Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Women – LIVE

82 km to go

The lead group led Lotte Claes (Arkea B&B Hotels Women)

The peloton behind the leading groups led by Elynor Bäckstedt of UAE Team ADQ.

94 km to go

The breakaway have reached the Lange Munte cobbled sector.

Crash for Andrea Qasagrande of BePink – Imatra – Bongioanni

101 km to go

The riders have passed the Padestraat and will soon reach the Lange Munte cobbled sector. 

Reminder of the race situation:

Elena Pirrone (Roland), Lotte Claes (Arkea B&B Hotels Women), Aurela Nerlo (Winspace Orange Seal), Julie Stockman (DD Group Pro Cycling Team) and Mieke Docx (Lotto Ladies). 

+ 1’58” 

Valerie Demey (VolkerWessels Women’s Pro Cycling Team) and Andrea Casagranda (BePink – Imatra – Bongioanni)

+ 2’35” 

Giulia Giuliani (Roland) and Beatrice Caudera (BePink – Imatra – Bongioanni) 

+ 3’43” 

Peloton 

112 km to go

There are now two chase groups behind the original break. Valerie Demey (VolkerWessels Women’s Pro Cycling Team) and Andrea Casagranda (BePink – Imatra – Bongioanni) are 1’58” behind the leading group of five while Giulia Giuliani (Roland) and Beatrice Caudera (BePink – Imatra – Bongioanni) are at 2’36”. The peloton is now 3’44” behind the leading five.

Demi Vollering has spent the past few editions of this race either sharing leadership with or working for teammates Lotte Kopecky and Lorena Wiebes. This time she will be leading her new team of FDJ SUEZ assisted by a strong team including Elise Chabbey, can this make the difference and allow her to take her first Omloop victory? 

While we wait for more information on the race situation let’s have a closer look at some of the contenders for the win today.

The gap to the peloton is currently 1’54”.

126 km to go

A breakaway of 5 riders has formed. They are:

Elena Pirrone (Roland), Lotte Claes (Arkea B&B Hotels Women), Aurela Nerlo (Winspace Orange Seal), Julie Stockman (DD Group Pro Cycling Team) and Mieke Docx (Lotto Ladies). 

132 km to go

The first cobbled sector of the day is the Paddestraat which comes after 33.1km of racing.

Official start

The official start has been given, the race is underway!

Neutralised start

The riders are off for the neutral start of the race!

While we wait for the flag to drop, watch as riders pay tribute to former World Champion Chantal van den Broek – Blaak who announced her retirement following the news of her second pregnancy. Van den Broek – Blaak won the 2019 edition of this race.

During the 137.9km race the peloton will tackle eight climbs, including the Berendries, Muur-Kappelmuur, and Bosberg as well as six cobbled sectors. 

While we wait for the riders to take to the start line why not check out the action from the men’s race so far.

We may not have all of 2024’s protagonists racing today but the start list is still packed with top talent. 

Some of the favourites to look out for include 2024 Tour de France Femmes champion Kasia Niewiadoma, Demi Vollering with her new team of FDJ – SUEZ, SD Worx-ProTime’s Lorena Wiebes, as well as Marlen Reusser, who moved to Movistar over the winter, and Fenix-Deceuninck’s Puck Pieterse. 

Click here to read more about the contenders for the 2025 edition. 

While Vos and Kopecky have opted to start their seasons at the inaugural women’s Milano-Sanremo on the 22nd March, Van Anrooij is recovering from iliac artery endofibrosis surgery and Longo Borghini will be back in action at Strade Bianche next weekend after a stellar start to the season at UAE Tour Women. 

Last year’s race was won by Marianne Vos in a four-up sprint between the Dutch rider, 2023 winner Lotte Kopecky and the Lidl-Trek duo of Elisa Longo Borghini and Shirin van Anrooij. None of the top-four riders from 2024 will take to the start line today, however. 

Race conditions

It’s a cloudy but dry day in Gent with very little wind and temperatures of 7 degrees celsius. 

Welcome to Cyclingnews’ live coverage of the 20th edition of the women’s elite Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

Welcome