Mathieu van der Pol's spring 2020 classic debut will be postponed after he missed Saturday's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, his Alpecin Phoenix team announced.

The Dutchman, who made his 2020 road debut at last week's Volta Ao Algarve, suffered from the flu and high fever on Wednesday night.

Van der Pol was scheduled to compete in his first career race on the opening weekend before heading to Italy for Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo. He will then compete in the Catalunya Volta, followed by the Doire de Vlaanderen, Tour de Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Brabantspaille, Amstel Gold Race, and La Fleche Wallonne.

Last year, Van der Pol had his most productive spring campaign, winning the GP Dunain, the Doire de Vlaanderen, and the Brabantepailles.

The 25-year-old enjoyed a quiet race in the Algarve and told the Belga news agency on the final day that he plans to win Omloop Het Niesbrod.

"Of course I plan to fight at the front for the win," he said. 'One week makes a big difference for me. The Algarve went better than I expected.

Floris de Thier, who joined from Jumbo Visma, will take over van der Pol's position on the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad team in Alpecin-Phoenix. He joins Algarve Mountain Award winner Dries de Bont and five newcomers Senne Leysen, Christian Sbaralli, Otto Vergheerde, Scott Thwaites, and Petr Vakochu.

There were also changes to Alpecin's Coure Brussel Kuhln lineup, with Sacha Modolo out with the flu and Oscar Riesebeek with an ankle injury; De Bont and Roy Janss replaced the two players, while Svenne Leysen was replaced by Svenne Leysen.