Dutch Jumbo Visma rider, Dylan Van Baarle attacks to win Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Up-and-coming 20-year-old Belgian Arnaud De Lie won a sprint for second place after recovering impressively from a crash, while another Jumbo man Christophe Laporte came third

30-year-old Van Baarle won Paris-Roubaix in 2022 and was second in the World Championships in 2021.

He attacked from a distance of 40k to go, after the penultimate climb, and crossed the line with his arms wide open some 20 seconds ahead of a fast-moving chase group. 

Briton Tom Pidcock was amongst that group, whose combined strengths was not enough to reel in the relentless Dutchman taking his debut Jumbo win.

“I went for it when everyone was struggling,” said Van Baarle, “I saw a moment. It was quite a hard section of the race, so I decided to go.”

“Van Baarle was just the best today,” explained Team UAE man Tim Wellens, “We knew we were never going to catch after he attacked"

The race is the first of a season known as the spring classics — one-day races hotly contested in Europe’s road cycling heartlands.

The opening 129 mile Classics race featured 12 climbs and nine cobbled sections.

The action continues tomorrow with Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.

VIDEO: 2023 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Highlights

2023 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Results

1  VAN BAARLE Dylan Jumbo-Visma 4:54:49
2  DE LIE Arnaud Lotto Dstny 0:20
3  LAPORTE Christophe Jumbo-Visma 0:20
4  KRISTOFF Alexander Uno-X Pro Cycling Team 0:20
5  PIDCOCK Thomas INEOS Grenadiers 0:20
6  BALLERINI Davide Soudal - Quick Step 0:20
7  POLITT Nils BORA - hansgrohe 0:20
8  PASQUALON Andrea Bahrain - Victorious 0:20
9  OLIVEIRA Rui UAE Team Emirates 0:20
10  VANMARCKE Sep Israel - Premier Tech 0:20