Next year Omloop Het Nieuwsblad will return to the Molenberg. Last season the cobbled climb was left out because of road work.

The return of the Molenberg makes the route of the 73rd edition very similar to that of the 2015 edition. As an alternative to well-known decider, the race tackled the easier Boembeke in February but now goes back to the Molenberg which will be the thirteenth and final climb and lead to the finale that has been known for several years.

It is the only major change for the opening race of the Belgian season which will be part of the WorldTour for the first time.

The 73rd edition will be held on Saturday, February 25 and will again start in Ghent and the finish on the slightly rising Emile Clauslaan. Last spring the organizers experimented with the finish area but didn’t like the outcome. Greg Van Avermaet won the race in a power sprint against Peter Sagan.