Mathieu van der Poel 'locks in' spring cycling schedule: Where is he racing? When will he face rival Tadej Pogacar?
Updated 25/02/2026 at 16:55 GMT
The European road racing season kicks off with Omloop Nieuwsblad on February 28, live on TNT Sports and discovery+. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) will be at the start line and his schedule for the spring has been confirmed by his team. The Dutch rider is set for a meeting with Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) after several thrilling battles in 2025.
Pogacar, Van der Poel, Pedersen - Best finishes from 2025
Video credit: TNT Sports
Mathieu van der Poel has "locked in" his spring cycling schedule, starting with an Omloop Nieuwsblad debut on Saturday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Van der Poel will join Alpecin-Premier Tech team-mate Jasper Philipsen and Visma-Lease a Bike's Wout van Aert at the race, which kicks off the European road racing season.
Omloop Nieuwsblad is followed a day later by Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne (March 1) and then Le Samyn (March 3).
The schedule heats up in March with Strade Bianche (March 7), Paris-Nice (March 8-15), Tirreno-Adriatico (March 9-15), and Milano-Sanremo (March 21).
But where will Van der Poel be riding? And when could he resume his rivalry with Tadej Pogacar after several thrilling battles in 2025?
Where will ‘race-ready’ Van der Poel compete?
Coming off a record eighth cyclo-cross World Championships title, Van der Poel will start his road season at Omloop Nieuwsblad.
He will then take on stage race Tirreno-Adriatico (March 9-15) before defending his Milano-Sanremo title (March 21).
Following the first Monument of the season, he will tackle the E3 Saxo Classic (March 27), In Flanders Fields (previously known as Gent-Wevelgem, March 29), before the Tour of Flanders (April 5) and Paris-Roubaix (April 12).
Confirming that Van der Poel’s schedule is "locked in", his team said on Instagram: "As announced after the Cyclo-cross World Championships, Mathieu van der Poel waited to complete his first training block before making a final decision on his road return.
"After a few solid weeks on the bike, he feels race-ready and will line up at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. His programme largely mirrors last season."
Van der Poel will be aiming for a record-equalling fourth title at Paris-Roubaix.
Where could Van der Poel and Pogacar meet?
The battles between Van der Poel and Pogacar were among the highlights of the 2025 cycling season.
Van der Poel beat Pogacar in a thrilling Milano-Sanremo and also got the better of him at Paris-Roubaix.
The pair clashed again at the Tour de France, with Van der Poel winning a Stage 2 sprint against Pogacar, but the tables being turned on Stage 4.
Pogacar and Van der Poel will go head-to-head early in the 2026 season at Strade Bianche, Milano-Sanremo, Tour of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix.
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'A hat-trick in hell!' - Van der Poel conquers Roubaix cobbles again as Pogacar takes second
Video credit: TNT Sports
Milano-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix are two of the big races missing from Pogacar’s glittering palmares.
He has finished third at Milano-Sanremo for the last two years and was second on his Paris-Roubaix debut in 2025.
Lotto–Intermarche rider Arnaud De Lie has admitted he is set to skip Milano-Sanremo due to the presence of both Pogacar and Van der Poel.
"Unless Pogacar and Van der Poel call in sick five days beforehand, I think I’m making the right choice," he told Het Laatste Nieuws.
"I have to be realistic: with them on the start line, I don’t stand a chance. They ride the Cipressa a minute faster than the rest. Milano–Sanremo is a lost day for me. It’s pointless.
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Pogacar: I say it every year, but this is the best season of my career
Video credit: TNT Sports
"A top 10 is nice, but it doesn’t do much for me beyond that. Right now, I get more satisfaction from a win - for example two days earlier at GP Denain.
"Maybe one day I’ll go back, but…everything in its time. And if it never happens again, I won’t lose sleep over it. There are worse things in life."
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Watch and stream the 2026 cycling season - including the Tour de France in July - live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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