Omloop Het Nieuwsblad#Women

First held in 1945, the race was called Omloop van Vlaanderen ("Circuit of Flanders"). The event was initiated by Flemish newspaper Het Volk, in response to rivaling newspaper Het Nieuwsblad's classic, the Tour of Flanders. Het Volk, of left-leaning publication, wanted to start a new cycling event in Flanders as a rival race to what it saw as the Tour of Flanders' closeness to the Nazis during World War II.{{efn|The Tour of Flanders is the only cycling classic in Europe that was organized on German-occupied territory during the Second World War and in full agreement with the German command.Bicycling, USA, undated cutting The Germans not only allowed and enjoyed the race but helped police the route as well.Konrad, Gabe and Melanie (200), Bikelore, On The Wheel Publications (USA), {{ISBN|1-892495-32-5}}, p101 This led to accusations of collaboration with Nazi Germany.[http://www.sbrshop.com/aboutus/staythecourse/stc20070418.php SBR, Stay the Course, Tour de Flanders, April 7th, 2007 by Christophe Vandaele] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309121559/http://sbrshop.com/aboutus/staythecourse/stc20070418.php |date=2016-03-09 }}}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=3419|title=Daily Peloton – Pro Cycling News|work=dailypeloton.com}} The Ronde's organizers protested that the name was too close to their own – there is little semantic difference between "Ronde" and "Omloop". The Belgian cycling federation demanded Het Volk to change the name of the event, prompting Het Volk to serve as title sponsor of their own race.Vanwalleghem, Rik, Het Wonder van Vlaanderen, Pinguin, Belgium, {{ISBN|90-73322-09-X}}, p69Vanwalleghem, Rik, Het Wonder van Vlaanderen, Pinguin, Belgium, {{ISBN|90-73322-09-X}}, p72

In 2009 the former rival newspapers Het Volk and Het Nieuwsblad merged, causing the event to be renamed Omloop Het Nieuwsblad for its 64th edition.{{efn|Het Nieuwsblad, as the bigger newspaper, became the name-bearer of the merge.}}{{cite web|last1=Haake|first1=Bjorn|title=64th Omloop Het Nieuwsblad – 1.HC: New name, similar route for Classic opener|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/feb09/hetvolk09/|website=cyclingnews.com|access-date=8 July 2016}} Since 2010, the race has been organised by Flanders Classics. Until 2016, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad was ranked as a 1.HC event of the UCI Europe Tour; since 2017, it is included in the UCI World Tour.

Due to its early-season calendar date, the race has occasionally been affected by cold and wintry conditions, with three editions of the event having been cancelled. The 1971 race was postponed due to snow and run three weeks later. In 1986 and 2004 organizers were forced to cancel the race, as snow and freezing temperatures had made the route too dangerous and riders' safety could not be guaranteed.{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=Jeff|title=59th Omloop Het Volk|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2004/feb04/hetvolk04/|website=cyclingnews.com|access-date=8 July 2016}}{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=Jeff|title=Het Volk cancelled|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2004/feb04/hetvolk04/?id=results|website=cyclingnews.com|access-date=8 July 2016}}{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=Jeff|title=An icy start in Belgium|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2005/feb05/hetvolk05/?id=default|website=cyclingnews.com|access-date=8 July 2016}} In modern times, organizers rely heavily on weather forecasts and adjust the course if some sectors are deemed unsafe. Unrelated to the weather, the 1960 race was cancelled following a disagreement between the organizers and cycling's ruling body UCI.{{efn|UCI had given better calendar dates to other Belgian races, prompting Het Volk to call off the race in protest.}}

Traditionally the opening event of the Belgian cycling season, the race holds particular importance for Belgian cyclists. Throughout its history, Belgian riders, comfortable with cold weather and aided by large, supportive crowds, have dominated the race. Belgians have won 56 editions, although, exemplary for the growing international status of the race, they have only won four of the last ten editions. In 1948 Italian cycling icon Fausto Coppi won the race, but was disqualified for receiving an illegal wheel-change.{{efn|Belgian Walschott had given Coppi his wheel, but rules allowed assistance only from team-mates}}

The record for wins is three, shared by Joseph Bruyère, Ernest Sterckx and Peter van Petegem. Bruyère holds the fastest average (43.35 km/h) for his 1975 win. Other notable winners include Eddy Merckx, Roger De Vlaeminck, Freddy Maertens, Johan Museeuw, Philippe Gilbert and Thor Hushovd.

File:Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2015.jpg]]

{{Lang|nl|Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|italic=no}} starts in Ghent, East Flanders, and addresses the Flemish Ardennes in the south of the province, featuring numerous short climbs. The race traditionally finished in Ghent, but different finish locations in the region have been used since the 1990s. From 1996 until 2007 the finish was in Lokeren, 20 km east of Ghent. Since 2018, the race has finished in Ninove, a city around 40 km southeast of Ghent. This will remain the case until at least 2028.{{Cite web |last=Middendorp |first=Koen |date=2025-02-27 |title=Ninove blijft ook de komende jaren aankomstplaats Omloop Het Nieuwsblad |url=https://www.wielerflits.nl/nieuws/ninove-blijft-ook-de-komende-jaren-aankomstplaats-omloop-het-nieuwsblad/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=WielerFlits |language=nl}}{{Cite web |last=Basem |first=Sarhan |date=2025-02-27 |title=Omloop Het Nieuwsblad stays in Ninove 3 more years |url=https://brusselsmorning.com/omloop-het-nieuwsblad-stays-in-ninove-3-more-years-e180k-deal/68432/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=brusselsmorning.com |language=en-GB}}

At 200 kilometres and with 13 climbs in the hill zone, the course is challenging and arduous. Additionally, there are several flat stretches of cobbles. Despite annual changes, some of the regular climbs in the {{Lang|nl|Omloop}} are the Leberg, Berendries, Taaienberg, Muur van Geraardsbergen, Eikenberg and Molenberg. Due to its hilly course in the Flemish Ardennes, the race is similar in nature to the Tour of Flanders, and is often used in preparation for the bigger event five weeks later. The 2016 race featured one new climb, Boembekeberg, as a replacement for the Molenberg, which was skipped because of road works.{{cite web|title=Roadmap|url=http://ohn.pro.p.assets.flandersclassics.be/files/2682/original/omloop2016-elite-men-roadmap.pdf|website=omloophetnieuwsblad.be|publisher=Flanders Classics|access-date=22 February 2016}} This was reversed for the 2017 race.

Both the official start and finish were traditionally on Ghent's largest square, Sint-Pietersplein. Every seven years however, when Easter comes early in the year, the square is booked for the annual Mid-Lent fair and organizers need to find different locations. In 2016 and 2017, the Citadel city park, next to the Kuipke velodrome, served as start location. The finish was on the Emile Clauslaan thoroughfare, near the starting place.{{cite web|title=Bekijk hier het gewijzigde parcours van de Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|url=http://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20160223_02144671|website=Het Nieuwsblad|date=23 February 2016 |publisher=Mediahuis|access-date=23 February 2016}} The finish in Ninove is on the Elisabethlaan, which gradually slopes uphill.

{{clear}}

The following riders have won the race:{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingarchives.com/wedstrijdfiche.php?wedstrijdid=347 |title=Omloop Het Nieuwsblad |access-date=27 February 2016 |work=Cycling Archives}}

File:PodiumHetVolk2008.jpg: Nick Nuyens, Philippe Gilbert and Thor Hushovd.]]

File:Gent - Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, 28 februari 2015 (E16).JPG: Niki Terpstra, winner Ian Stannard and Tom Boonen.]]

File:Gent - Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, 27 februari 2016 (E18).JPG: Peter Sagan, Greg Van Avermaet and Tiesj Benoot.]]

{{Cycling past winner start}}

|-

|colspan=4 align=center|↓ "Omloop van Vlaanderen" ↓

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1945|name={{sortname|Jean|Bogaerts}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Alcyon–Dunlop}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1946|name={{sortname|André|Pieters||Pieters, Andre}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Alcyon–Dunlop}}

|-

|colspan=4 align=center|↓ "Omloop Het Volk" ↓

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1947|name={{sortname|Albert|Sercu}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Bertin–Wolber}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1948|name={{sortname|Sylvain|Grysolle}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Zircon}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1949|name={{sortname|André|Declerck||Declerck, Andre}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Bertin–Wolber}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1950|name={{sortname|André|Declerck||Declerck, Andre}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Bertin–Wolber}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1951|name={{sortname|Jean|Bogaerts}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Starnord–Wolber}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1952|name={{sortname|Ernest|Sterckx}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=L'Avenir}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1953|name={{sortname|Ernest|Sterckx}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=L'Avenir}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1954|name={{sortname|Karel|De Baere}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Mercier–BP–Hutchinson}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1955|name={{sortname|Lode|Anthonis}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=L'Avenir}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1956|name={{sortname|Ernest|Sterckx}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=L'Avenir}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1957|name={{sortname|Norbert|Kerckhove}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Faema–Guerra}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1958|name={{sortname|Joseph|Planckaert}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Carpano}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1959|name={{sortname|Seamus|Elliott}}|nat=IRL|natvar=|team=Helyett–Fynsec}}

{{Cycling past winner no race|year=1960|reason=disagreement between organisation and UCI}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1961|name={{sortname|Arthur|De Cabooter}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Groene Leeuw–Sinalco–SAS}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1962|name={{sortname|Robert|De Middeleir}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Wiel's–Groene Leeuw}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1963|name={{sortname|René|Van Meenen}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Wiel's–Groene Leeuw}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1964|name={{sortname|Frans|Melckenbeek}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Mercier–BP–Hutchinson}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1965|name={{sortname|Noël|De Pauw||De Pauw, Noel}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Solo–Superia}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1966|name={{sortname|Jo de|Roo}}|nat=NED|natvar=|team=Televizier–Batavus}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1967|name={{sortname|Willy|Vekemans}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Goldor–Gerka}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1968|name={{sortname|Herman|Van Springel}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Mann–Grundig}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1969|name={{sortname|Roger|De Vlaeminck}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|FLA|1969}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1970|name=Frans Verbeeck|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Geens–Watney}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1971|name={{sortname|Eddy|Merckx}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Molteni}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1972|name=Frans Verbeeck|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Watney–Avia}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1973|name={{sortname|Eddy|Merckx}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Molteni}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1974|name={{sortname|Joseph|Bruyère}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Molteni}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1975|name={{sortname|Joseph|Bruyère}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Molteni-RYC}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1976|name={{sortname|Willem|Peeters}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=IJsboerke–Colnago}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1977|name={{sortname|Freddy|Maertens}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|FLA|1977}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1978|name={{sortname|Freddy|Maertens}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|FLA|1978}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1979|name={{sortname|Roger|De Vlaeminck}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Gis Gelati}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1980|name={{sortname|Joseph|Bruyère}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Marc-Carlos-V.R.D.}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1981|name={{sortname|Jan|Raas}}|nat=NED|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|TIR|1981}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1982|name={{sortname|Alfons|De Wolf}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Vermeer Thijs}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1983|name={{sortname|Alfons|De Wolf}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Bianchi–Piaggio}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1984|name={{sortname|Eddy|Planckaert}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Panasonic}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1985|name={{sortname|Eddy|Planckaert}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Panasonic}}

{{Cycling past winner no race|year=1986|reason=snow}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1987|name={{sortname|Teun van|Vliet}}|nat=NED|natvar=|team=Panasonic}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1988|name={{sortname|Ronny|Van Holen}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Roland}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1989|name={{sortname|Etienne|De Wilde}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=Histor–Sigma}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1990|name={{sortname|Johan|Capiot}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|TVM|1990}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1991|name={{sortname|Andreas|Kappes}}|nat=GER|natvar=|team=Toshiba–Look}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1992|name={{sortname|Johan|Capiot}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|TVM|1992}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1993|name={{sortname|Wilfried|Nelissen}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|NOV|1993}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1994|name={{sortname|Wilfried|Nelissen}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|NOV|1994}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1995|name={{sortname|Franco|Ballerini}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|MAP|1995}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1996|name={{sortname|Tom|Steels}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|MAP|1996}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1997|name={{sortname|Peter|Van Petegem}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|TVM|1997}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1998|name={{sortname|Peter|Van Petegem}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|TVM|1998}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=1999|name={{sortname|Frank|Vandenbroucke|Frank Vandenbroucke (cyclist)}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|COF|1999}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2000|name={{sortname|Johan|Museeuw}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|MAP|2000}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2001|name={{sortname|Michele|Bartoli}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|MAP|2001}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2002|name={{sortname|Peter|Van Petegem}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|SIL|2002}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2003|name={{sortname|Johan|Museeuw}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|QST|2003}}}}

{{Cycling past winner no race|year=2004|reason=snow}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2005|name={{sortname|Nick|Nuyens}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|QST|2005}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2006|name={{sortname|Philippe|Gilbert}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|FDJ|2006}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2007|name={{sortname|Filippo|Pozzato}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|LIQ|2007}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2008|name={{sortname|Philippe|Gilbert}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|FDJ|2008}}}}

|-

|colspan=4 align=center|↓ "Omloop Het Nieuwsblad" ↓

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2009|name={{sortname|Thor|Hushovd}}|nat=NOR|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|CTT|2009}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2010|name={{sortname|Juan Antonio|Flecha}}|nat=ESP|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|SKY|2010}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2011|name={{sortname|Sebastian|Langeveld}}|nat=NED|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|RAB|2011}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2012|name={{sortname|Sep|Vanmarcke}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|GRS|2012a}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2013|name={{sortname|Luca|Paolini}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|KAT|2013}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2014|name={{sortname|Ian|Stannard}}|nat=GBR|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|SKY|2014}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2015|name={{sortname|Ian|Stannard}}|nat=GBR|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|SKY|2015}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2016|name={{sortname|Greg|Van Avermaet}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|BMC|2016}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2017|name={{sortname|Greg|Van Avermaet}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|BMC|2017}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2018|name={{sortname|Michael|Valgren}}|nat=DEN|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|AST|2018}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2019|name={{sortname|Zdeněk|Štybar}}|nat=CZ|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|QST|2019}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2020|name={{sortname|Jasper|Stuyven}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|TFS|2020}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2021|name={{sortname|Davide|Ballerini}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|QST|2021}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2022|name={{sortname|Wout|van Aert}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|TJV|2022}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2023|name={{sortname|Dylan|van Baarle}}|nat=NED|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|TJV|2023}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2024|name={{sortname|Jan|Tratnik}}|nat=SVN|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|TJV|2024}}}}

{{Cycling past winner rider|year=2025|name={{sortname|Søren|Wærenskjold}}|nat=NOR|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|UXT}}}}

{{Cycling past winner end}}

Riders in italics are active

Since 2006, there has been a women's version of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Held on the same day as the men's event, it uses much of the same roads and equally opens the women's cycling season in Northern Europe. Recent editions of the race have been around {{Convert|125|km|mi}} to {{Convert|135|km|mi}} in length, featuring eight climbs and six sections of cobbles.{{cite web|title=Van der Breggen wins women's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/omloop-het-nieuwsblad-elite-women-2015/results/|website=Cyclingnews|date=28 February 2015 |access-date=12 December 2015}}{{Cite web |last=Ostanek |first=Dani |date=2025-02-25 |title=Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Women 2025 route |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/omloop-het-nieuwsblad-women-2025/map/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=cyclingnews.com |language=en}} In 2021, the race became part of the UCI Women's ProSeries, before being promoted to the UCI Women's WorldTour in 2023.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-02-21 |title=Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Women past winners |url=https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/omloop-het-nieuwsblad-women-2024/race-history/ |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=cyclingnews.com |language=en}}

{{asof|2024}}, Dutch riders Suzanne de Goede, Anna van der Breggen and Annemiek van Vleuten and Sweden's Emma Johansson have won the race twice.

{{main article|Omloop Het Nieuwsblad U23}}

An edition of the race for under-23 men has been held since 1950.

{{notelist}}

• European Cycling – The 20 Greatest Races by Noel Henderson (1989) {{ISBN|0-941950-20-4}}.

{{reflist|30em}}

{{commons category|Omloop Het Nieuwsblad}}

• {{Official website|http://www.omloophetnieuwsblad.be/en}}

{{Omloop Het Nieuwsblad}}

{{UCI World Tour}}{{UCI Women's World Tour}}{{Classic cycle races}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Omloop Het Nieuwsblad}}

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