The official confirmation has arrived and Mathieu van der Poel will begin his road season at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad this weekend. Following that will be the Italian block with Tirreno-Adriatico and Milano-Sanremo, while he will be absent from Strade Bianche.

After the Cyclocross World Championships, Van der Poel had stated that he would complete an initial training block before making a final decision on his return to the road. After several weeks of targeted preparation, he is now ready and confident to participate in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the opening race of the season in Belgium.

His program for the rest of spring mirrors the structure of last season. Therefore, Tirreno-Adriatico confirms itself as the key stage race in preparation for Milano-Sanremo, the first Monument Classic of the year. The Italian classic traditionally opens the season of Monument Classics and remains one of Van der Poel's main objectives, having already won the Spring Classic.

After Sanremo, attention will shift to the Classics on pavé and we will see him at the E3 Saxo Classic and In Flanders Fields, as preparation for the Tour of Flanders, the second Monument of the year.

Thus the first part of the Dutch champion's season will conclude with Paris-Roubaix, the last Monument Classic on pavé, a race that Van der Poel has already won and which he particularly loves. As for the Grand Tours, Alpecin-Premier Tech is waiting to see how the spring racing block is overcome before making a decision.