Discover the provisional start lists for the opening classic
Saturday 24 February, we kick off the Flemish cycling spring in Ghent with Omloop het Nieuwsblad. Top riders for both the men’s and women’s races will be there in ’t Kuipke. Defending champion Lotte Kopecky can crown herself co-record holder in Ninove, while Dylan van Baarle and teammate Wout van Aert will be taking on the likes of Arnaud De Lie, among others.
Women Elite
For the Women Elite’s race, the star-studded ensemble of Team SD Worx catches the eye. World champion and title defender Lotte Kopecky will have Demi Vollering and Lorena Wiebes at her side. Her teammates finished second in 2022 and 2023 respectively. Competition comes mainly from the Lidl – Trek camp. As well as 2016 winner Elizabeth Deignan, the American formation is also bringing Italian namesakes Elisa Balsamo and Elisa Longo Borghini to the start.
Also on the provisional start list are the names of the Canyon//SRAM Racing duo Katarzyna Niewiadoma – Tiffany Cromwell, winner in 2013. The women of Movistar Team also know what it is like to stand on the podium of Omloop het Nieuwsblad. Floortje Mackaij was 3rd in 2020. Her Danish teammate Emma Cecilie Norsgaard Bjerg finished one place better in 2021. FDJ-Suez puts forward Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig. Maria Giulia Confalonieri, 3rd in 2018, defends the colours of Uno-X Mobility. UAE Team ADQ is counting on Chiara Consonni and Silvia Persico. Team Visma | Lease a Bike brings Marianne Vos to the start.
Discover the provisional start list for the Women Elite here.
(Read more below the photo)
Men Elite
Team Visma | Lease a Bike managed to win the last two editions of the race with Dylan van Baarle (2023) and Wout van Aert (2022). The duo will be joined by European champion Christophe Laporte and Tiesj Benoot, who have both previously finished third in the opening classic. They will be challenged, among others, by last year's runner-up: Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny).
Lidl-Trek counts on the services of Jasper Stuyven, winner in 2020, and Jonathan Milan. Soudal Quick-Step comes to the start with the trio Julian Alaphilippe, Kasper Asgreen and Yves Lampaert, second in 2020. The provisional start list also contains the names of Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Biniam Girmay (Intermarché - Wanty) and Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers). Matej Mohoric and Tim Wellens will be defending the colours of Bahrain Victorious and UAE Team Emirates respectively.
Discover the provisional start list for the Men Elite here.
