Lotte Claes outsprints Aurela Nerlo, Demi Vollering third as breakaway outwits peloton at women's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Updated 01/03/2025 at 18:51 GMT
Belgium's Lotte Claes (Arkea-B&B Hotels Women) sealed the first win of her career as she outsprinted Aurela Nerlo (Winspace Orange Seal) at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Women 2025, with pre-race favourite Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) third. The pair were the only survivors of the breakaway, who took advantage of the peloton's failure to chase to hold off all the favourites for victory.
'She can barely believe it!' - Claes takes surprise win at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Video credit: TNT Sports
Belgian rider Lotte Claes (Arkea-B&B Hotels) took her first professional victory, and on home soil, in the 20th edition of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Women.
Claes was only the second Belgian winner in the women's edition of the race, with her namesake Lotte Kopecky triumphant in 2023.
Breakaway compatriot Aurela Nerlo (Winspace Orange Seal) started her attack with 1.1km to go, but Claes bided her time to overtake the Polish rider, who had nothing left in her legs to close her down at the finish line after a stellar day at the head of the race.
Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ) and Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) broke free from the peloton in an attempt to close the breakaway down following Vollering’s attack on the Muur van Geraardsbergen climb, but were unable to reduce the deficit. Vollering ultimately took third, 3’25" behind, with her sprint overpowering Pieterse in what was the latter’s first road race of the season.
Tactics of many of the favourites were questioned - as breakaway riders from early on in the race were able to create a sufficient gap - up to 14 minutes at one point, and two held on to secure the top spots on the podium with no meaningful chase in sight.
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Highlights: Claes lands sensational win as stars struggle
Video credit: TNT Sports
Claes and Nerlo stuck it out to the finish after they made a break with more than 120 km to go alongside Elena Pirrone (Roland), and Belgian riders Julie Stockman (DD Group Pro Cycling Team), and Mieke Docx (Lotto Ladies).
At the beginning of the live coverage on TNT Sports, and having dropped Stockman, the breakaway had a lead of 10'42" as they approached the Haaghoek cobbles.
Ellen van Dijk's (Lidl - Trek) effort at the front of the peloton began to eat away at the lead of the front four, before FDJ-Suez took over with Vollering on the wheel of Amber Kraak, the gap around 7’33" with 28km remaining.
The breakaway quartet were reduced to two as the road steepened on Muur van Geraardsbergen, and Claes and Nerlo continued to work together to remain up the road.
When the peloton reached the Muur, Vollering sensed her time to attack and Pieterse, Kasia Niewiadoma (CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto), Liane Lippert (Movistar) and Vollering’s former team-mate Marlen Reusser (Movistar) were the only riders able to stay with her.
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Emotional scenes as Claes' team-mates savour her momentous Omloop win
Video credit: TNT Sports
With 10km remaining, the gap to Claes and Nerlo sat at just under five minutes, and Vollering and Pieterse were the only two who remained together following the earlier split to the bunch.
As the kilometres ticked down the likelihood of a breakaway victory increased, and the atmosphere was palpable as the Belgian crowds cheered on their home rider at the head of the race.
With a gap of 3’40" with 5km left on the road ahead of them, Claes and Nerlo kicked on, with the pressure soon upped by Claes. Her attack with 4.5km to go looked as if she might have played her cards too soon but she held firm to remain in contention despite Nerlo sticking to her wheel.
The Polish rider sprung her attack with 1.1km to go and looked as though she may have created enough distance to take the victory, but Claes made a strong comeback to slot back in behind her wheel and continue in pursuit of the top spot on the podium.
Claes’ race-winning effort proved too much for the Winspace Orange Seal rider and as she overtook Nerlo going into the final 250 metres, it was her turn to widen the gap.
Despite looking like she did not have much left in the legs, Claes powered to the line for a clear victory.
Vollering and Pieterse - who was the fastest up the Muur with a time of 2'43" - were left to battle it out for the remaining place on the podium, and the FDJ-Suez rider proved stronger in the two-up sprint, Pieterse eventually sitting up.
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx - Protime) took fifth from the bunch 3’35" behind, followed swiftly by Eleonora Gasparrini (UAE Team ADQ), Pfeiffer Georgi (Team Picnic PostNL), Clara Copponi (Lidl - Trek), and Ilse Pluimers (AG Insurance - Soudal Team).
Belgian riders bookended the top 10with Margot Vanpachtenbeke (VolkerWessels Women's Pro Cycling Team) taking 10th place.
It was a day for the underdog in Ninove with Soren Wærenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) also taking an unexpected win in the men’s race to kick-start the Spring Classics.
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