After placing 11th in the unusual unfolding of events at yesterday’s 1.WWT Omloop Nieuwsblad, Maike van der Duin backed it up with a strong 6th place at Omloop van het Hageland.

The second race on the spring classics calendar, Hageland has long served as a follow-up to Omloop Nieuwsblad and underwent significant modernisation ahead of the 2025 edition.

The 135 kilometre outing began with a lively and attentive peloton during the 40km lead-in to the circuit. With nearly five laps to navigate, riders were set to become well-acquainted with the course, though its repetitive nature was bound to take a toll on both physical and mental reserves.

No major differences were made until a dangerous breakaway formed with under 80km to go, featuring several powerful names. Although it was quickly reeled back, it signalled that only the strongest would shine through on the typically unforgiving Belgian terrain. The smattering of punchy climbs, long drags, twists, turns, and cobbles was already weakening riders and wearing down the peloton.

At 50km to go, decisive splits occurred on a tough sector of cobbles, and it was Maike, Chiara Consonni, and Nastya Kolesava riding themselves into a formidable 20-rider group.

The gap to a chasing group hovered between 15-30 seconds until 16km to go, when the intensity ramped up on the 550m Roeselberg climb. This allowed an elite front group of seven, including Maike, to rise above the rest, and proved to be the final race-deciding move.

The ultimate 800m climb of the harsh Kerkstraat saw all riders evenly matched despite attacks from Pieterse (FDC) and van der Breggen (SDW), and the group held a comfortable 35-second gap back to the remnants of the initial groups. Maike hedged her bets by launching her own move in the final kilometres, but a battle of the fastest legs was inevitable.

Among a group of riders with proven sprinting pedigree, Maike ultimately finished in sixth place.

This result marks a promising return to the early season races for the Dutchwoman, who endured a torrid start to 2024 after suffering a broken ankle and family bereavement. As a result, she was unable to challenge in last season’s spring classics, despite strong performances in 2023, including third-place finishes at Gent-Wevelgem and Ronde van Drenthe. Her performances this weekend suggest that she is back knocking on the door of more standout results in 2025.

Next on the team’s calendar is a trip to Italian soil for the prestigious World Tour one-race, Strade Bianche – the southernmost and arguably most adored of the spring classics. Though Paris-Roubaix and Ronde van Vlaanderen might have a few words to say about that claim.