The 2025 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad delivered an unexpected yet thrilling conclusion, as Søren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) stormed to victory in a reduced bunch sprint, defeating Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck).

At just 24 years old, Wærenskjold claimed his first-ever WorldTour win, marking a historic moment for the Norwegian and his Uno-X team. 

"I'm pinching myself, I came to Belgium for Sunday's race and this one rarely ends in a sprint," said the 6ft 2in (191cm) winner.

Wout Van Aert Never Felt Right

Wout van Aert said, "I feel quite tired. It was not a race what I hoped for, and I felt like never being really in contention, just missing the feeling that you need for a classic like this". 

He noted a "weird pace in the bunch," attributing it to the headwind and a lack of teams willing to take responsibility. Van Aert added, "It was our tactic to make the race hard, and we never came to the point that we could do that". Regarding his form, he concluded, "Today [was] not good enough, but yeah, tomorrow is another day."

Tom Pidcock Caught Out In Omloop

Tom Pidcock said after Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2025 that, "the race looked very tactical, with a big bunch." He noted that "Alpecin did a really strong ride today controlling the race, and it was not really anywhere to go," so he saved himself for the Muur and Bosberg. Pidcock mentioned he entered the Muur too far back, noting that he usually goes into it in a little group off the front and also remarked that the descent is quite scary.

Pidcock said that physically he felt "pretty good" and "quite fresh, but there not really anything I can do there." He was a bit disappointed but also somewhat expected the outcome." He wasn't surprised that the race stayed together longer than expected, attributing it to the high level of riders, good winter preparation, and the weather not being too cold.

Regarding his team, Pidcock acknowledged "it was difficult with a lot of guys that I've never raced with before" and "they need to learn how each other works". He mentioned that Fred crashed in the feed zone but carried on despite not feeling great. Overall, Pidcock viewed the day as "a positive day but noted there's room for improvement."

Stefan Küng's Brave Move Falls Short

The race had been shaped by a long-range solo move from Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ), who attacked with over 10 kilometers remaining. The Swiss powerhouse quickly opened a gap and seemed poised to hold off the peloton. But as the chase ramped up behind, Küng’s advantage dwindled, and he was finally caught with just two kilometers to go, setting up a sprint showdown in Ninove.

With fast men like Philipsen and Magnier in the mix, many expected a big-name sprinter to take the win. But Wærenskjold had other plans. The Norwegian launched his sprint perfectly, powering past Magnier and Philipsen in a tight finish to secure the biggest victory of his career.

Uno-X Mobility Makes A Statement

For Wout van Aert, the day ended in disappointment. The pre-race favorite had positioned himself well, but in the chaotic final kilometers, he found himself boxed in and unable to contest the sprint. Matteo Jorgenson, meanwhile, was present in the decisive moves but ultimately didn’t have the legs to influence the finale.

Wærenskjold’s victory is a major moment for Uno-X Mobility, proving that the Norwegian squad can go toe-to-toe with the biggest WorldTour teams in the cobbled Classics. With the likes of Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix ahead, Wærenskjold has announced himself as a serious contender.

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is just the beginning of the cobbled season, with Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne up next, followed by the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem as the bigger battles for Flanders and Roubaix loom. With Van Aert, Van der Poel, and Pidcock set to ramp up their form in the coming weeks, the race for Classics supremacy is just getting started.

But today, the spotlight belongs to Søren Wærenskjold, who delivered one of the biggest surprises of the season and proved that the next generation of Classics riders is ready to take center stage.

Watch The Full Replay Of The Men's 2025 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Race