTO Edgar
225. LLANERAS Pau
226. RIERA Joan Albert
227. TRUEBA Sergio

VolkerWessels Cycling Team
231. WILLEMS Thimo
232. VERMELTFOORT Coen
233. DAEMEN Stijn
234. DE JONG Timo
235. HAEST Jasper
236. KROONEN Max
237. MARSMAN Tim