Omloop het Nieuwsblad marks the start of the Classics Season

Dylan van Baarle (Visma-Lease a Bike) and Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) will be the defending champions at the first cobbled Classic of the season. The men will compete over a 202km course and the women over 127.1km in a race that is sure to provide plenty of drama

As usual, Omloop het Nieuwsblad is the first WorldTour race of the year on European soil. For the second year running, the opening classic is also a race of the highest level for the women.

After the start, a ride of 202 km towards the Elisabethlaan in Ninove awaits the men. As usual, the key points in the race are the Haaghoek-Leberg and Muur-Bosberg duos. More of the same for the women, who face an identical finale in their 127 km long opening classic.

There are 12 climbs and nine cobbled sections on the men’s race, and eight climbs and five cobbled areas on the women’s race.

Both races finish with climbs up Muur van Geraardsbergen and Bosberg before a 12km flat ride to the finish.

The men’s edition of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad begins at 11am local time, with a rough finishing time just before 4pm.

The women’s peloton will begin their race at 1:35pm local time, scheduled to finish just after 5pm.

Men's Climbs

Leberg, Kattenberg, Leberg, Hostellerie, Valkenberg, Wolvenberg, Molenberg, Leberg, Berendries, Elverenberg-Vossenhol, Muur-Kapelmuur, Bosberg;

Women’s Climbs

Edelareberg, Wolvenberg, Molenberg, Leberg, Berendries, Elverenberg-Vossenhol, Muur-Kapelmuur, Bosberg

Women's Contenders

For the Women Elite’s race, the star-studded ensemble of Team SD Worx - Protime catches the eye. World champion and title defender Lotte Kopecky will have Demi Vollering and Lorena Wiebes at her side. Her teammates finished second in 2022 and 2023 respectively. Competition comes mainly from the Lidl – Trek camp. As well as 2016 winner Elizabeth Deignan, the American formation is also bringing Italian namesakes Elisa Balsamo and Elisa Longo Borghini to the start.

Also on the provisional start list are the names of the Canyon//SRAM Racing duo Katarzyna Niewiadoma – Tiffany Cromwell, winner in 2013. The women of Movistar Team also know what it is like to stand on the podium of Omloop het Nieuwsblad. Floortje Mackaij was 3rd in 2020. Her Danish teammate Emma Cecilie Norsgaard Bjerg finished one place better in 2021. FDJ-Suez puts forward Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig. Maria Giulia Confalonieri, 3rd in 2018, defends the colours of Uno-X Mobility. UAE Team ADQ is counting on Chiara Consonni and Silvia Persico. Team Visma | Lease a Bike brings Marianne Vos to the start.

Men's Contenders

Team Visma | Lease a Bike managed to win the last two editions of the race with Dylan van Baarle (2023) and Wout van Aert (2022). The duo will be joined by European champion Christophe Laporte and Tiesj Benoot, who have both previously finished third in the opening classic. They will be challenged, among others, by last year's runner-up: Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny).

Lidl-Trek counts on the services of Jasper Stuyven, winner in 2020, and Jonathan Milan. Soudal Quick-Step comes to the start with the trio Julian Alaphilippe, Kasper Asgreen and Yves Lampaert, second in 2020. The provisional start list also contains the names of Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Biniam Girmay (Intermarché - Wanty) and Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers). Matej Mohoric and Tim Wellens will be defending the colours of Bahrain Victorious and UAE Team Emirates respectively.

The countdown to the first cycling party of the year has now definitively begun. Next week we will find out who the successors will be to Dylan van Baarle and Lotte Kopecky.