Omloop Het Nieuwsblad steps up into the WorldTour and takes on more importance considering the points on offer as well as the usual prestige associated with the classic cobbled race starting and ending in Ghent.

The race, formerly Omloop Het Volk, takes in many of Belgium’s famous cobbled sectors and climbs. It will mark the first battle together for many of the big classic stars.

Boom, back in the team after racing with Astana in past years, hopes to score quickly. If it should come to a good-sized group sprint then Groenewegen will take control. He has shown in the past that he can handle the Flemish roads. In 2014, the sprinter won the under 23 Tour of Flanders.

The day after, February 26, many of the same cyclists will headthe longest age difference between his first and -so far- latest win in the Vuelta a España (12 years). All of those are now joined by one of Alejandro Valverde’s most impressive achievements in his 15-season career. The 36-year-old from Murcia has made the select group of riders who have obtained 100 or more victories as pro competitors. Within those active at the moment, only Tom Boonen, Mark Cavendish and André Greipel have reached that far.

Alejandro Valverde racing in the 2016 Tour de France

In Spain, Txomin Perurena was the only able to surpass the mark in the 1970s, the unmatched Miguel Indurain just three short of hundred. More relaxed after his fifth Andalucía win and with his sights already set on his next goal, Paris-Nice, we look back