 | |
| 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 |
| 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]
- ^ "Omloop Het Nieuwsblad". FirstCycling.com. 2023.
- ^ Barry, Ryan (26 February 2015). "Omloop Het Nieuwsblad marks coming of Belgian spring. Boonen, Wiggins and Cavendish on show at opening weekend". Cyclingnews. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- ^ "UCI expands WorldTour to 37 events". Cycling News. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- ^ "The UCI reveals expanded UCI WorldTour calendar for 2017". UCI. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- ^ "Women's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2020 Preview". ProCyclingUK.com. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
- ^ "Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Elite 2016". Cycling News. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ^ "Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (Bel) - Cat.1.UWT". Memoire-du-cyclisme.eu (in French).