The mid-week ‘semi-classics’ begin this week with Wednesday’s Ixina GP Oetingen p/b Lotto, an event typically suited to a closely fought sprint among an elite selection of strong-women, or a medium-sized bunch sprint. Regardless, it can go in any direction, as racing is lively, frenetic, and in a constant state of change.

Getting in the thick of this action for CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto will be Rosa Klöser, Joëlle Messemer, Chiara Consonni, Maike van der Duin, Zoe Bäckstedt, and Nastya Kolesava.

With Maike steadily sharpening her form after a fifth place at Omloop van het Hageland and Chiara a former runner-up at GP Oetingen in 2021, the team has plenty of weapons to deploy. Maike shares her thoughts ahead of the race:

“If we look to Hageland, we can have confidence in the team. And I think Oetingen can be a bit of the same kind of racing style. It’s not an easy parcour, with cobbles, cobbled climbs, and smaller climbs, and positoning will be important throughout. The local loops are really technical and tight, so it’s a course for aggressive racing, but again, we can look back to Hageland and take confidence from that. I really like the course because it’s a typical Belgian classic, let’s say, with a bit of everything, so I’m looking forward to it.”

‘Semi-classics’ are respected races that, while not part of the WorldTour, attract top teams and offer riders valuable opportunities to fine-tune their form for the most prestigious outings. Often held mid-week in Belgium, they build hype and provide an extra layer of excitement to the spring calendar.

For the first time, GP Oetingen is levelling up to UCI 1.Pro classification, just one tier below WorldTour status. Originally launched in 2021 as a fresh take on Gooik-Geraardsbergen-Gooik, a race held from 2011 to 2018, its rapid rise in reputation is reflected in the 2025 start list, featuring 12 WorldTeams.

This year’s 128 kilometre course includes 16 cobbled sectors and 1340m of elevation, with the final 60km raced on an inevitably heated finishing circuit. The most decisive section of this 12km loop is often the triple obstacle of the Kasseide (500m) and Opperstebosstraat (1100m) cobbles, followed by the Zavelberg (0.6km at 6.5%), which crests just under two kilometres from the finish in Oetingen – offering the perfect launchpad for all kinds of race-defining moves. 

HOW TO FOLLOW

Ixina GP Oetingen p/b Lotto | UCI 1.Pro | Wednesday March 12 | 127.8km | 1337m elevation | Start 12:30 CET – fastest finish 15:50.

The race will be broadcast live from 14:15 on Proximus Pickx Showcase, Pickx+ Sports 2, and Pickx Sports Pop-up, as well as online via the Pickx livestream. Follow the action with #GPOetingen on X and through the CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto social channels.