We’ve been training and racing in Australia, UAE and Spain, but for purists, the season doesn’t truly begin until the flag drops in Belgium. 

Omloop Nieuwsblad traditionally marks the official start of the cycling season proper, and this year is no different. Lining up for this highly anticipated Flemish classics opener are Chiara Consonni, Tiffany Cromwell, Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, Soraya Paladin, Alice Towers, and Maike van der Duin – an exciting and dynamic squad ready to get amongst the frenzied Belgian cycling fanfare.

Last year, Kasia placed 7th, finishing in the second group of four on the road after being distanced on the decisive, cobbled slopes of the hallowed Muur van Geraardsbergen. She returns with an abundance of enthusiasm and motivation after starting her season last week at Setmana Ciclista Valenciana.

“I love classic racing! The quicker I can start them, the better I can get for my target races. Nieuwsblad is very hard, especially in the last two hours. It is just all out on every sector and climb, and you only have the descents to recover. This kind of racing forces you to switch into the fighting mindset needed for the whole spring.”

“I always want to do my best and with that there are some ambitions associated! From past editions, you can see that the winner is decided on the Muur, so I want to get over it in the front – powering through and not just holding onto the nearest wheel for dear life.”

“It was an adjustment to go from winter training into full gas efforts at the start of stage one in Valenciana, but I was getting better with each day. Having two weeks between the last stage and Nieuwsblad has allowed me to fine-tune all the little details that needed more attention.”

After finishing within the top 10 in 2023, Soraya is also eager to be back on the cobbles once more.

“It’s a good race because it’s open to different scenarios – it can be a sprint but it can also be raced really aggressively. I really like the passage on the Muur. We have a strong team here, so I hope to be a part of the games when the real racing starts. If we arrive to a sprint, I hope to also be helpful for our sprinter. Like every race now, I expect it to be very nervous and chaotic, especially because positioning is very important here. Racing as a team and being in the right place at the right time will be crucial.”

The course largely follows the well worn tyre tracks of previous years, starting from the iconic ‘t Kuipke Velodrome where team presentations take on a rousing rockstar atmosphere. The finish in Ninove will also be thrilling – just in a different sort of way. This year, minor deviations allow for the inclusion of the frequently raced Paddestraat cobbles at kilometre 33, and the merciless Holleweg immediately after the Wolvenberg at kilometre 85. These adjustments extend the course from 127.1 km to 137.9 km.

Otherwise, the race includes many of the usual Flandrien suspects: the Molenberg, Berendries, and the final one-two punch of the Muur and the short yet mighty Bosberg. From the top of the Bosberg cobbles, just 15 minutes of fast, tactical racing remain – twisting Belgian concrete slab roads and wide straights leading to the finish.

Tiffany, will start her 12th Nieuwsblad this year, as the women’s race celebrates its 20th anniversary.

“The race has changed a lot since 2013. The course has evolved into almost a mini Tour of Flanders. It used to be a race that started at kilometre 50. There was a block of climbs, both cobbled and tarmac, before finishing with three long, flat cobbled sectors and a flat run-in to the line. Now, the cobbles and climbs are spread throughout, using the old Flanders finale with the Muur and Bosberg before a shorter dash to the finish.”

“It also used to truly be the opening race weekend of the season so there were more unknowns about everyone’s form. Now, we’ve had a month and a half of racing, and people have already had a chance to show themselves.”

As always, it’s destined to be a race that hypes up spectators, both near and afar, setting the racing tone for the spring to come.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Omloop Nieuwsblad | UCI 1.WWT | Saturday March 1 | 137.9km | 1284m elevation | Start 13:20 CET – fastest finish 17:19.

Live coverage begins at 16:00 CET on Sporza, TNT Sports, Discovery+, and Flobikes (North America), with updates available on X via #OHN25 and #OHNwomen, and through CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto social channels.

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