What you need to know about Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the women’s season opener

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What you need to know about Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the women’s season opener

It's practically right here. The minute you've all been waiting for. The start of the women's 2021 period.

After the very early information of race cancellations in Australia, the 2021 season needs to have started with the Dubai Women's Tour, held from February 5 to 8, however as we neared the very first complete month of racing, information of race terminations came one after another. All 3 of the UCI early-season races in Spain were terminated: the Vuelta CV Feminas on February 7, followed by the Setmana Biker Valenciana, a four-day phase race, and also lastly the Vuelta Castellon, a three-day 2.2.

Currently, nearly a month later on, this Saturday February 27, the ladies will ultimately align for the first time this period. The majority of the groups have had the ability to hold training school, great for not just examining each other's physical fitness however likewise being familiar with brand-new faces.

Given that there is still an international pandemic hanging over the race schedule the sensation of "is this the last race?" will likely proceed, making the auto racing even more aggressive than typical. A hard accomplishment, as women's cycling is currently amazing 98% of the time. Another added layer is that the one-day races pre-June contribute in Olympic selection for some in the peloton, including British as well as American bikers. With so few opportunities to thrill, each race leading to those choices will be critical.

The first race of a new season is always amazing. No person understands just how the favourites will execute. Occasionally the motorcyclists themselves aren't completely certain how their legs will pass on. It's the initial glimpse of the season to find.

The last 2 years of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad were won solo by Annemiek van Vleuten and also Chantal van den Broek-Blaak. The year prior to it was a bunch sprint won by Christina Siggaard. When Lucinda Brand name won in 2017, she remained in a little group. In 2016, Lizzie Deignan won with less than half a min over a minimized peloton. In other words, the end result of the race is anybody's hunch. Although the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is not a WorldTour race, it will certainly be an exciting kick-off for the females in 2021.

The route

As of Thursday, there's still practically no validated course from the race coordinators however Team Movistar did publish a picture of this possible map of where the race will go. The race starts in Gent as well as surfaces 126 kilometres later on in Ninove. In between the beginning and also end up the bikers will certainly reach ride 5 sectors of cobbles and also 10 not-insignificant climbs up. For an added little bit of enjoyable, 3 of the climbs up are additionally cobbled. Yay.

All of the fun things takes place after the bikers have ridden approximately a hr of level roads. At 42 km, the first cobbled field waits for, 2 km long and instantly complied with by the Leberg climb. After that there's no rest, with the very first patched climb, the Wolvenberg, coming at 57 kilometres into the race.

The longest section of cobbles comes with completion, 2.3 km long, and also with 102 still to go. One of the most fascinating section of the training course is kilometres 83 to 94 where there are 4 climbs back to back: the Rekelberg, the Berendries, the Elverenberg-Vossenhol, as well as the Tenbosse.

In recent times, the Omloop has been wet and also miserable, yet this year the weather condition looks like it wishes to start the ladies's period off with some sunlight. The prediction is 12ºC.

Riders to watch

Without knowing anything about where the peloton stands currently in time, below are just a few bikers who are likely to be up there at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

Victor of the 2020 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Annemiek van Vleuten will certainly ride this year's version as her very first race in Movistar kit.

A brand-new group likewise implies new inspirations, and also definitely Van Vleuten will intend to make her initial race with new colleagues a memorable one for sponsors, group monitoring, and all those entailed.

In years past, Movistar has actually not been amongst the leading teams in these spring races, yet their brand-new line-up likewise includes Emma Norsgaard and also Leah Thomas, both motorcyclists who might throw down in these early races.

Chantal van den Broek-Blaak (SD Worx)

Like Van Vleuten, Chantal van den Broek-Blaak will certainly align under a new group name this year, albeit not a brand-new team. As the very first race for the group's brand-new title enroller, SD Worx (formerly Boels-Dolmans) is going to be looking for a success. Van den Broek-Blaak, having actually won the 2020 Trip of Flanders as well as the 2019 version of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, is a strong choice for the group leader. She has actually also been second twice at the Omloop, in 2017 as well as 2016, and also 3rd in 2011. She is good at targeting the appropriate breakaway and having legs at the finish.

That being said, the team will certainly likewise be associating Jolien d'Hoore, victor of Gent-Wevelgem in 2020, and Omloop 2014 victor Amy Pieters. Likewise on the beginning line for SD Worx will be globe champion Anna van der Breggen, a force to be considered in 2020 and a motorcyclist who's beginning her last period in the peloton. And also, Van der Breggen won the Omloop in 2015.

Sarah Roy (BikeExchange)

The freshly crowned Australian national champ will require to the start line as one of minority who has a race under her belt already in 2021. Sarah Roy was really outstanding at the championship games, winning the title after more than 30 km off the front solo. The tactics at the Omloop will be entirely different than at Nationals, however the toughness she revealed is something that needs to be kept in mind. Roy is likewise riding for a team that is experiencing a little bit of a change period.

Having actually lost Van Vleuten, the group now has the possibility to be a bit a lot more aggressive in races and distribute a little a lot more leadership. Roy will not be the only motorcyclist to take advantage of a prospective new duty within BikeExchange; Grace Brown is likewise one to look for the Australian group.

Lizzie Deignan (Trek-Segafredo)

Lizzie Deignan was just one of the most leading bikers of the 2020 period. The British biker is just one of those in the peloton that concentrates heavily on the Olympics, and also with the Olympics allegedly taking place in 2021, after being postponed because of COVID-19, it would come as not a surprise to see one more stellar year from Deignan. She won the Omloop in 2016 and also was 3rd in both 2015 as well as 2014. Something to consider with Deignan, however, is that the Olympics are a long way off, as are her various other key targets of 2021. If the larger races are her goals, she may not be at 100% for this very first race.

If Deignan is not on leading kind, Trek-Segafredo has a couple of various other bikers that can winning the Omloop, especially Ellen van Dijk, who was 2nd in 2015 and also 2012.

Lotte Kopecky (Liv Racing)

Although Lotte Kopecky has been competing considering that 2012, the 2020 period saw an actual breakthrough for the young Belgian. Kopecky was second at a handful of the late spring/fall (due to the schedule modifications) races, placing second at Gent-Wevelgem and also winning a stage of the Giro Rosa. Kopecky was additionally third in the Scenic tour of Flanders and AG Driedaagse Brugge-De Panne.

With the 2021 season so close to the 2020 season, those impressive performances will be fresh in Kopecky's mind, with any luck leading to a bump in confidence that could see her winning more races in 2021. This will certainly also be the first race for Kopecky with her new group, Liv Racing, after moving from the Lottery Soudal Ladies team at the end of last period. Kopecky revealed last year she can overcome most punchy climbs and afterwards is a top sprinter at the surface.

Coverage
There is presently no live insurance coverage scheduled of the race, but CyclingTips will give you with a complete race record after the race is done. If arbitrary online insurance coverage does appear, details will be offered on the CyclingTips Twitter.

The article What you need to understand about Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the ladies's period opener showed up initially on CyclingTips.

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