Lotte Claes took the biggest victory of her career at the 2025 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, winning from an early breakaway that was given a huge lead by a hesitant peloton. The Belgian rider outsprinted Aurela Nerlo to take her first professional win, while Demi Vollering won the sprint for third over three minutes later as the favourites miscalculated their chase.
Early break gains a massive advantage
The race began at a steady pace, but the key move formed almost immediately. Claes went clear with Aurela Nerlo, Elena Pirrone, Mieke Docx, and Julie Stockman. The peloton, expecting the race to be controlled by the big teams, allowed them to go, and the gap quickly grew.
At one point, the break had nearly 14 minutes in hand, an enormous advantage for a group that was expected to be reeled in long before the final climbs. While teams with major favourites hesitated, each expected the other to take responsibility for the chase.
With 50km remaining, Stockman was dropped, leaving four leaders up front. Even then, the peloton was slow to react, and the gap remained over six minutes at the foot of the Muur van Geraardsbergen.
Photo Credit: Sprint Cycling AgencyThe Muur brings the attacks, but it’s too late
As expected, the Muur was the launchpad for the favourites. Demi Vollering put in a fierce attack, and only Puck Pieterse could follow her. The two went clear of the peloton, while Kasia Niewiadoma and Liane Lippert tried but failed to hold their wheels.
At the front, Claes and Nerlo distanced Pirrone and Docx on the cobbled climb, reaching the top with more than four minutes still in hand. Vollering and Pieterse continued their chase on the Bosberg, but it was clear they would not see the leaders again.
A two-rider fight for victory
With the peloton too far back to challenge, Claes and Nerlo knew they would fight for the win. The first move came from Claes with 4.5km to go, as she attacked through a turn in Denderwindeke. Nerlo responded well, closing the gap, and the two continued working together into the final kilometre.
Then, just before the flamme rouge, Nerlo made her own acceleration, briefly dropping Claes. The Belgian fought back and regained her wheel with 250 metres to go. With one final effort, she launched her sprint, coming around Nerlo in the closing metres to take the biggest win of her career.
Photo Credit: Flanders ClassicsThe peloton arrives too late
Behind, Vollering outsprinted Pieterse for third place, a distant 3:25 down. Lorena Wiebes took fifth, leading in the remains of the bunch, but by then, the race had long since slipped away.
The major teams had expected someone else to take responsibility, and by the time they realised their mistake, it was too late. Claes, who had started the day as a domestique, took full advantage, securing a surprise victory that no one saw coming.
2025 Omloop het Nieuwsblad Women result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: Getty
