Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Saturday 28 February 2026

Omloop Nieuwsblad powered by Team Visma | Lease a Bike
Omloop Nieuwsblad is an annual one-day road cycling race in Belgium that marks the opening weekend, the beginning of the European professional cycling season. It is known for its challenging course and prestigious status, attracting top riders from around the world. The day after it’s Kuurne Brussels Kuurne, the other event of the opening weekend. The route takes in multiple cobbled climbs and is comparable to the Tour of Flanders as such many riders use this in their preparation, resulting in exciting racing.
Enjoy Omloop Het Nieuwsblad as a guest of one of the best pro cycling teams in the world. Discover the Team Visma | Lease a Bike exclusive programme of VIP packages for a unique cycling experience. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at Team Visma | Lease a Bike and our unparalleled hospitality during the race.
Book your VIP package now and experience the race as a VIP guest! Rouleur travelled with us to Strade Bianche in March 2025, check out the experience here Front row seat: A wild Strade Bianche VIP chase with Sportive Breaks – Rouleur
Want to see what it will be like? Watch this video from Il Lombardia 2024 here.
The 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad will take place on Saturday 28 February 2026. Be warned – places are very limited!
Spread your payments: Our payment plan is an interest-free payment method where you will have the opportunity to spread payment for your booking. We offer the option to pay in the following currencies; £, €, US$, AU$, DKK, SEK & NOK.
Corporate bookings: All our prices include tax. VAT (BTW) invoices are available for businesses. Contact us to find out more – +44 (0) 161 676 0390 | [email protected]
Everything taken care of: Enjoy a fully planned and hosted programme as a guest of Team Visma | Lease a Bike for the day.
Hotel Available: Stay with us for 1 or 2 nights in Oudenaarde and we will take you to and from the start and the finish. Alternatively book the day experience only and make your own way to and from Oudenaarde.
Drive on the race route: Drive on the race route in a TVL vehicle and be part of the support crew. TV screens with live race coverage on board.
Meet the Team: Hosted by the team you will be part of the team’s bid to win Omloop. Visit the team bus before the race, drive in a TVL branded vehicle on the race route hosted by the team, get close to the action at team feed stops, and much more!
Visit the start and finish: Enjoy the start village before the race, lunch and drinks en route and the finish area post-race (the time spent here will depend on how the race develops).
What's Included?

Official Team Visma | Lease a Bike experience
The official ‘in the heart of the race’ experience with Team Visma | Lease a Bike
Pro Race Spectating
You can’t get closer than this. Drive in an official team car on the course and be part of the support team for the day
Meet the Team
Meet the TVL team. The riders, the coaches, the soigneurs, the mechanics and the drivers
Itinerary
The experience starts and finishes at Hotel Leopold in Oudenaarde. You can either book our hotel in Oudenaarde or make your own arrangements to meet us in Oudenaarde.
You will be met by your host and driver for the day who is a former Professional Cyclist who speaks English and Dutch. You will spend the day as a guest of the team in an official TVL minibus equipped with route map, race radio and interior TV screens so we can watch the race live during the day.
On our way to the stage start we will visit the hotel where the team are staying. Here one of the team directors will give you the inside track on the team’s race tactics for the day. After this we make our way to the start location where we will visit the team bus and meet the riders as they prepare for the day ahead. There may even be time for a stroopwafel and a coffee. We will then visit the Start Village and the team paddock before setting off for the day.
You will spend the day with us in an official black and yellow TVL minibus equipped with food, drinks and interior TV screens and race radio so we can watch the stage live during the day*. You will drive on the course of the race on closed roads. You will stop at various points on the race route to watch the riders pass by. Depending on how the race unfolds, you may have the opportunity to watch your host handing out bottles or spare wheels. We will also stop for a lunch break.
We head to the finish area to catch the finale of the race**. Hopefully we can join in with the team celebrations. After the race comes to a close we take you back to Hotel Leopold in Oudenaarde.
*Please note that reception may be affected in certain regions which may affect transmission quality throughout the day.
**Please note that the race finish may not always be seen live due to how the race has developed and road closures.
Age Limit: No children under 12 years old. For children between 12 and 16, please be aware that the experience is a long, all day experience with a lot of travelling. Please make sure they are aware of this before booking.
Omloop Nieuwsblad starts in Ghent and finishes in Ninove, covering around 200km. The race starts at 11:15 in Ghent and the finish will be around 15.45 in Ninove. From Oudenaarde it takes 40 minutes to drive to Gent in the morning and about 30 minutes to get back from Ninove after the finish.
This race is part of the opening weekend that marks the beginning of the spring classics period. The weekend finishes with Kuurne Brussels Kuurne the day after.
2025 Omloop Nieuwsblad
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad took place on Saturday 1 March in 2025. It was the 80th edition for the men’s race. For the women it was the 20th edition. The team presentations took place in ‘t Kuipke in Ghent and the official start was in Meerbeke. First across the line in Ninove were Søren Wærenskjold of Uno-X Mobility and Lotte Claes of Arkea B&B Hotels.
Team Visma | Lease a Bike have a strong recent history in this race having won 3 of the last 4 editions in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Prices and Inclusions
Omloop het Nieuwsblad – Saturday 28 February
- £499 per person for our Team Visma | Lease a Bike Experience
Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne – Sunday 1 March
- £499 per person for our Team Visma | Lease a Bike Experience
Book both races for a discount!
- £899 per person to attend both races
Included with your experience
- The official Team Visma | Lease a Bike ‘in the heart of the race’ experience
- Team Visma | Lease a Bike gift pack
- Meet the riders, support team and witness the work that goes in to a professional bike race
- Visit the team bus, start area and finish area of the race
- Lunch included
- Detailed itinerary
Hotel Prices
- From £130 per person for 1 night, based on two people sharing a twin (2 single beds) and 1 double room (1 bed for couple)
- From £210 per person for 1 night, based on single occupancy of a room
Included with your hotel booking
- 1, 2 or 3 nights at 4* Hotel Leopold in Oudenaarde
- Local expert host
- Breakfast at the hotel
- Detailed itinerary
- ABTA protected
When booking the hotel option, please select your hotel stay before adding one or both race experiences to your booking.
Please note that all advertised elements on race day are subject to change and cannot be guaranteed.
Age Limit: No children under 12 years old. For children between 12 and 16, please be aware that the experience is a long, all day experience with a lot of travelling. Please make sure they are aware of this before booking.
The official ‘in the heart of the race’ experience with Team Visma | Lease a Bike
BOOK NOW
To book an experience with hotel stay, please select "Opening Weekend 2026" below. To book an experience without hotel stay, please select the experience below.
GOT A QUESTION?
Ask our team if you have any questions about the Team Visma | Lease a Bike hospitality experience
Plenty to choose from
Did you know? We offer the biggest selection of European Gran Fondo and Cyclo-Sportive events.
Spread your payments
Our payment plan is an interest-free payment method where you will have the opportunity to spread payment for your booking. *Selected products. Terms and Conditions apply.
You're in safe hands
We have a team of highly experienced professionals who have been organising cycling trips for over 25 years. We are members of ABTA and ATOL, meaning you can book with confidence.
Logistics covered
We know the routes, we know the roads. We know how the event works and the best hotels for the start and finish. We organise everything for you; transfers, bike transport, additional feed stops, rep support and more.
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Hotels
Hotel Leopold is a 4 star boutique hotel located in Oudenaarde, Belgium in the “Flemish Ardennes” and it overlooks the river Schelde. The hotel is located right behind the Tour of Flanders centre. The hotel provides a dedicated space to wash and maintain your bike, ensuring it’s always in top condition. The location of the hotel is just 2 miles/ 3km away from the location of the We Ride Flanders expo and start and finish. On Tour of Flanders day you can walk to see all the action. The women’s pro race starts and finishes in Oudenaarde and the men’s race finishes there. The Leopold Hotel offers a restaurant, bar, terrace, underground paid parking and free public outside parking just opposite the hotel. And they have a safe underground parking for your precious bicycle as well!
FAQs
Meet the Reps

Theo Eltink
About Theo
Theo is a hospitality host for Team Visma | Lease a Bike and has been working for them for 3 years. His professional career spanned 5 years and he rode for the following teams; Rabobank, Skill Shimano.
His top professional results are;
- Tacx Pro Classic/Ronde van Zeeland – 2nd – 2005
- Tour de l’Avenir – Stage win – 2004
- Tour Des Pyrenees-Vuelta A Los Pirineos – Stage win – 2004
- Ronde de l’Isard – Stage win – 2001
- Tour de l’Ain – 2nd on Stage 2 – 2004
Theo’s favourite locations to cycle;
Around Tuscany, especially where Strade Bianche takes place due to the fantastic landscape.
Theo’s favourite races to attend with Team Visma | Lease a Bike;
All the grand tours as I have great memories of all these races.

Maarten Tjallingii
About Maarten
Maarten is a hospitality host for Team Visma | Lease a Bike. His professional career spanned 20 years covering both Road and MTB. He has ridden for the following teams; Vredestein Cannondale, Marco Polo, Skill Shimano, Silence-Lotto, Rabobank, Blanco, Belkin and Lotto Jumbo.
His top cycling results are;
- Tour of Belgium – General Classification – 2006
- Tour of Qinghai Lake – General Classification – 2006
- Tour of Qinghai Lake – Stage win – 2006
- Tour du Faso – General Classification – 2003
- Paris Roubaix – 3rd – 2011
Maarten’s favourite location to cycle;
Cape Town, once you go there you dont want to return home!
Maarten’s favourite race to attend with Team Visma | Lease a Bike;
Paris Roubaix because it brings back good memories of 2011 when I was on the podium at that race.

Eddy Bouwmans
About Eddy
Eddy is a hospitality host for Team Visma | Lease a Bike and has been since 2016. His professional career spanned 8 years from 1990 – 1997 riding for the following teams; Panasonic, Histor Novemail, Novell Software and Foreldorado-Golff.
His top professional results are;
- Classics des Alps – 1993
- Tour de France – Young Rider Classification (White Jersey) – 1992
- Tour de Suisse – Young Rider Classification (White Jersey) – 1990
- Criterium du Dauphine – Stage win – 1993
- Criterium international – Stage win – 1994
- ZLM Tour – GC Win – 1997
Eddy’s favourite locations to cycle;
It was too touch to pick just one place so its one of these three; Italy, France or the Belgium Ardennes.
Eddy’s favourite races to attend with Team Visma | Lease a Bike;
Any Italian race and the Tour de France
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