Fifty-seven days after the crash at the Exact Cross in Mol that cost him a fractured ankle, Wout van Aert will finally return to pinning on his race number and mounting his specialized bike in an official race.

The Belgian, as announced by his team, will indeed be competing this Saturday at the Omloop Nieuwsblad, a Flemish classic that represents the first test of the so-called "Opening Weekend" and conventionally has the honor of inaugurating the period of racing in Belgium.

For his seasonal road debut, therefore, the winner of the 2020 Sanremo, in agreement with his team, has not chosen a secondary stage but a coveted and highly regarded race where selection and top-class rivals will not be lacking. Among these, it is not ruled out that there could also be van Aert's great rival Mathieu van der Poel, who, although he has not yet confirmed his participation, is given as a starter by many for the weekend: if so, at the first outing of 2026 on asphalt for both, that duel would immediately resurface, one that for over a decade has dominated and greatly inflamed cycling enthusiasts.

Obviously, being at the first commitment of the year, both van Aert and MVDP (both recently engaged in preparing for upcoming appointments in Spain) carry with them not a few questions related to their condition, which is why, within the ranks of Visma Lease a Bike, both Saturday and Monday at Le Samyn the Belgian will be supported by potential co-captains such as Matthew Brennan (who after Omloop will also be at the start of Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne) and Christophe Laporte, who, evidently, has recovered from the consequences of the crash that sidelined him at the Vuelta a Andalucia last week and, between Saturday and Monday, will take part one after another in all three one-day races scheduled between Belgium and France.

Here there will also be room for three of the four Italian riders in Richard Plugge's team this year with Edoardo Affini and Filippo Fiorelli who will try to give important support to their respective captains of the day at Omloop and Kuurne respectively, and with Pietro Mattio who will act in support of his teammates for two consecutive days, at the KBK and at Le Samyn.

Below are the choices made by Visma Lease a Bike for the three classics on the calendar Saturday February 28, Sunday March 1 and Monday March 2.

Omloop Nieuwsblad

Wout van Aert

Edoardo Affini

Matthew Brennan

Per Strand Hagenes

Timo Kielich

Christophe Laporte

Axel Zingle

Kuurne - Brussel - Kuurne

Christophe Laporte

Matisse Van Kerckhove

Filippo Fiorelli

Timo Kielich

Pietro Mattio

Matthew Brennan

Axel Zingle

Ename Samyn Classic

Christophe Laporte

Wout van Aert

Loe Van Belle

Matisse Van Kerckhove

Pietro Mattio

Aldo Taillieu

Per Strand Hagenes