Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Race details
Date	Late February
Region	Flanders, Belgium
Local name(s)	Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (Dutch)
Nickname(s)	The Omloop ; The Opening Classic
Discipline	Road
Competition	UCI World Tour
Type	One-day
Organiser	Flanders Classics
Race director	Wim Van Herreweghe
Web site	www.omloophetnieuwsblad.be/en
Men's history
First edition	1945
Editions	77 (as of 2024)
First winner	Jean Bogaerts (BEL)
Most wins	Joseph Bruyère (BEL); Ernest Sterckx (BEL); Peter Van Petegem (BEL); (3 wins each)
Most recent	Jan Tratnik (SVN)
Women's history
First edition	2006
Editions	19 (as of 2024)
First winner	Suzanne de Goede (NED)
Most wins	Suzanne de Goede (NED); Emma Johansson (SWE); Anna van der Breggen (NED); Annemiek van Vleuten (NED); (2 wins each)
Most recent	Marianne Vos (NED)

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, previously Omloop Het Volk, is a one-day road cycling race in Belgium, held annually in late February.^[1] It is the opening event of the Belgian cycling season, as well as the first race of the year in Northwestern Europe, and holds significant prestige because of it.^[2] Since 2017, the race is part of the UCI World Tour, cycling's top-tier professional events.^[3]^[4]

The race starts in Ghent, Flanders and finishes in Ninove, Flanders.^[5] The race route covers the hills in the Flemish Ardennes, marking the start of the cobbled classics season in Europe. Due to its early calendar date, it is characterized by often cold weather, coming as a contrast to the early-season stage races in the Middle East and Southern Europe.^[6] The day after the Omloop, Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne completes the opening weekend.

Since 2006, a women's edition of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is held on the same day as the men's race, also starting in Ghent and finishing in Ninove, approximately 130 kilometres in distance. Both events are organized by Flanders Classics.^[7]

History

Omloop Het Volk

First held in 1945, the race was called Omloop van Vlaanderen ("Circuit of Flanders"). The event was initiated by Flemish newspaper Het Volk, in response to rivaling newspaper Het Nieuwsblad's classic, the Tour of Flanders. Het Volk, of left-leaning publication, wanted to start a new cycling event in Flanders as a rival race to what it saw as the Tour of Flanders' closeness to the Nazis during World War II.^[a]^[11] The Ronde's organizers protested that the name was too close to their own – there is little semantic difference between "Ronde" and "Omloop". The Belgian cycling federation demanded Het Volk to change the name of the event, prompting Het Volk to serve as title sponsor of their own race.^[12]^[13] In 2009 the former rival newspapers Het Volk and Het Nieuwsblad merged, causing the event to be renamed Omloop Het Nieuwsblad for its 64th edition.^[b]^[14] Until 2016, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad was ranked as a 1.HC event of the UCI Europe Tour; since 2017, it is included in the UCI World Tour.^[3]

Winter race

Due to its early-season calendar date, the race has occasionally been affected by cold and wintry conditions.^[6] Three editions of the event were cancelled. The 1971 race was postponed due to snow and run three weeks later. In 1986 and 2004 organizers were forced to cancel the race, as snow and freezing temperatures had made the route too dangerous and riders' safety could not be guaranteed.^[15]^[16]^[17] In modern times, organizers rely heavily on weather forecasts and adjust the course if some sectors are deemed unsafe. Unrelated to the weather, the 1960 race was cancelled following a disagreement between the organizers and cycling's ruling body UCI.^[c]

Belgian opening race

Traditionally the opening event of the Belgian cycling season, the race holds particular importance for Belgian cyclists. Throughout its history, Belgian riders, comfortable with cold weather and aided by large, supportive crowds, have dominated the race. Belgians have won 56 editions, although, exemplary for the growing international status of the race, they have only won four of the last ten editions. In 1948 Italian cycling icon Fausto Coppi won the race, but was disqualified for receiving an illegal wheel-change.^[d]

The record for wins is three, shared by Joseph Bruyère, Ernest Sterckx and Peter van Petegem. Bruyère holds the fastest average (43.35 km/h) for his 1975 win. Other notable winners include Eddy Merckx, Roger De Vlaeminck, Freddy Maertens, Johan Museeuw, Philippe Gilbert and Thor Hushovd.

Route

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad starts in Ghent, East Flanders, and addresses the Flemish Ardennes in the south of the province, featuring numerous short climbs, before returning to Ghent.^[18] From 1996 until 2007 the finish was in Lokeren, 20 km east of Ghent.

At 200 kilometres and with 13 climbs in the hill zone, the course is challenging and arduous. Additionally, there are several flat stretches of cobbles.^[6] Despite annual changes, some of the regular climbs in the Omloop are the Leberg, Berendries, Taaienberg, Muur van Geraardsbergen, Eikenberg and Molenberg. Due to its hilly course in the Flemish Ardennes, the race is similar in nature to the Tour of Flanders, and is often used in preparation for the bigger event five weeks later. The 2016 race featured one new climb, Boembekeberg, as a replacement for the Molenberg, which was skipped because of road works.^[18] This was reversed for the 2017 race.

Both the official start and finish are traditionally on Ghent's largest square, Sint-Pietersplein. Every seven years however, when Easter comes early in the year, the square is booked for the annual Mid-Lent fair and organizers need to find different locations. In 2016 and 2017, the Citadel city park, next to the Kuipke velodrome, served as start location. The finish was on the Emile Clauslaan thoroughfare, near the starting place.^[19]

Men's winners

The following riders have won the race:^[20]

Podium of the 2008 Omloop Het Volk: Nick Nuyens, Philippe Gilbert and Thor Hushovd.

Year	Country	Rider	Team
↓ "Omloop van Vlaanderen" ↓
1945	Belgium	Jean Bogaerts	Alcyon–Dunlop
1946	Belgium	André Pieters	Alcyon–Dunlop
↓ "Omloop Het Volk" ↓
1947	Belgium	Albert Sercu	Bertin–Wolber
1948	Belgium	Sylvain Grysolle	Zircon
1949	Belgium	André Declerck	Bertin–Wolber
1950	Belgium	André Declerck	Bertin–Wolber
1951	Belgium	Jean Bogaerts	Starnord–Wolber
1952	Belgium	Ernest Sterckx	L'Avenir
1953	Belgium	Ernest Sterckx	L'Avenir
1954	Belgium	Karel De Baere	Mercier–BP–Hutchinson
1955	Belgium	Lode Anthonis	L'Avenir
1956	Belgium	Ernest Sterckx	L'Avenir
1957	Belgium	Norbert Kerckhove	Faema–Guerra
1958	Belgium	Joseph Planckaert	Carpano
1959	Ireland	Seamus Elliott	Helyett–Fynsec
1960	No race due to disagreement between organisation and UCI
1961	Belgium	Arthur De Cabooter	Groene Leeuw–Sinalco–SAS
1962	Belgium	Robert De Middeleir	Wiel's–Groene Leeuw
1963	Belgium	René Van Meenen	Wiel's–Groene Leeuw
1964	Belgium	Frans Melckenbeek	Mercier–BP–Hutchinson
1965	Belgium	Noël De Pauw	Solo–Superia
1966	Netherlands	Jo de Roo	Televizier–Batavus
1967	Belgium	Willy Vekemans	Goldor–Gerka
1968	Belgium	Herman Van Springel	Mann–Grundig
1969	Belgium	Roger De Vlaeminck	Flandria–De Clerck–Krüger
1970	Belgium	Frans Verbeeck	Geens–Watney
1971	Belgium	Eddy Merckx	Molteni
1972	Belgium	Frans Verbeeck	Watney–Avia
1973	Belgium	Eddy Merckx	Molteni
1974	Belgium	Joseph Bruyère	Molteni
1975	Belgium	Joseph Bruyère	Molteni-RYC
1976	Belgium	Willem Peeters	IJsboerke–Colnago
1977	Belgium	Freddy Maertens	Flandria–Velda–Latina Assicurazioni
1978	Belgium	Freddy Maertens	Flandria–Velda–Lano
1979	Belgium	Roger De Vlaeminck	Gis Gelati
1980	Belgium	Joseph Bruyère	Marc-Carlos-V.R.D.
1981	Netherlands	Jan Raas	TI–Raleigh–Creda
1982	Belgium	Alfons De Wolf	Vermeer Thijs
1983	Belgium	Alfons De Wolf	Bianchi–Piaggio
1984	Belgium	Eddy Planckaert	Panasonic
1985	Belgium	Eddy Planckaert	Panasonic
1986	No race due to snow
1987	Netherlands	Teun van Vliet	Panasonic
1988	Belgium	Ronny Van Holen	Roland
1989	Belgium	Etienne De Wilde	Histor–Sigma
1990	Belgium	Johan Capiot	TVM
1991	Germany	Andreas Kappes	Toshiba–Look
1992	Belgium	Johan Capiot	TVM–Sanyo
1993	Belgium	Wilfried Nelissen	Novemail–Histor–Laser Computer
1994	Belgium	Wilfried Nelissen	Novemail–Histor–Laser Computer
1995	Italy	Franco Ballerini	Mapei–GB–Latexco
1996	Belgium	Tom Steels	Mapei–GB
1997	Belgium	Peter Van Petegem	TVM–Farm Frites
1998	Belgium	Peter Van Petegem	TVM–Farm Frites
1999	Belgium	Frank Vandenbroucke	Cofidis
2000	Belgium	Johan Museeuw	Mapei–Quick-Step
2001	Italy	Michele Bartoli	Mapei–Quick-Step
2002	Belgium	Peter Van Petegem	Lotto–Adecco
2003	Belgium	Johan Museeuw	Quick-Step–Davitamon
2004	No race due to snow
2005	Belgium	Nick Nuyens	Quick-Step–Innergetic
2006	Belgium	Philippe Gilbert	Française des Jeux
2007	Italy	Filippo Pozzato	Liquigas
2008	Belgium	Philippe Gilbert	Française des Jeux
↓ "Omloop Het Nieuwsblad" ↓
2009	Norway	Thor Hushovd	Cervélo TestTeam
2010	Spain	Juan Antonio Flecha	Team Sky
2011	Netherlands	Sebastian Langeveld	Rabobank
2012	Belgium	Sep Vanmarcke	Garmin–Barracuda
2013	Italy	Luca Paolini	Team Katusha
2014	Great Britain	Ian Stannard	Team Sky
2015	Great Britain	Ian Stannard	Team Sky
2016	Belgium	Greg Van Avermaet	BMC Racing Team
2017	Belgium	Greg Van Avermaet	BMC Racing Team
2018	Denmark	Michael Valgren	Astana
2019	Czech Republic	Zdeněk Štybar	Deceuninck–Quick-Step
2020	Belgium	Jasper Stuyven	Trek–Segafredo
2021	Italy	Davide Ballerini	Deceuninck–Quick-Step
2022	Belgium	Wout van Aert	Team Jumbo–Visma
2023	Netherlands	Dylan van Baarle	Team Jumbo–Visma
2024	Slovenia	Jan Tratnik	Visma–Lease a Bike

Multiple winners

Riders in italics are active

Wins	Rider	Editions
3	Ernest Sterckx (BEL)	1952, 1953, 1956
	Joseph Bruyère (BEL)	1974, 1975, 1980
	Peter Van Petegem (BEL)	1997, 1998, 2002
2	Jean Bogaerts (BEL)	1945, 1951
	André Declerck (BEL)	1949, 1950
	Frans Verbeeck (BEL)	1970, 1972
	Eddy Merckx (BEL)	1971, 1973
	Freddy Maertens (BEL)	1977, 1978
	Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL)	1969, 1979
	Fons De Wolf (BEL)	1982, 1983
	Eddy Planckaert (BEL)	1984, 1985
	Johan Capiot (BEL)	1990, 1992
	Wilfried Nelissen (BEL)	1993, 1994
	Johan Museeuw (BEL)	2000, 2003
	Philippe Gilbert (BEL)	2006, 2008
	Ian Stannard (GBR)	2014, 2015
	Greg Van Avermaet (BEL)	2016, 2017

Wins per country

Wins	Country
58	Belgium
5	Italy
5	Netherlands
2	Great Britain
1	Czech Republic
	Denmark
	Germany
	Ireland
	Norway
	Slovenia
	Spain

Women

Since 2006 there is a women's version of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Held on the same day as the men's event, it uses much of the same roads and equally opens the women's cycling season in Northern Europe. In recent editions the route is 122 km, featuring eight climbs and six sections of cobbles.^[21] The race became part of the UCI Women's WorldTour in 2023. As of 2022^[update], Dutch riders Suzanne de Goede, Anna van der Breggen and Annemiek van Vleuten and Sweden's Emma Johansson have won the race twice.

Edition	Winner	Second	Third
"Omloop Het Volk"
2006	Suzanne de Goede	Mirjam Melchers	Tanja Hennes
2007	Mie Lacota	Monica Holler	Jaccolien Wallaard
2008	Kirsten Wild	Angela Brodtka	Emma Johansson
"Omloop Het Nieuwsblad"
2009	Suzanne de Goede	Noemi Cantele	Kelly Druyts
2010	Emma Johansson	Liesbet De Vocht	Grace Verbeke
2011	Emma Johansson	Andrea Bosman	Chantal Blaak
2012	Loes Gunnewijk	Ellen van Dijk	Trixi Worrack
2013	Tiffany Cromwell	Megan Guarnier	Emma Johansson
2014	Amy Pieters	Emma Johansson	Lizzie Armitstead
2015	Anna van der Breggen	Ellen van Dijk	Lizzie Armitstead
2016	Lizzie Armitstead	Chantal Blaak	Tiffany Cromwell
2017	Lucinda Brand	Chantal Blaak	Annemiek van Vleuten
2018	Christina Siggaard	Alexis Ryan	Maria Giulia Confalonieri
2019	Chantal Blaak	Marta Bastianelli	Jip van den Bos
2020	Annemiek van Vleuten	Marta Bastianelli	Floortje Mackaij
2021	Anna van der Breggen	Emma Norsgaard Jørgensen	Amy Pieters
2022	Annemiek van Vleuten	Demi Vollering	Lorena Wiebes
2023	Lotte Kopecky	Lorena Wiebes	Marta Bastianelli
2024	Marianne Vos	Lotte Kopecky	Elisa Longo Borghini

Multiple winners

Wins	Rider	Editions
2	Suzanne de Goede (NED)	2006, 2009
	Emma Johansson (SWE)	2010, 2011
	Anna van der Breggen (NED)	2015, 2021
	Annemiek van Vleuten (NED)	2020, 2022

Wins per country

Wins	Country
12	Netherlands
2	Denmark
2	Sweden
1	Australia
	Belgium
	Great Britain