Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Recurring sporting event From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

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 has been part of the UCI World Tour, cycling's top-tier professional events.[3][4]

Quick Facts Race details, Date ...
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
2025 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Thumb
Race details
DateLate February
RegionFlanders, Belgium
Local name(s)Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (Dutch)
Nickname(s)The Omloop
The Opening Classic
DisciplineRoad
CompetitionUCI World Tour
UCI Women's World Tour
TypeOne-day
OrganiserFlanders Classics
Race directorWim Van Herreweghe
Web sitewww.omloophetnieuwsblad.be/en
Men's history
First edition1945 (1945)
Editions80 (as of 2025)
First winner Jean Bogaerts (BEL)
Most wins Joseph Bruyère (BEL)
 Ernest Sterckx (BEL)
 Peter Van Petegem (BEL)
(3 wins each)
Most recent Søren Wærenskjold (NOR)
Women's history
First edition2006 (2006)
Editions20 (as of 2025)
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 Lotte Claes (BEL)
Close

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. The race is named after the newspaper sponsoring the event – Het Volk from 1947 to 2009, and Het Nieuwsblad from 2009 to present.

Since 1950, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad U23, a race for under-23 men has been held on the same day as the men's race.

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] Since 2023, the race is part of the UCI Women's World Tour.[3][4]

Thumb
Tom Boonen at the start of the 2009 event

History

Summarize
Perspective

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] Since 2010, the race has been organised by Flanders Classics. 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, with three editions of the event having been cancelled.[6] 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

Summarize
Perspective
Thumb
Route of the 2015 edition

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad starts in Ghent, East Flanders, and addresses the Flemish Ardennes in the south of the province, featuring numerous short climbs.[18] The race traditionally finished in Ghent, but different finish locations in the region have been used since the 1990s. From 1996 until 2007 the finish was in Lokeren, 20 km east of Ghent. Since 2018, the race has finished in Ninove, a city around 40 km southeast of Ghent. This will remain the case until at least 2028.[19][20]

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 were 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.[21] The finish in Ninove is on the Elisabethlaan, which gradually slopes uphill.[20]

Men's winners

Summarize
Perspective

The following riders have won the race:[22]

Thumb
Podium of the 2008 Omloop Het Volk: Nick Nuyens, Philippe Gilbert and Thor Hushovd.
Thumb
Podium of the 2015 event: Niki Terpstra, winner Ian Stannard and Tom Boonen.
Thumb
2016 podium: Peter Sagan, Greg Van Avermaet and Tiesj Benoot.
More information Year, Country ...
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
2025  Norway Søren Wærenskjold Uno-X Mobility
Close

Multiple winners

Riders in italics are active

More information Wins, Rider ...
Close

Wins per country

More information Wins, Country ...
Close

Women

Summarize
Perspective

Since 2006, there has been 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. Recent editions of the race have been around 125 kilometres (78 mi) to 135 kilometres (84 mi) in length, featuring eight climbs and six sections of cobbles.[23][24] In 2021, the race became part of the UCI Women's ProSeries, before being promoted to the UCI Women's WorldTour in 2023.[25]

As of 2024, Dutch riders Suzanne de Goede, Anna van der Breggen and Annemiek van Vleuten and Sweden's Emma Johansson have won the race twice.[25]

Multiple winners

More information Wins, Rider ...
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
Close

Wins per country

More information Wins, Country ...
Close

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad U23

An edition of the race for under-23 men has been held since 1950.

Notes

  1. The Tour of Flanders is the only cycling classic in Europe that was organized on German-occupied territory during the Second World War and in full agreement with the German command.[8] The Germans not only allowed and enjoyed the race but helped police the route as well.[9] This led to accusations of collaboration with Nazi Germany.[10]
  2. Het Nieuwsblad, as the bigger newspaper, became the name-bearer of the merge.
  3. UCI had given better calendar dates to other Belgian races, prompting Het Volk to call off the race in protest.
  4. Belgian Walschott had given Coppi his wheel, but rules allowed assistance only from team-mates

References and footnotes

Loading related searches...

Wikiwand - on

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.