Route, race analysis, favourites, and predictions for Omloop Nieuwsblad WE 2025
Analysis written by Diego Martin (@calebthemartin)
ANALYSIS OF THE 2026 OMLOOP NIEUWSBLAD WOMEN’S ROUTE
- Schedule: 13:35 - 17:15 (UTC+1, Madrid)
The 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad women’s race is seen as the opening event of both the spring classics season and the cycling season. Neither statement is literally true, but in cycling culture they are. The clichés say it all: with Omloop Nieuwsblad, the season and spring begin.
The 2026 Omloop Nieuwsblad women’s race barely changes its route from 2025. It starts from the 't Kuipke velodrome in Ghent’s Citadelpark and finishes in Ninove. The route has one cobbled sector fewer compared with 2025, but gains one extra climb. In essence, the race remains much the same, especially thanks to the now traditional final sequence starting 15 kilometres from the finish.
As when talking about small municipalities, we have to keep leaning on clichés. Omloop Het Nieuwsblad runs through sacred cycling territory. Between cobbles, climbs and walls, we can draw a line under the period of early‑season dress rehearsals and high‑profile tune‑ups, and we can start to see the first real indications of form.
Many parts of the peloton make their debut here, and it is the first real litmus test. It is time to start guessing, or confirming, who has managed to build a solid winter base and who has not been able – or not wanted – to.
As mentioned, Omloop keeps its start and finish. The route again features small variations compared with previous editions. It trims the cobbled sectors by one and adds one more climb compared with last year. The distance once more comes in at around 138 kilometres.
The balance between cobbled sections and climbs tips this year towards the ascents. There are seven cobbled sectors and nine climbs. In total, 14 key segments, listed below:
| # | Name | Distance | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lange Munte (Pavé) | 2.3 km | ★★ |
| 2 | Edelareberg (Climb) | 1.0 km | ★★ |
| 3 | Holleweg (Pavé) | 0.8 km | ★★ |
| 4 | Wolvenberg (Climb) | 0.6 km | ★★★ |
| 5 | Kerkgate (Pavé) | 1.4 km | ★★★ |
| 6 | Jagerij (Pavé) | 0.9 km | ★★ |
| 7 | Molenberg (Climb & Pavé) | 0.5 km | ★★★★ |
| 8 | Haaghoek (Pavé) | 2.0 km | ★★★★ |
| 9 | Leberg (Climb & Pavé) | 0.9 km | ★★★ |
| 10 | Berendries (Climb) | 0.9 km | ★★★★ |
| 11 | Tenbosse (Climb) | 0.5 km | ★★★ |
| 12 | Parikeberg (Climb) | 0.6 km | ★★★ |
| 13 | Muur–Kapelmuur (Climb & Pavé) | 1.1 km | ★★★★★ |
| 14 | Bosberg (Climb) | 1.0 km | ★★★★ |
Lange Munte will be the first cobbled sector. After that, almost 35 km will pass before the next difficulty, the Edelareberg climb. From then on begins the succession of cobbled sections and ascents that will shape the race.
As is usually the case, the classic final sequence with the Kapelmuur and the Bosberg, just 15.7 and 11.8 kilometres from the finish respectively, is expected to be the race decider.
Before reaching the decisive phase of the race, it is likely that on the Leberg–Tenbosse–Parikeberg sequence the last blank shots will be fired and the outcome of the first spring classic will start to take shape.
The Muur van Geraardsbergen or Kapelmuur is one of the great icons of cycling and the classics. Little can be said about this climb (almost 500 metres at 9.3% average gradient and maximum ramps of 20%) that is not already known.
Its passage is one of the most eagerly awaited moments of the season. Positioning is always key because of what may happen, but if it rains during the race or if the cobbles are wet from the previous day, it becomes even more important – as does the run‑in to Geraardsbergen.
The Bosberg is not an easy effort either, though it stands out for coming so quickly on the heels of the Kapelmuur. Although less than half of the climb is cobbled, it is almost one kilometre long at a 5.8% average gradient and with maximum ramps of 11%.
THE WEATHER
Cool temperatures (9–11ºC) are expected during the running of this opening race of the cycling spring. Although rain is unlikely, we should keep an eye on the last‑minute forecasts on Friday. The wind is expected to blow at moderate strength (an average of 20 km/h and gusts of up to 45 km/h) and to be quite favourable after the final sequence of climbs. It is possible that in some sectors, and with changes of direction on the route, it could be a decisive factor, although we will have to keep watching how the weather develops.
FAVOURITES AND PREDICTIONS FOR THE 2026 OMLOOP NIEUWSBLAD WOMEN’S RACE
Preamble
On two occasions Omloop has been decided in a sprint from a group of around thirty riders. The first time, in 2006, the win went to Suzanne de Goede. The second took longer to arrive and came in 2018, with the Dane Christina Siggaard stepping onto the top of the podium. Although a bunch finish is unlikely, we must consider several top‑level sprinters as favourites for the win – both the best rouleurs suited to these sectors and climbs, and other cards with chances in the event of a large regrouping.
The sprinters
Lorena Wiebes chasing her first big test
The Dutch rider Lorena Wiebes (Team SD Worx Protime) is one of the big favourites to win the Omloop Nieuwsblad women’s race. From her perch as the best sprinter in the peloton, Wiebes has started the year by sweeping the board in the United Arab Emirates.
It is true that more and more teams are publicly discussing how they can try to beat Wiebes and her team in a bunch sprint. But we are in a different scenario here. To win Omloop Nieuwsblad, the Dutch rider must take another step in her progression towards becoming a more complete rider.
Her spring peak, if it exists and in terms of climbing, is probably more focused on Milano–Sanremo, although we should not rule her out for these back‑to‑back efforts. With the Belgian Lotte Kopecky and the Dutch rider Mischa Bredewold, SD Worx has two more reliable cards for different race scenarios.
Other sprinters with chances
The Italian Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) appears as one of the few sprinters capable of challenging the Dutch rider Wiebes for victory in the event of a group finish – a finish that, in almost any case, does not look likely to be too large or truly massed. It is true that she came away empty‑handed from the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, although on the second stage her sprint was compromised by a crash.
Two other cards to consider, should the race end up being decided by a sizeable group, are the Belgian Shari Bossuyt (AG Insurance - Soudal Team) and the Briton Cat Ferguson (Movistar). Before her two‑year suspension, Bossuyt had shown interesting progression in this type of race. She is a rider to be taken into account. As is Ferguson, who makes her debut in this race. She already has two wins in what is likely to be a year in which we see her start to orient or define her profile as a cyclist.
There are many more fast women, but this classic is not a race for everyone. Even if we have not seen them particularly shine here, and it is not the race that suits them best, riders such as the Italian Letizia Paternoster (Liv AlUla Jayco), the Italian Chiara Consonni or the Briton Zoe Bäckstedt (CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto) could be surprise cards if the race does not become too hard and does not completely blow apart after Kapelmuur and Bosberg.
Classics specialists
The best women in one‑day racing are the main favourites for Omloop. Their key part of the calendar begins here – and it is the one we like the most. On 28 February, spring, cycling life, pure and hard cycling, all get underway.
The Dutch rider Demi Vollering (FDJ United-SUEZ) is a strong candidate for the win. She still does not know what it is to win here despite an excellent level and performance in one‑day races. It is true that, compared with some of the very best riders in the peloton, she looks more vulnerable in one‑day races and in this type of effort. But it is also true that she is a major rider. Vollering is not just about Grand Tours or stage races. In la Setmana she acted as both peacemaker and winner. She took the first and last stages, made it clear she wanted to fight, to show herself and to confirm herself. She is in good shape, and it would not be surprising to see her take her first victory in the Omloop Nieuwsblad women’s race.
The Belgian Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx) opens her 2026 campaign. She is a strong contender for the win. Her classics season last year was a disaster for those who insist Kopecky must be everything; bad for those who believe she should dominate every classic left and right; and good for those who accept that she is human. That was the reading Kopecky herself left us with at the SD Worx-Protime team presentation.
Because winning in Flanders, the Ronde van Vlaanderen, is something that should never be downplayed. She won De Ronde, piloted Wiebes in several top‑level races and, even with injuries along the way, for some it was still not enough. Kopecky is one of the best in the peloton, and although 2025 can be improved upon, it was not catastrophic. She still took a lot and showed a lot.
The German Liane Lippert (Movistar) is a firm candidate for the win. It is true that Omloop is a race where we have not yet seen her shine. But she currently has a good turn of legs and is capable of matching the best in these short, sharp efforts. She could use her strong finishing kick to spring a surprise.
Other favourites
There are several teams with at least two solid alternative options. One is SD Worx-Protime (which comes with its four leaders). The Dutch rider Anna van der Breggen knows what it means to win here, but there are question marks: she abandoned in the United Arab Emirates due to illness, and since her comeback we have not yet seen her best version in the classics. The Dutch rider Mischa Bredewold is another candidate for the win. Perhaps she will be the card they play from a possible high‑quality breakaway, or they may prefer to save her for the final sequence.
Another team with several options is Lidl-Trek. The Dutch rider Shirin van Anroij is a card to consider in the finale, as is the Briton Anna Henderson, especially if she goes on the attack or follows moves in the final part of the race.
A newcomer to this race is the Frenchwoman Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly). She makes her Omloop Nieuwsblad debut and, although it may not be her ideal classic, she is a rider who can really give it everything here.
The Dutch rider Thalita de Jong (Human Powered Health) was rejuvenated in 2024 with an almost dream‑like season. She once again found her best version. She was one of the most active riders and showed a good reading of the race. Spring 2024 seemed to continue the positive trend, but a crash at Strade derailed her preparation. Even so, de Jong put together a sensational month of May. At the start of this season in Spain, the Dutch rider left good impressions, despite injuring one of her fingers. Let us hope the injury does not cause her problems and that she can find her way again this spring.
The Briton Josie Nelson (Team Picnic PostNL) is one of the revelations of the little we have seen so far this season. She already handled efforts on hills or short climbs fairly well, and now she has shown us she has the ability to sprint. If you put the two together, perhaps a love for Flanders or the Ardennes will be born. She is a rider to watch. What rider profile will she continue to evolve towards?
Other puncheur‑type and classics riders we should consider are the Austrian Christina Schweinberger (Fenix-Premier Tech), the Dutch rider Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ), the Swede Caroline Andersson (Liv AlUla Jayco), the Italian Letizia Borghesi (AG Insurance-Soudal), the Australian Ruby Roseman-Gannon (Liv AlUla Jayco), the Swiss rider Elise Chabbey (FDJ United - SUEZ), the Pole Kasia Niewiadoma (CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto), and another debutant, the Briton Imogen Wolff (Visma | Lease a Bike).
