A strong line-up for the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, an event traditionally opening the Belgian cycling calendar, has been announced with twenty two teams expected to participate in the race, including eleven World Tour squads.

First among the Flemish classics, often regarded as a perfect preparation event for the Tour of Flanders because of the route including many of its climbs, will be held on Saturday, March 1, and many strong competitors in the likes of Tom Boonen, Jurgen Roelandts, Sylvain Chavanel, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Greg Van Avermaet, Zdenek Stybar, Sep Vanmarcke or the last winner Luca Paolini are expected to stand on the start.

Muro de Grammont will feature among nine other climbs of this edition’s route after three years of absence at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and being omitted for two last seasons in the Tour the Flanders as well. The total number of climbs is lower than in the previous years, but riders will be treated with the sections of pave increased from eight to eleven instead.

The complete line-up for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2014 goes as follows:

World Tour teams: Team Katusha, Lotto Belisol, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, Ag2r-La Mondiale, Belkin Pro Cycling, BMC Racing Team, FDJ, Garmin-Sharp, Team Europcar, Team Giant-Shimano, Team Sky

Pro Continental and Continental teams: Androni-Venezuela, Bretagne-Seche, CCC Polsat Polkowice, Cofidis, IAM Cycling, MTN Qhubeka, Rusvelo, Team NetApp-Endura, Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise, Wanty - Groupe Gobert