The Omloop van het Houtland is a flat 189.6 km one-day race in the West Flanders heartland, departing Zedelgem and finishing in Lichtervelde. The profile offers no meaningful climbing challenge, making this a sprinter's race decided in the final straight — though the classic Belgian roads and potential crosswinds can disrupt weaker lead-out trains. As a 1.1-ranked event, it attracts a strong regional and professional field with several top sprinters targeting this as a peak-form objective.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Tim Merlier stands alone at the top of this market. Five wins in similar-profile races recently — including multiple Tour de France stages and the Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen — demonstrate a level of sprint dominance that no one else in this field can match. He has the best sprint in the startlist, an elite lead-out behind him, and a schedule that places this race squarely in his target window.
Soudal Quick-Step
Soudal Quick-Step
Tim Merlier is the overwhelming favorite here: he has won five similar-profile races recently, including stage 1 of the Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen, stage 2 of the Tour of Britain, and stages 7, 8, and 12 of the Tour de France, making him the most dominant sprinter in this field by a significant margin. His sprint is the highest in the startlist and he lines up backed by a strong Soudal Quick-Step lead-out.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Arnaud De Lie is the rider most likely to beat Merlier if anyone does: he is a powerful all-round sprinter who is particularly dangerous on lumpy Belgian roads, and Lotto Intermarché are clearly targeting this race. Milan Fretin sits alongside him after winning and landing multiple top finishes in similar races recently, and his appearance on his own upcoming schedule list confirms this is a priority outing.
Lotto Intermarché
Lotto Intermarché
Arnaud De Lie is the most credible threat to Merlier, combining elite sprint ability with excellent cobbles and hills credentials that suit a Belgian semi-classic perfectly. His upcoming schedule includes the Lotto Omloop van het Houtland, signalling team priority, and he is the natural leader for Lotto Intermarché on home roads.
Cofidis
Cofidis
Milan Fretin has shown sharp recent form on flat profiles, winning stage 1 of the Tour Poitou-Charentes and landing two top-3s and four top-5s in similar races. He is listed specifically for this race in his upcoming schedule, confirming team intent, and his sprint makes him one of the most dangerous finishers in the field outside the top two.
★★
Dark Horses
Dylan Groenewegen, Pascal Ackermann, and Ethan Vernon form a second tier of proven finishers with recent form on flat profiles. All three have the raw speed to podium and benefit from teams capable of organising a late lead-out. They are most likely to capitalise if Merlier or De Lie are caught in a late crash or poor positioning.
Unibet Rose
Unibet Rose
Dylan Groenewegen remains a proven top-level sprinter and recorded a top-3 in a similar-profile race recently, showing he still has the finishing speed to contest a flat Belgian finish. He may lack the same team support as Merlier or De Lie, but on a straightforward sprint course his class cannot be discounted.
NSN Cycling
NSN Cycling
Ethan Vernon has a top-3 and three top-5 finishes in similar-profile races recently, reflecting genuine flat-race punch, and his upcoming schedule includes the Flandrien Classic and Gooikse pijl, suggesting active race form in this period. He provides NSN Cycling with a genuine card to play in the sprint.
Jayco AlUla
Jayco AlUla
Pascal Ackermann is one of the cleanest pure sprinters in this field and has two top-10 finishes in similar-profile races recently, showing consistent presence at the front. His Jayco AlUla squad will have the numbers to deliver him to a late-race sprint, and his upcoming schedule points to the Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen corridor of racing.
★
Ones to Watch
Jason Tesson, Arvid de Kleijn, Laurenz Rex, and Joshua Giddings are the four outsiders with genuine credentials. Each has at least one win or top-3 in a similar-profile race recently, and all could profit from a disrupted or fragmented sprint. They represent quality value picks for CycloDraft managers willing to back a non-favourite outcome.
Tudor Pro Cycling
Tudor Pro Cycling
Arvid de Kleijn has two top-5 finishes in similar-profile races and his upcoming schedule targets the Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen corridor, indicating he is in a strong block of racing. Tudor has depth to lead him out and he is a reliable finisher capable of sneaking a podium if the bigger names neutralise each other.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Jason Tesson won stage 2 of the Tour Poitou-Charentes recently and has two top-3 finishes in similar races, proving he can beat quality fields in flat finishes when the sprint opens for him. He is an intriguing outsider if his TotalEnergies lead-out can set him up correctly.
Lotto Intermarché
Lotto Intermarché
Joshua Giddings won stage 1 of the Tour of Taihu Lake recently and has three top-3 finishes in similar-profile races, which is an impressive recent strike rate for a rider at this level. He is worth monitoring as an outsider for Lotto Intermarché who could benefit from De Lie drawing attention in the sprint.
Soudal Quick-Step
Soudal Quick-Step
Laurenz Rex carries the highest cobbles rating among the support-level sprinters and posted a top-3 in a similar-profile race recently, making him a genuine danger if Soudal Quick-Step's lead-out falls apart and a more selective finale develops. His ability on rough Belgian roads adds a layer of tactical value.
Verdict
Tim Merlier is the clear top favorite: his recent win tally in similar races is unmatched in this field and Soudal Quick-Step will be committed to delivering him to the finish. Arnaud De Lie is the main danger, with Milan Fretin and Dylan Groenewegen also capable of causing an upset if the sprint fractures.