The women’s professional peloton begins its European campaign tomorrow with the 10th edition of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Despite the absence of Marianne Vos, an all-star peloton will take to the roads of Flanders, Belgium, to contest the first of the Classics.
Run two hours ahead of the men’s race, the 120.5-kilometre course will pass over eight climbs and six cobbled sectors. Significantly different from the men’s course, the two routes converge 35km from the finish for the ascent of the Molenberg, the final climb.
Wiggle-Honda’s Dani King starts her first race since breaking a number of ribs in a training accident last autumn, and the race also sees the debut of Matrix Fitness. The British team moved from national to UCI level this year. Experienced Olympian Lucy Martin will lead a team containing five compatriots.
Marianne Vos looks certain to miss Strade Bianche due to lingering injury
One British absentee is Lucy Garner. The double Junior World Champion withdrew from the event earlier today after suffering knee pain. Leicestershire born Garner tweeted, “Very sad not to be racing this weekend. I have been struggling with both of my knees for a while now and it's time to get them recovered… rather than battling on. I wish my girls all the best this weekend!”
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Garner’s Liv-Plantur team now start the race with only seven riders, rather than the permitted eight. Whilst her withdrawal may limit tactical options for the team, they were always likely to be riding in support of last year’s winner, Amy Pieters. Daughter of former professional Peter Pieters, the 23-year-old Dutch woman won the 2014 race from a three-woman breakaway, beating Emma Johansson (Orica-AIS) and Armitstead.
Emma Johansson: Flanders resident may figure in the racing
(Image credit: Andy Jones)
Flanders resident Johansson is one of the most consistent riders in the peloton and has won this race twice, as well as finishing on the podium on two other occasions.
Annemeik van Vleuten makes her debut for a very experienced Bigla Pro Cycling after a strong winter. A former winner of the Tour of Flanders, these roads will hold no fears for the former Dutch road champion and she could make an impact.
As well as King, the Wiggle-Honda team has options for tomorrow, with both Elisa Longo-Borghini and Belgian road champion Jolien d’Hoore. The latter raced at the Track World Championships last week and is confident of her road form having finished sixth in Qatar.
Winner of the 2013 race, Australian Tiffany Cromwell will be part of a strong Velocio-SRAM team and Italian champion, Elena Cecchini will hope to shine on her debut with Lotto-Soudal Ladies.
The race will not be live on television, though as part of their commitment to women’s cycling, organisers Flanders Classics provide a 26-minute highlights package, though whether you will find it anywhere than on the internet is sadly doubtful.
Women's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: Recent winners
2014 Amy Pieters
2013 Tiffany Cromwell
2012 Loes Gunnewijk
2011 Emma Johansson
2010 Emma Johansson
2009 Suzanne de Goede
2008 Kirsten Wild
2007 Mie Bekker-Lacota
2006 Suzanne de Goede
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