Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
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 Edit this at Wikidata
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)

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]

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]

Tom Boonen at the start of the 2009 event
  1. ^ "Omloop Het Nieuwsblad". FirstCycling.com. 2023.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b "UCI expands WorldTour to 37 events". Cycling News. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  4. ^ a b "The UCI reveals expanded UCI WorldTour calendar for 2017". UCI. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  5. ^ "Women's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2020 Preview". ProCyclingUK.com. 25 February 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  6. ^ "Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Elite 2016". Cycling News. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
  7. ^ "Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (Bel) - Cat.1.UWT". Memoire-du-cyclisme.eu (in French).

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