Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2025 marks the start of the cobbled classics, being the first race of the opening weekend. Often seen as the real start of the cycling season, this year Omloop Het Nieuwsblad takes place on Saturday 1 March in Belgium.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad forms part of a double-header across the weekend, with Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne following on the Sunday.
Flanders Classics, the same group responsible for the organisation of the Tour of Flanders, promotes both the men’s and women’s versions of the race, which always take place on the same day. The men’s route is longer: 197km in 2025, while the women's race - which has been running since 2006 - is 137.9km this year.
The race features several iconic cobbled climbs, typical to that region of Belgium, and long associated with cycle racing.
Key info: Route page | Where to watch | Start list (2025 detail to be confirmed)
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2025: Key details
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2025: The route
Both races will begin in ’t Kuipke in Ghent and finish in Ninove, Belgium, tackling a lumpy, hilly parcours interspersed with cobbled sectors.
The men's route features many stalwarts of previous editions: Muur - Bosberg, the Molenberg, the Berendries, the cobblestone climb in Zwalm 42km from the finish and three passes over the cobbles at Haaghoek and Leberg.
There are 11 hills in total, the majority condensed into the final 70km. The women's route features many of the same climbs and cobbled sections, including the Berendries, Elverenberg-Vossenhol, and Muur and Bosberg, the latter 11km from the finish and the final ascent on the road to Ninove.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: Past winners (men's)
2001: Michele Bartoli (ITA) Mapei - Quick-Step
2002: Peter van Petegem (BEL) TVM Farm-Frites
2003: Johan Museeuw (BEL) Quick-Step- Davitamon
2004: No race due to adverse weather
2005: Nick Nuyens (BEL) Quick-Step–Innergetic
2006: Philippe Gilbert (BEL) Française des Jeux
2007: Filippo Pozzato (ITA) Liquigas
2008: Philippe Gilbert (BEL) Française des Jeux
2009: Thor Hushovd (NOR) Cervélo TestTeam
2010: Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP) Team Sky
2011: Sebastian Langeveld (NED) Rabobank
2012: Sep Vanmarcke (BEL) Garmin–Barracuda
2013: Luca Paolini (ITA) Team Katusha
2014: Ian Stannard (GBR) Team Sky
2015: Ian Stannard (GBR) Team Sky
2016: Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) BMC Racing Team
2017: Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) BMC Racing Team
2018: Michael Valgren (DEN) Astana
2019: Zdeněk Štybar (CZE) Deceuninck–Quick-Step
2020: Jasper Stuyvan (BEL) Trek-Segafredo
2021: Davide Ballerini (ITA) Deceuninck - Quick-Step
2022: Wout van Aert (BEL) Jumbo-Visma
2023: Dylan van Baarle (NED) Jumbo-Visma
2024: Jan Tratnik (SLO) Visma-Lease a Bike
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: Past winners (women's)
2007: Mie Lacota (DEN) Flexipoint
2008: Kirsten Wild (NED) AA Drink Cycling
2009: Suzanne de Goede (NED) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung
2010: Emma Johansson (SWE) Red Sun Cycling Team
2011: Emma Johansson (SWE) Hitec Products-UCK
2012: Loes Gunnewijk (NED) GreenEDGE-AIS
2013: Tiffany Cromwell (AUS) Orica-AIS
2014: Amy Pieters (NED) Skil Koga
2015: Anna van der Breggen (NED) Rabobank-Liv
2016: Lizzie Armitstead (GBR) Boels-Dolmans
2017: Lucinda Brand (NED) Team Sunweb
2018: Christina Malling Siggaard (DEN) Team Virtu Cycling
2019: Chantal Blaak (NED) Boels-Dolmans
2020: Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) Mitchelton-Scott
2021: Anna van der Breggen (NED) Team SD Worx
2022: Annemiek van Vleuten (NED) Movistar
2023: Lotte Kopecky (BEL) Team SD Worx
2024: Marianne Vos (NED) Visma-Lease a Bike
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: Official race channels
Official Twitter channel - @OmloopHNB
Omloop Het Niuewsblad official website
