Omloop Nieuwsblad men's race recap - Mathieu van der Poel dodges carnage, charges to victory in Omloop debut

In his first ever start at Omloop Nieuwsblad at the age of 31, in his first road start of the season, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) came to the fore. The Dutchman powered into the breakaway from 45km out, before riding clear of its remnants on the fabled Muur van Geraardsbergen, and cruising to victory.

The first race of what's become known as 'Opening Weekend' saw a stacked field set out on the 207km course from Ghent to Ninove in Flanders, Belgium. A flurry of attacks eventually formed into a five rider breakaway, consisting of Jelte Krijnsen (Jayco Alula), Alexis Renard (Cofidis), Clement Alleno (Burgo Burpellet BH), Vincent Van Hemelen (Team Flanders Baloise), Alexys Brunel (TotalEnergies.) The quintet settled into a team time trial formation, building a lead over the bunch that topped out at four minutes.

Behind the bunch was beset by incidents which put pay to the hopes of a number of the favourites.

Van der Poel was able to keep clear of the countless crashes that wrecked the chances of riders, including his team-mate Jasper Philipsen. Even when a Tudor Pro Cycling rider slid out directly in front of him, at the start of the Moleneberg, the cyclocross world champion demonstrated his unique abilities to stay upright and barely lose momentum. While those beside him were losing ground, he took the opportunity to leap onto the wheel of a marauding Florian Vermeersch (UAE Team Emirates) and power across with Tim van Dijke in tow to the only three riders remaining just half a minute up ahead.

The trio injected some impetus back into the break, and established a lead that the peloton couldn't hope to bring back. Van der Poel could have gone solo sooner, but ensured the group stayed together as long as it was useful to him. First, he distanced the riders from the original break, before dispensing with Vermeersch and Van Dijke on the Kappelmuur.

By the Bosberg he had the better part of half a minute of advantage, wolfing down the rough, slippery cobbles like they were smooth tarmac. The two chasers did what they could to keep him in sight, but they were only ever in the race for second at best.

Van der Poel could ease up well before Ninnove, sacrificing half of his lead, as Vermeersch and Van Dijke fought to resist the closing peloton. The Belgian had nothing left for a sprint finish, allowing Van Dijke to make it a Dutch 1-2, while Christophe Laporte (Visma-Lease a Bike) was the best of the rest in fourth.

Van der Poel became the first rider to win the Omloop on debut in 25 years. No rider has ever won the race and the Tour of Flanders in the same season, but the Dutchman will look to become the first in five weeks' time.

Not what Visma came for, but probably a satisfactory result in the end.

Florian Vermeersch barely put up a fight, content to finish third.

Van Der Poel surveys the damage. Vermeersch and Van Dijke just about have him in sight but they will not catch him.

Never in this race, but how many times has in been in this position before? Into the outskirts of Ninnove he rides. Behind Red Bull defend Tim Van Dijke's podium place, shutting down every attach.

The pair are working really well together, preventing Van der Poel from extending but not really eating into his lead. Tilting at windmills, comes to mind.

Eighteen seconds quicker than anyone else. That's astonishing. He now has 40 seconds on the two men behind, who themselves have about twenty seconds on a marauding Matteo Trentin, who is on the hunt for a podium place.

The most offensive climb on this course, and so often decisive, but not today. Van der Poel gobbles up the rough paving, and only accident or incident can stop him now.

Having used them up and spat them out, he already has 26 seconds advantage over Van Dijke and Vermeersch.

Vermeersh and Van Dijke are looking okay, but they're no match for Mathieu. He makes the cobbles look bone dry while the rest slip and slide past the chapel.

Vermeersch leads them on to the lower slopes of the famous Muur. Van der Poel takes over as the selection begins. The three from the original break have already been distanced.

A touch of wheels and a domino effect from left to right means even more riders must call it a day. That won't help anyone's chances. Arnaud de Lie is one of those affected, and a few Tudor riders appear to have gone into the ditch.

The race director's car has its wipers and lights on. It's about to get even darker for some of these men.

A spiteful little slope before the road tips down into Geraardsbergen and the showcase Muur. Over the top the gap is still 54 seconds. Will anyone in the bunch have enough left to charge their way across before the Bosberg?

Half a kilometre up through the town of Brakel, it needs real power. Van der Poel lets Vermeersch take over for a bit, playing a canny game, not allowing the group to break up too early.

And even more surprisingly, so is Tom Pidcock. Visma have managed to stop the leaks - the gap to the front is now holding steady at just over one minute, but it doesn't seem to be coming down. Mathieu van der Poel is absolutely motoring. He doesn't care if the others can help him or not.

They're on the radio. Lotto Intermarche have matches to burn too, and it's surely now or never, if they have any hope of bringing the leaders back.