After a number of weeks of sun-facing motion in Australia, the Center East, and Iberia to kick off the 2025 racing season, the lads’s and ladies’s pelotons head north this weekend for Opening Weekend and their first date with the cooler climate and cobblestones.
Saturday brings the primary cobbled Vintage of the 12 months within the type of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, a 197km/138km blast over the hills and cobbles of Flanders that incorporates the well-known ascents of the Muur van Geraardsbergen and Bosberg.
For lots of lovers, the races mark the ‘actual’ get started of the season, with previous meets within the sunnier climate traditionally thought to be ‘warm-ups’ for the more severe stuff afterward, even though that is in no way the case at the moment.
Rain, gray skies, and (moderately) low temperatures watch for the lads’s and ladies’s pelotons at Gent’s well-known ‘t Kuipke velodrome on Saturday, whilst the brutal cobbles, in large part untouched in 10 months, are readily available as soon as once more to check the Classics stars.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Sunday’s extra sprinter-friendly Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne would possibly lie some time clear of the most important objectives of the spring, with the Excursion of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix nonetheless lurking six months at some point, then again, the race nonetheless marks crucial a part of the early season. It’s the starting of the Belgian racing season and the primary alternative for the Classics hopefuls to get a large consequence at the board.
With that during thoughts, here is a take a look at our collection of 10 contenders to look at on the males’s and ladies’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
Demi Vollering at Setmana Valenciana together with her new crew (Symbol credit score: Getty Pictures)
Demi Vollering may just now not have began off her season any higher than her total victory on the Setmana Ciclista Volta Femenina de l. a. Comunitat Valenciana. The previous Excursion de France winner switched groups from SD Worx-Protime in 2024 and raced for the primary time within the colors of her new crew FDJ-SUEZ, after what used to be essentially the most mentioned switch within the low season.
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In what’s going to indisputably be an ongoing dialogue matter on peloton dynamics this season, Vollering beat her former teammates Marlen Reusser (now Movistar) and a fresh-out-of-retirement Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime), appearing sturdy early season shape.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad will mark the beginning of Vollering’s long Spring Classics marketing campaign and whilst she has historically ridden in give a boost to of former SD Worx teammates like Lotte Kopecky and Lorena Wiebes, this 12 months may just see her take the reins at FDJ-SUEZ because the crew’s chief.
Her easiest position used to be 2d within the 2022 version, however she used to be additionally 6th in 2024, and thirteenth in 2021, appearing that this race fits her all-rounder strengths. (KF)
Tom Pidcock on the AlUla Excursion (Symbol credit score: Getty Pictures)
The 2 races, then again, are a a ways cry from Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in relation to terrain, climate, and temperature. The chill and conceivable rain would possibly come as a surprise to the gadget following races within the warmth however Pidcock will line as one of the crucial favourites in Gent.
Pidcock’s deliberate agenda for the spring is focussed across the Italian and Ardennes Classics, making Omloop Nieuwsblad his sole cobbled day trip of the approaching months. Given his pair of top-10 finishes previously two editions and his present shape, Pidcock is an actual contender to proceed his profitable run right here. (DO)
Pfeiffer Georgi on the Excursion of Britain in 2024 (Symbol credit score: Getty Pictures)
Since turning professional in 2021, 24-year-old Georgi has step by step established herself as one of the crucial premier Classics forces within the girls’s peloton. Development from a promising base within the junior ranks she’s now ascended to crew management at Picnic-PostNL and will probably be a drive to be reckoned with within the coming months.
At the cobbles so far she has one giant win – on the 2023 Vintage Brugge-De Panne – to her title whilst she additionally mentioned ultimate 12 months’s podium at Paris-Roubaix felt “like a win” following a spring of dangerous good fortune.
Now, along Charlotte Kool and new teammate Marta Cavalli, her Picnic-PostNL crew figures to be a significant participant this March and April. Neither will accompany Georgi at Omloop however she’s in excellent shape following a top-10 end on the UAE Excursion. The indicators glance excellent for her to compare or exceed her 2023 fifth-place end. (DO)
Wout van Aert at Volta ao Algarve (Symbol credit score: Getty Pictures)
Visma-Rent a Motorbike have basked in their very own luck at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad lately profitable the ultimate 3 consecutive editions, whilst additionally striking two riders at the podium within the earlier two years.
Wout van Aert isn’t any exception to the crew’s luck having received the race in 2022 and he completed 3rd ultimate 12 months whilst his then-teammate Jan Tratnik, zipped off the entrance of a spread to overcome Nils Politt (UAE Group Emirates) in Ninove.
Van Aert then went directly to win Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne the next day to come, with Visma-Rent a Motorbike as soon as once more dominating Opening Weekend after Tiesj Benoot received in Kuurne the former 12 months.
Then again, the dynamics of the peloton have shifted with ultimate season’s switch marketplace bringing about vital adjustments together with Tratnik’s transfer to Pink Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. However Van Aert will nonetheless have give a boost to from a formidable crew that incorporates Edoardo Affini, Tiesj Benoot, Matteo Jorgenson, In keeping with Strand Hagenes and new signings Victor Campenaerts and Niklas Behrens.
Van Aert remains to be development his shape after crashing out of the Vuelta a España ultimate September taking much-needed break day to get well from a knee damage. He returned to cyclocross racing on the finish of December and secured two wins after which 2d position on the International Championships, sooner than turning his consideration to street racing at Clásica Jaén. On the contemporary Volta ao Algarve, Van Aert two times completed 7th on degree 3 and degree 4 however admitted that he simply wasn’t sturdy sufficient (but) to fight for the win.
If there have been ever a rider who may just flip his fortune round it’s Wout Van Aert – and he already regarded on his means after taking an sudden 2d position at the ultimate time trial at Volta ao Algarve – so wait for him to drag off a victory in Ninove. (KF)
Lorena Wiebes on the UAE Excursion (Symbol credit score: Getty Pictures)
SD Worx-Protime will start Opening Weekend with out their International Champion Lotte Kopecky, who has opted to begin her season at Milan-San Remo, however they’ll have a cast contender in Lorena Wiebes.
Kopecky has mentioned she is going to compete within the bulk of the hillier Spring Classics later in March and April sooner than turning her consideration to coaching for her GC ambitions on the Excursion de France Femmes.
Wiebes will tackle extra of a dash function within the early season, which she isn’t any stranger too as one of the crucial quickest girls within the peloton and he or she has already received 3 levels on the UAE Excursion. Then again, she has made an effort to reinforce her all-around strengths, specifically on brief and steep climbs, and can divert her consideration slightly to concentrate on the flatter Spring Classics.
The crew can even box a formidable lead-out with the likes of Barbara Guarischi, Femke Markus and Mischa Bredewold, all able to bringing Wiebes to the end line in top place.
Wait for Bredewold to be a 2d card to play for SD Worx-Protime. Having already secured a degree victory at Setmana Valenciana, she may just carry this type into Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. (KF)
Biniam Girmay in 2024 (Symbol credit score: Getty Pictures)
Since bursting onto the scene along with his win at Gent-Wevelgem 3 years in the past, Girmay has usually focussed his Classics efforts later within the spring, skipping Opening Weekend in 2023 and recording fifty fifth and 122nd puts ultimate day out.
This 12 months is also other, even though, with the Eritrean starting his 2025 season in flying shape. He hasn’t but recorded a win on this, his fourth complete season within the WorldTour, however he is slightly been out of the highest 10 in seven race days up to now.
He kicked off his 12 months with fourth and 9th puts in two legs of the Problem Mallorca, sooner than ultimate week taking 6th on the Figueira Champions Vintage. On the Volta ao Algarve, he added 2d and 5th puts to that tally within the bunch sprints on levels 3 and four.
OK, those races are an international clear of the dirt and brutality of the cobbled Classics however Girmay has been on the sharp finish of items to begin his season. His larger objectives – similar to Milan-San Remo, the Excursion of Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix – would possibly lie a way at some point, however there may be each probability he continues his excellent shape in Belgium on the weekend. (DO)
Kasia Niewiadoma at Setmana Ciclista Volta Femenina de l. a. Comunitat Valenciana (Symbol credit score: Getty Pictures)
Niewiadoma loved the most important season of her profession ultimate 12 months, securing without equal prize in biking together with her Excursion de France triumph. The Pole, even though, is excess of only a degree racer, after all.
All through her profession, the 30-year-old Niewiadoma has been probably the greatest Classics riders round, too. Glance no additional than ultimate spring, when she received L. a. Flèche Wallonne, positioned fourth at Strade Bianche and stepped onto the rostrum on the Excursion of Flanders.
She does not but have that massive cobbled Classics win on her palmarès but however Niewiadoma is at all times there or thereabouts. Seven top-10 finishes on the Excursion of Flanders and a 2d position on the Dwars door Vlaanderen discuss to that.
An 18th position on the Setmana Valenciana marked a low-key begin to her 2025 marketing campaign however she’ll head up a powerful Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto squad, with some other Classics big name in new teammate Chiara Consonni additionally within the lineup. In an open box of contenders, Niewiadoma is undoubtedly one to look at. (DO)
Jan Tratnik (Pink Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)
Jan Tratnik at Volta ao Algarve (Symbol credit score: Getty Pictures)
Jan Tratnik will line up because the protecting champion at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad after beating rival Nils Politt in a two-man dash into Ninove ultimate 12 months. This time he may not be dressed in the intense yellow and black of Visma-Rent a Motorbike however as a substitute the extra subdued white and darkish blue colors of Pink Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe.
Regardless of racing for a brand new crew, Tratnik has taken a an identical option to his season, racing at Volta ao Algarve and reuniting with Primož Roglič. Even if ultimate 12 months, he completed 3rd total within the Portuguese race, this 12 months has been racing in give a boost to of teammates and he has spent a lot of the five-day race supporting Roglič’s peak place within the GC.
When he arrives in Gent, then again, he’ll nearly undoubtedly shift right into a management function, dressed in bib no. 1 with complete give a boost to from a crew that incorporates Roger Adrià, Jonas Koch, Oier Lazkano, Mick van Dijke, Tim van Dijke and Jordi Meeus, who received a degree in Algarve. (KF)
Puck Pieterse is about to begin at the street after her cyclocross season (Symbol credit score: Getty Pictures)
Puck Pieterse is likely one of the most fun riders within the peloton and leads a sequence of mountain bikers and off-road consultants, together with Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Rent a Motorbike) and Laura Stigger (SD Worx-Protime) of their a hit crossover to the Girls’s WorldTour.
Pieterse is the reigning elite girls’s cross-country mountain motorbike international champion and ultimate 12 months additionally received a degree in and took the most productive younger rider jersey in her debut Excursion de France.
In 2024, Pieterse began her season at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, completing 8th, after which added seven extra Spring Classics to her racing calendar sooner than turning her consideration again to mountain cycling forward of the Olympic Video games.
This 12 months may just see her racing at the street much more with Fenix-Deceuninck, the entire approach to the tip of April on the Ardennes Classics.
Recent off of a a hit cyclocross marketing campaign, Pieterse brings peak shape into Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Its hilly terrain, cobbled sectors and notoriously chilly and rainy climate also are well-suited to Pieterse’s taste of racing, upload to that her savvy technical and tactical ability, and he or she may just safe some other win in Ninove. (KF)
Jasper Philipsen on the UAE Excursion (Symbol credit score: Getty Pictures)
As ever, the Opening Weekend will probably be lacking Mathieu van der Poel from its all-star lineup of cobbled Classics stars, as a substitute leaving management of Alpecin-Deceuninck within the more-than-capable arms of Jasper Philipsen.
The Belgian has arguably been the highest sprinter on the earth since coming clear of the 2022 Excursion de France with two giant degree wins. Since then, he is added seven extra, a inexperienced jersey, plus Milan-San Remo to his large dash credentials.
Along racking up dash win after dash win; Philipsen has additionally been evolving right into a peak Classics rider in his personal proper. The previous two spring campaigns have observed him win the Vintage Brugge-De Panne two times along with rounding out Alpecin-Deceuninck one-twos at Paris-Roubaix in the back of Van der Poel.
With Opening Weekend having up to now marked his season debut on a number of events, he hasn’t but proven his complete energy at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, however with per week of racing on the UAE Excursion in his legs – and two podium puts in addition – he would possibly hit the bottom working this weekend. (DO)
