Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2021 [FULL RACE] (ladies)

February 27, 2021

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2021 – Ghent – Ninove : 124,4 km

The road racing season will finally get underway this Saturday with the 13th edition of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad – a race that many regard as the first dress rehearsal for the biggest Flandrian Classic of them all, the Tour of Flanders. With last year’s winner Annemiek van Vleuten and the reigning double World Champion Anna van der Breggen both set to take to the startline, alongside other big-names like Lizzie Diegnan, Lotte Kopecky and Marta Bastianelli, this is going to be a race that you won’t want to miss… Flanders Classics – the organisers of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and many other Belgian one-day races – have decided to keep this year’s route under wraps and not reveal any specific route information. That said, we do know that the riders will be faced with a very similar route to the one that they tackled last year, including many of the same climbs and cobblestone sectors. The ~126km-long route will start in Gent before heading south on an intrepid tour around Oudenaarde, a small town in the heart of Flanders. It’s around Oudenaarde, and the halfway point of the race, where the riders will hit the first few cobblestone sectors and leg-breaking climbs. These climbs and cobblestone sectors then come thick and fast for the next 70km, with very little let-up between each one. This non-stop barrage of rough terrain will whittle down the peloton and ensure that only the strongest riders are left in contention by the time the front group reaches Geraardsbergen and the business end of the race.

World champion Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx) secured a solo victory at the 1.Pro Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Elite Women on Saturday. Danish national champion Emma Cecile Norsgaard of Movistar took the sprint from the reduced bunch with van der Breggen’s SD Worx teammate, Amy Pieters, rounding off the podium in third.

Race favourite Lotte Kopecky (Liv Racing) just missed out on third after covering attacks earlier in the race.

“I’m really happy, of course, because it’s the best way to start the season,” Van der Breggen said in a post-race interview. “Especially when the team is riding like this, it gives a lot of confidence for the upcoming races, and also for the rest of the season.”

After the cancellation of earlier races, the women’s peloton finally got their 2021 season underway at the 13th edition of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Elite Women for 126km of racing.

It was the 53rd solo win of Van der Breggen’s career, after an aggressive final 50km, which saw multiple attacks from her SD Worx teammates.

Van der Breggen established her gap on the decisive Bosberg climb, Kopecky and Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) were the only riders able to attempt to follow but the double world champion rode away over the top of the climb.

How it unfolded

On a dry and relatively warm spring day in Flanders it was a return to the SD Worx of old, with the once-unbeatable team again using their strength in numbers to wear down the competition.

After just 4km, a break of three formed with Elizabeth Bennett (Drops-Le Col), Kylie Waterreus (Multum Accountants LSK Ladies Cycling Team), and Claudia Jongerius (Bingoal Casino – Chevalmeire Cycling Team) getting a gap which at its largest stretched to over five minutes.

However, with 38km to go SD Worx harnessed their collective strength — including Anna van der Breggen — to bring back the leaders just before the Leberg climb.

The climb caused splits in the bunch which caught out two pre-race favourites; Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) and Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo) as well as Deignan’s teammate Ellen van Dijk.

After the damage caused by the Leberg, a leading group was established which saw SD Worx, Liv Racing and Jumbo-Visma well represented as well as Canyon-SRAM and Ale BTC City Lubljana with a second chasing group one minute behind.

As the bunch reached the next climb, the Berendries, it was Demi Vollering of SD Worx driving the pace which saw the winner of the 2020 WorldTour Youth jersey, Liane Lippert, distanced. Anna van der Breggen attacked over the top with Elisa Longo Borghini (Trek-Segafredo) on her wheel but both were quickly reeled back to the group.

With 30km to go, Vollering put in a strong attack on the Elverenberg Vosssenhol, which saw her form a gap which she then sustained. Hannah Barnes (canyon-SRAM), Audrey Cordon-Ragot (Trek-Segaferdo) and Lotte Kopecky (Liv Racing) tried to force a chase but were soon neutralised by Vollering’s teammates, after which the peloton seemed to sit up, allowing Vollering’s lead to extend to 30 seconds.

Liv Racing, with Soraya Palladin and Jeanne Korevaar, were the only team willing to take up the chase as SD Worx used their strength in numbers to marshal the bunch and chase down attacks.

As the bunch approached the Kappelmuur, Vollering’s gap began to come down and Longo Borghini saw her moment to attack, taking Kopecky with her. Unfortunately for the pair, Van der Breggen also followed and the gap was closed.

Van der Breggen’s efforts failed to stop the group from catching Vollering and the 24-year-old was caught at the bottom of the descent by the reduced group comprised of favourites including Longo Borghini, Kopecky, Niewiadoma, Pieters, and Uttrup Ludwig and Cavalli (both FDJ).

The world champion then put in an attack of her own with Lotte Kopecky the only rider able to follow, however the two were soon reeled back in. A lull followed during which some of those who were distanced returned to the front group including Lisa Brennauer.

With 15km to go, Longo Borghini put in another attack with Vollering and Kopecky following. The trio got a small gap on the group however Marlen Ruesser of Ale BTC City Lubjlana rode hard on the front for her teammate Marta Bastianelli to bring the three riders back just before the Bosberg.

The Bosberg proved to be the decisive climb of the race for the women as van der Breggen chose the steep, cobbled climb to launch the attack which ultimately won her the race. In an impressive show of strength, the double world champion attacked the climb, riding everyone else off her wheel, carrying her move over the top and establishing a gap which stuck to the end.

Meanwhile, behind van der Breggen the peloton split into two groups again with one minute between them, but with 11km to go the two groups merged. Once again it was Liv Racing taking up the lion’s share of the chasing with Uttrup Ludwig also coming to the front.

The remaining riders may have hoped that the headwind to the finish might slow van der Breggen down, however with Pieters and Chantal van den Broek-Blaak covering moves it was impossible for anyone to escape the group.

Grace Brown of Team BikeExchange attempted a flier with 8km to go, which Pieters immediately followed, the two managed a small gap, however the group ultimately came back together to contest a bunch kick for second.

Emma Norsgaard of Movistar won the sprint and Pieters — after spending the race covering moves — came third. Kopecky narrowly missed the podium having burned most of her matches earlier in the race.

Results :
1 Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Team SD Worx 3:21:00
2 Emma Cecilie Jørgensen (Den) Movistar Team Women 0:00:23
3 Amy Pieters (Ned) Team SD Worx
4 Lotte Kopecky (Bel) Liv Racing
5 Hannah Barnes (GBr) Canyon-SRAM Racing
6 Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
7 Lisa Brennauer (Ger) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
8 Grace Brown (Aus) Team BikeExchange
9 Marta Cavalli (Ita) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
10 Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo 0:00:26
11 Chantal van den Broek-Blaak (Ned) Team SD Worx
12 Riejanne Markus (Ned) Jumbo-Visma Women Team
13 Demi Vollering (Ned) Team SD Worx
14 Marlen Reusser (Swi) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
15 Amanda Spratt (Aus) Team BikeExchange
16 Soraya Paladin (Ita) Liv Racing
17 Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (Den) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
18 Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAM Racing 0:00:33
19 Elisa Balsamo (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service 0:02:22
20 Anna Henderson (GBr) Jumbo-Visma Women Team
21 Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Movistar Team Women
22 Sofia Bertizzolo (Ita) Liv Racing
23 Emilia Fahlin (Swe) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
24 Elise Chabbey (Swi) Canyon-SRAM Racing
25 Audrey Cordon Ragot (Fra) Trek-Segafredo
26 Christine Majerus (Lux) Team SD Worx
27 Jeanne Korevaar (Ned) Liv Racing
28 Jolien D’Hoore (Bel) Team SD Worx
29 Juliette Labous (Fra) Team DSM
30 Eri Yonamine (Jpn) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank
31 Jelena Eric (Srb) Movistar Team Women
32 Elizabeth Banks (GBr) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team 0:02:27
33 Ellen van Dijk (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 0:04:40
34 Marta Lach (Pol) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team 0:07:03
35 Liane Lippert (Ger) Team DSM
36 Mischa Bredewold (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg 0:07:07
37 Malgorzata Jasinska (Pol) Women Cycling Sport 0:07:08
38 Amber van der Hulst (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg 0:07:13
39 Kathrin Schweinberger (Aut) Doltcini-Van Eyck-Proximus Continental Team
40 Maria Van ‘T Geloof (Ned) Drops-le Col Supported by Tempur
41 Maria Martins (Por) Drops-le Col Supported by Tempur
42 Lorena Wiebes (Ned) Team DSM
43 Femke Markus (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
44 Abby-Mae Parkinson (GBr) Lotto Soudal Ladies
45 Anouska Koster (Ned) Jumbo-Visma Women Team
46 Catalina Anais Soto Campos (Chi) NXTG Racing
47 Eva Buurman (Ned) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank
48 Bryony van Velzen (Ned) Doltcini-Van Eyck-Proximus Continental Team
49 Maike Van der Duin (Ned) Drops-le Col Supported by Tempur
50 Maaike Boogaard (Ned) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
51 Eugenia Bujak (Slo) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
52 Thalita De Jong (Ned) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire
53 Valerie Demey (Bel) Liv Racing
54 Shari Bossuyt (Bel) NXTG Racing
55 Marit Raaijmakers (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
56 Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
57 Laura Tomasi (Ita) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
58 Stine Borgli (Nor) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
59 Gladys Verhulst (Fra) Arkea Pro Cycling Team
60 Nicole Steigenga (Ned) Doltcini-Van Eyck-Proximus Continental Team
61 Fien Van Eynde (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck-Proximus Continental Team
62 Teuntje Beekhuis (Ned) Jumbo-Visma Women Team
63 Typhaine Laurance (Fra) Arkea Pro Cycling Team
64 Jesse Vandenbulcke (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies
65 Amalie Lutro (Nor) Hitec Products
66 Amelia Sharpe (GBr) NXTG Racing
67 Nathalie Bex (Bel) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire
68 Pfeiffer Georgi (GBr) Team DSM
69 Natalie van Gogh (Ned) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire
70 Lisa Klein (Ger) Canyon-SRAM Racing
71 Elizabeth Bennett (GBr) Drops-le Col Supported by Tempur
72 Floortje Mackaij (Ned) Team DSM
73 Lone Meertens (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies
74 Hanna Nilsson (Swe) Lotto Soudal Ladies
75 Ann-Sophie Duyck (Bel) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
76 Lucie Jounier (Fra) Arkea Pro Cycling Team
77 Greta Richioud (Fra) Arkea Pro Cycling Team
78 Susanne Andersen (Nor) Team DSM
79 Julie Leth (Den) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
80 Tanja Erath (Ger) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank
81 Sara Penton (Swe) Drops-le Col Supported by Tempur
82 Sara Van De Vel (Bel) Team Rupelcleaning-Champion Lubricants
83 Marijke De Smedt (Bel) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
84 Ilaria Sanguineti (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
85 Svenja Betz (Ger) Team Rupelcleaning-Champion Lubricants
86 Leah Thomas (USA) Movistar Team Women
87 Vittoria Guazzini (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
88 Christina Schweinberger (Aut) Doltcini-Van Eyck-Proximus Continental Team
89 Arianna Fidanza (Ita) Team BikeExchange
90 Chiara Consonni (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
91 Teniel Campbell (TTo) Team BikeExchange
92 Caroline Andersson (Swe) Hitec Products
93 Romy Kasper (Ger) Jumbo-Visma Women Team
94 Evy Kuijpers (Ned) Liv Racing
95 Sarah Roy (Aus) Team BikeExchange
96 Sarah Rijkes (Aut) Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
97 Eugénie Duval (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope
98 Nina Buijsman (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
99 Femke Gerritse (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg
100 Anna Plichta (Pol) Lotto Soudal Ladies
101 Mieke Kröger (Ger) Hitec Products
102 Alexis Ryan (USA) Canyon-SRAM Racing
103 Leah Dixon (GBr) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank
104 Chloe Hosking (Aus) Trek-Segafredo
105 Mavi Garcia (Spa) Ale’ BTC Ljubljana
106 Alena Amialiusik (Blr) Canyon-SRAM Racing
107 Pernille Mathiesen (Den) Jumbo-Visma Women Team
108 Aude Biannic (Fra) Movistar Team Women 0:07:28
109 Barbara Guarischi (Ita) Movistar Team Women
110 Trixi Worrack (Ger) Trek-Segafredo
111 Elizabeth Deignan (GBr) Trek-Segafredo
DNF Ilse Pluimers (Ned) NXTG Racing
DNF Charlotte Kool (Ned) NXTG Racing
DNF Amber Lacompte (Bel) Team Rupelcleaning-Champion Lubricants
DNF Isabelle Beckers (Bel) Team Rupelcleaning-Champion Lubricants
DNF Ann Helen Olsen (Nor) Hitec Products
DNF Mia Griffin (Irl) Team Rupelcleaning-Champion Lubricants
DNF Diana Carolina Peñuela Martinez (Col) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank
DNF Kristen Faulkner (USA) Team Tibco-Silicon Valley Bank
DNF Silvia Persico (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
DNF Antonia Gröndahl (Fin) Team Rupelcleaning-Champion Lubricants
DNF Antri Christoforou (Cyp) Women Cycling Sport
DNF Marieke van Witzenburg (Ned) Doltcini-Van Eyck-Proximus Continental Team
DNF Demmy Druyts (Bel) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire
DNF Claudia Jongerius (Ned) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire
DNF Demi De Jong (Ned) Bingoal Casino-Chevalmeire
DNF Eleonora Camilla Gasparrini (Ita) Valcar-Travel & Service
DNF Fien Delbaere (Bel) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
DNF Céline van Houtum (Ned) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
DNF Kylie Waterreus (Ned) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
DNF Anna Badegruber (Aut) Multum Accountants Ladies Cycling Team
DNF Christa Riffel (Ger) Hitec Products
DNF Marie Morgane Le Deunff (Fra) Arkea Pro Cycling Team
DNF Julia Borgström (Swe) NXTG Racing
DNF Nicole Hanselmann (Swi) Women Cycling Sport
DNF Tereza Neumanová (Cze) Women Cycling Sport
DNF Luciana Roland (Arg) Women Cycling Sport
DNF Alessia Vigilia (Ita) Women Cycling Sport
DNF Finja Smekal (Ger) Drops-le Col Supported by Tempur
DNF Martine Gjøs (Nor) Hitec Products
DNF Jessica Allen (Aus) Team BikeExchange
DNF Elise Vander Sande (Bel) Lotto Soudal Ladies
DNF Léa Curinier (Fra) Arkea Pro Cycling Team
DNS Brodie Chapman (Aus) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope