Team Jumbo-Visma (Belgium) - Press Release: Dylan van Baarle has won the 78th edition of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in style. The 30-year-old Dutchman took his first victory for Team Jumbo-Visma after a tour de force in his season opener.

Team Jumbo-Visma started with a well-thought-out plan. This became clear to the riders of other teams about a hundred kilometres before the finish. Even though the steepest hills and most challenging cobblestone sections were yet to come, the Dutch formation caused a stir among the peloton. Fourteen riders were able to form a breakaway group as the pace picked up and the peloton began to show signs of cracks. Among them were Tiesj Benoot, Christophe Laporte, Tim van Dijke, Jan Tratnik, Nathan Van Hooydonck and Van Baarle.

Tratnik and Van Hooydonck held out for a long time, riding in a strong group between the peloton and a seven-man breakaway. This put the Jumbo-Visma team in control of the race and forced the competition to chase. Van Baarle made his move after Van Hooydonck and Laporte’s hard work in the front. He quickly moved up to the group in front.

On the Muur van Geraardsbergen, the winner of Paris-Roubaix, also left the last of his escape companions behind. The competition tried to catch Van Baarle, but their efforts were unsuccessful. With a clear advantage, he crossed the line in the streets of Ninove. A few dozen seconds later, Laporte crossed the line in third.