Even with 3 victories to start out her season from the UAE Excursion, Lorena Wiebes recognizes that “the spring campaign is different” and an evasive victory this Saturday at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Elite Girls would now not best give her a real indication of her race shape but additionally take a look at off a field for a season purpose.
The SD Worx-Protime sprinter proved she used to be the favorite to copy with wins on a couple of flat phases to open the UAE Excursion as she did in 2024. Now not best did she mirror that velocity for the wins on phases 1 and a couple of, however she additionally scored the win on level 4 into Abu Dhabi Breakwater for the primary time in 3 tries.
“The spring campaign is still different from the UAE Tour, though. So those victories in the sprints don’t mean that I will also win the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad just like that,” the reigning Eu highway race champion mentioned in a workforce remark.
“The Omloop het Nieuwsblad is always an exciting race. This feels like the real start of the season. But it is nice to ride those earlier races, as they’re ideal to gain race rhythm. It always remains to be seen how you will perform in the Omloop.”
Since competing at Belgium one-day race, identified for its punch climbs and cobbled sections around the Flemish hills, Wiebes did not snatch a podium till her 5th check out, going 3rd in 2022. She then took 2nd in 2023 earlier than going 9th ultimate yr.
“I hope I can take the top step this time. The race suits me,” she mentioned. “Last year, I didn’t have my best day. After the Muur I tried to ride back to the front, but I was in between both groups.”
Remaining yr used to be a fully other dynamic, as her teammate Lotte Kopecky made the entrance staff and would end 2nd to Marianne Vos (Visma-Hire a Motorbike) in a four-rider bunch dash. Her different teammate, Demi Vollering, now with FDJ-Suez, completed 2nd in a four-rider chase staff that used to be led through Thalita De Jong (Lotto Dstny) and integrated Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) and Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck).
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All of it got here all the way down to positioning at the Muur van Geraardsbergen cobbled climb, which left a couple of kilometres to 1 paved climb at Bosberg earlier than the overall 11.8km to complete in Nivone. However she predicted the workforce would need to be alert as soon as the vast majority of cobble sectors had been finished with 90km to head, and the climbs had been underway.
“it is important to survive the Muur in the leading group. You have to be sharp before the Molenberg,” she mentioned about two of the 8 key climbs at the route. “They are indicating relatively little wind for Saturday for now. That can be an advantage, but equally a disadvantage. It depends on the course of the race.’
This year she will have Mischa Bredewold, Elena Cucchini, Barbara Guarischi, Marta Lach and Femke Markus on the squad. Kopecky is expected to be on the start line the next day at Fenix Omloop van het Hageland along with Anna van der Breggen, while Wiebes will sit that out and resume at the mid-week Le Samyn des Dames then Strade Bianche Women.
‘We come to the start with a different team compared to previous seasons. Of course, with Lotte Kopecky at the start, you have a bit more security, but this is still a very strong team. With Femke Markus, Elena Cecchini and Barbara Guarischi in support, we have three riders who are super at positioning,” she said.
“I expect Mischa Bredewold and Marta Lach to last a long time in the final. Marta strikes me as someone who never gives up and, as a puncher type, is made for the classic spring. Hopefully, we can play our cards right in the final.’
And what about facing former teammates Vollering and Marlen Reusser (Movistar) for the first time this season?
“With my former teammates Demi Vollering and Marlen Reusser, the contest is robust. Lidl-Trek additionally has a robust workforce initially. I see Elisa Balsamo going alongside for a very long time. Kasia Niewiadoma and Puck Pieterse also are some of the favourites. It might be great to overcome them and win the Omloop het Nieuwsblad. Then I in an instant tick off considered one of my objectives this season,” Wiebes admitted.
“In my view, I clearly hope so as to add the Omloop to my palmares. I wish to win a Vintage. I’d additionally love to revel in within the race itself that I made some other step ahead.”
