Teunissen crashed on altitude training in Tenerife and may therefore not be able to race at all this spring.

The course is almost the same as the last three editions. The 200-kilometre long race has nine cobblestone sections and thirteen slopes, including the Muur and the Bosberg. However, recent years have shown that an early breakaway can also lead to victory. “Despite the fact that we have to race without a real leader due to the loss of Mike, we have to race with guts. Halfway through, the cobbled sections and climbs follow each other in quick succession. Just like last year, there will be a lot of hard riding here. We will have to operate as a group so that we can participate in the final”, sports director Arthur van Dongen said.

Olav Kooij, who recently switched from the Jumbo-Visma Development Team to the World Tour team, will make his professional debut in this race. “I am really looking forward to making my debut in the Omloop. It's not exactly the smallest race there is. I haven't raced yet, but I had a good winter. That gives me confidence.” The young rider will not be the only debutant this weekend. Edoardo Affini and Nathan Van Hooydonck will be riding their first race in the yellow-black jersey. Finally, veterans Paul Martens and Maarten Wynants are part of the selection. For both, it is the last edition of the Omloop in their beautiful careers. They will quit professional cycling later this year.