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Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Free Streams: How to watch the first cobbled classic of 2026

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The 81st Omloop Nieuwsblad marks the opening of the Classics season

Mathieu Van Der Poel grimaces as he crosses the finish line as stage 3 winner during the 20th Renewi Tour 2025.
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There have been skirmishes in the desert nations and a plethora of small stage races on the Iberian Peninsula but this is where the warm-up ends and proper racing begins. This is Belgium, and this is the opening weekend.

2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad event preview

The 81st Omloop Nieuwsblad starts, as always, in the city of Ghent and finishes 208 kilometers later in Ninove. Along the way it sees the World Tour teams tackle eight bone-shaking cobbled sectors and 12 punishing climbs including the Eikenberg, the Bosberg and the dreaded Muur-Kapelmuur combo.

With no Mads Pedersen who is out injured or Wout van Aert who has pulled out sick, the favorite tag will be pinned on the shoulders of non other than Mathieu van der Poel. After taking a short break following his triumphant cross season he says he is rested and ready to go which is really bad news for every other rider in the peloton.

With last year coming down to a bunch sprint it's no surprise that this year's field is stacked with sprint talent. The likes of Biniam Girmay, Arnaud De Lie, Jasper Philipsen, and Paul Magnier will all be hoping they can navigate the perils of the cobbles and arrive in Ninove with a chance to flex their legs.

With so many big name sprinters there will be plenty of teams working hard to ensure the race does indeed finish in a bunch kick, so any riders without a powerful sprint such as Tom Pidcock will have to fight tooth and nail if they are to get away.

Coverage starts at 12:00pm GMT / 7:00am ET / 4:00am PT

Read on for everything you need to know to use a VPN to watch a 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad live stream from anywhere.

How to watch the 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad for FREE

You can watch the whole of the 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad for FREE on both VRT Max and Sporza in Belgium and NOS in the Netherlands.

Traveling overseas this weekend? Don’t forget you can use a VPN to watch your usual free service as if you were back home.

Use a VPN to watch a 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad live stream

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How to watch a 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad live stream in the US

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Cycling fans in the US can watch the 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad on FloBikes.

A subscription to FloBikes will set you back US$155.88 for the year or US$39.99 on a monthly basis.

If you're out of the US but still want to watch the 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad then don't forget to explore the VPN route set out above, which will help you access your subscriptions from anywhere.

How to watch a 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad live stream in the UK

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Cycling fans in the UK can watch the 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad on TNT Sports. To access this you'll either need to add it to your TV package, or you can take out a standalone subscription via Discovery+ which will set you back £30.99 per month, though BT Broadband customers can get a discounted rate.

You will also have access to the Premier League, Champions League and Europa League football plus Tour de France cycling, rugby, wrestling, UFC, and MotoGP.

If you're traveling abroad, don't worry, as you can use NordVPN to watch your usual service from overseas.

How to watch a 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad live stream in Canada

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Cycling fans in Canada can watch the 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad on FloBikes. A subscription will set you back CAN$203.88 for the year or CAN$39.99 on a monthly basis.

Not at home? Use NordVPN or another VPN service to make your device think you're still in Canada.

Disclaimer

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

Simon Warren
Simon Warren
Contributor

Simon Warren has been obsessed with cycling since the summer of 1989 after watching Greg Lemond battle Laurent Fignon in the Tour de France. Although not having what it took to beat the best, he found his forte was racing up hills and so began his fascination with steep roads. This resulted in his 2010’s best-selling 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs, followed to date by 14 more guides to vertical pain. Covering the British Isles, Belgium, France, Italy and Spain he has been riding and racing up hills and mountains for over 30 years now. He hosts talks, guides rides, has written columns for magazines and in 2020 released his first book of cycling routes, RIDE BRITAIN. Simon splits his time between working as a graphic designer and running his 100 Climbs brand and lives in Sheffield on the edge of the Peak District with his wife and two children.

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