When it comes to Northern Classics, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is known for producing unexpected winners. But Søren Wærenskjold’s victory in the 2025 edition defied all expectations, considering the Norwegian was only included in the Uno-X lineup at the last moment .

The 24-year-old claimed the biggest win in his team's history, prevailing in a sprint over Paul Magnier (Soudal-QuickStep) and Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), the most successful WorldTour rider in 2024.

The victory was so unexpected that Wærenskjold himself waited for official confirmation by radio before starting the celebrations. It was the first time since 2021, when Davide Ballerini won, that the Omloop was decided in a shortened sprint.

A lucky substitution

Called to replace Markus Hoelgard , Wærenskjold made the most of the opportunity. The strong headwind in the final stages favored the sprint finish, a specialty of the Norwegian, former Under 23 world time trial champion.

' It's an incredible feeling, the most important victory of my career. I didn't think it was possible, but it happened,' said the emotional winner. 'In the final I was at the back of the sprinters' group, but I saw a gap on the left and decided to take a risk. It was a gamble that paid off .'

For fantasy cycling , this victory requires a re-evaluation of the Norwegian's value throughout the northern campaign , as he has proven to be a reliable sprinter even in the most demanding races, despite his considerable weight (92.6 kg declared). His value has now risen to 7 fantamillions, but he could prove to be one of the main revelations for the cobblestone classics.