Last year, Lotte Claes took the best result of her career, outsmarting the top riders to take the win. Will a favourite take back the title this year?
Cor Vos
It’s finally time for the Spring Classics to begin. The Omloop Nieuwsblad is on the tamer side as far as Classics go, but still contains its fair share of cobbles and punchy climbs. In years past, the win has gone to some of the greats: Lucinda Brand, Lizzie Deignan, Annemiek van Vleuten, Anna van der Breggen, Lotte Kopecky, and Marianne Vos. Last year … well, last year was its own story.
After some significant shake-ups in the configuration of teams, the peloton didn’t know what to do when a group of riders made their way off the front of the race and gained over 14 minutes on the bunch. Despite the work done by FDJ-Suez, Demi Vollering’s new team, two riders vied for the win with over three minutes’ gap on the Dutchwoman. After what was an unusual day of racing, Lotte Claes of Arkea-B&B Hotels took the biggest win of her career (so far) ahead of breakmate Aurela Nerlo.
The same mistakes will not be made again by the peloton this year. It’s more likely the race returns to the status quo: the best riders in the race fighting for the win and using the course’s difficult sectors to try to distance their rivals. Look to Kopecky to try to start her year of redemption on the front foot, or Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, who loves a good battle, or even Anna Henderson, whose early season form has shown some promise.
That said, women’s cycling continues to grow and change, and 2026 will be no different. There is no telling what we have coming for us in the Spring Classics, but the Omloop will help to set the scene for the rest of the season to come.
The Basics
When: Saturday, February 28
Where: Ghent to Ninove, 137 km with five cobbled sectors and nine punchy climbs
Live coverage: Europe/UK – TNT/Eurosport/HBOMax starting at 16:00 CET, USA/Canada – FloBikes at 10:00 ET
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