Siggaard wins Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Elite Women

In a huge surprise, Danish rider Christina Siggaard (Team Virtu Cycling) won Saturday's re-vamped Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, sprinting clear of a group of 30 women. The 23-year-old finished ahead of Alexis Ryan (Canyon-SRAM) and Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Valcar-PBM).

"It's a dream come true," Siggaard said. "Sometimes everything just comes together; riders, team and sponsors, that's what makes this great."

Despite their presence in that front group, Siggaard beat favourites the calibre of Chloe Hosking (Alé-Cipollini), Coryn Rivera (Sunweb) and Jolien D'hoore (Mitchelton-Scott) to take undoubtedly the best result of her career.

Siggaard herself could barely believe her success, and was comforted by other riders after bursting into tears and sobbing just over the finish line in Meerbeke.

She had survived a tough final half of the race, remaining with many of the sport's top names through the new final which included the climbs of Kapelmuur and the Bosberg in the final 20km.

How It Unfolded

The 122.1km race began in Ghent, with both start and finish the same as the men's event, which ran concurrently.

The opening kilometres were raced in combative fashion, with plenty of attacks neutralised by the bunch. Only a group of eight, who gained 15 seconds after just 21km got away, though were soon neutralised by a hungry peloton fresh from their winter break.

Even when British rider Keira McVitty, riding for the Isorex Cycling Team, escaped alone ten kilometres from the Katteberg - after 59km, the first of eight climbs - the peloton were in no mood to let her.

Despite continued aggression and a short lived break of three riders, the race entered the final 35km with a group of 70 at the front, and it was only here, after the Berendries that a notable nine woman group escaped.

Consisting of Floortje Mackaij (Sunweb), Dani Rowe (Waowdeals), Elena Cecchini (Canyon-SRAM), Elisa Longo Borghini (Wiggle High5), Amanda Spratt (Mitchleton Scott), Chloe Hosking (Alé Cippolini), Polona Batagelj and the Boels-Dolmans duo of Christine Majerus and Karol-Ann Canuel, the break built 50 seconds advantage in just ten kilometres, and it seemed this was the race winning combination, especially as all the major teams were represented.

However, with Geraardsbergen and its feared Kapelmuur looming, the gap inexplicably tumbled, the group caught before the climb, with just over 15km to ride.

The Muur caused chaos, splitting the recently re-formed peloton, leaving the final group of 25 for the four-kilometre lead in to the final climb, the Bosberg.

While Lucinda Brand's 2017 win set the tone for the spring, it is unlikely Siggaard's Virtu team will dominate this year like Brand's Sunweb outfit did. It is, however, a major success for the Danish outfit who have strengthened over the winter in what is only their second year.

With former world champion Amalie Dideriksen and Women's WorldTour best young rider already at the top of the sport, Siggaard's win is further evidence of the strength of Danish women's cycling.

 

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Christina Malling Siggaard (Den) Team Virtu Cycling3:35:20
2Alexis Ryan (USA) Canyon-SRAM RacingRow 1 - Cell 2
3Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) Valcar PBMRow 2 - Cell 2
4Chloe Hosking (Aus) Ale CipolliniRow 3 - Cell 2
5Coryn Rivera (USA) Team Sunweb WomenRow 4 - Cell 2
6Nina Kessler (Ned) Hitec Products-Birk SportRow 5 - Cell 2
7Jeanne Korevaar (Ned) Waowdeals Pro Cycling TeamRow 6 - Cell 2
8Jolien D'Hoore (Bel) Mitchelton-Scott WomenRow 7 - Cell 2
9Marta Cavalli (Ita) Valcar PBMRow 8 - Cell 2
10Audrey Cordon Ragot (Fra) Wiggle High6Row 9 - Cell 2
11Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Wiggle High5Row 10 - Cell 2
12Valerie Demey (Bel) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 11 - Cell 2
13Janneke Ensing (Ned) Ale CipolliniRow 12 - Cell 2
14Jip van den Bos (Ned) Boels Dolmans CyclingteamRow 13 - Cell 2
15Chantal Blaak (Ned) Boels Dolmans CyclingteamRow 14 - Cell 2
16Julie Leth (Den) Wiggle High8Row 15 - Cell 2
17Lauren Stephens (USA) Cylance Pro CyclingRow 16 - Cell 2
18Ellen van Dijk (Ned) Team Sunweb WomenRow 17 - Cell 2
19Thalita De Jong (Ned) Experza-FootlogixRow 18 - Cell 2
20Sofie De Vuyst (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck SportRow 19 - Cell 2
21Urska Pintar (Slo) BTC City LjubljanaRow 20 - Cell 2
22Martina Ritter (Aut) Wiggle High10Row 21 - Cell 2
23Lisa Klein (Ger) Canyon-SRAM RacingRow 22 - Cell 2
24Polona Batagelj (Slo) BTC City LjubljanaRow 23 - Cell 2
25Danielle Rowe (GBr) Waowdeals Pro Cycling TeamRow 24 - Cell 2
26Natalie Van Gogh (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg0:00:05
27Moniek Tenniglo (Ned) DJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine FuturoscopeRow 26 - Cell 2
28Riejanne Markus (Ned) Waowdeals Pro Cycling TeamRow 27 - Cell 2
29Elena Cecchini (Ita) Canyon-SRAM RacingRow 28 - Cell 2
30Gracie Elvin (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott WomenRow 29 - Cell 2
31Soraya Paladin (Ita) Ale CipolliniRow 30 - Cell 2
32Floortje Mackaij (Ned) Team Sunweb WomenRow 31 - Cell 2
33Anouska Koster (Ned) Waowdeals Pro Cycling Team0:00:09
34Lucinda Brand (Ned) Team Sunweb WomenRow 33 - Cell 2
35Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Boels Dolmans CyclingteamRow 34 - Cell 2
36Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton-Scott WomenRow 35 - Cell 2
37Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Canyon-SRAM RacingRow 36 - Cell 2
38Jessica Allen (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott Women0:00:28
39Amanda Spratt (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott WomenRow 38 - Cell 2
40Marjolein van 'T Geloof (Ned) Lotto Soudal Ladies0:01:32
41Mieke Kröger (Ger) Team Virtu CyclingRow 40 - Cell 2
42Roxane Fournier (Fra) DJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine FuturoscopeRow 41 - Cell 2
43Chanella Stougje (Ned) Parkhotel ValkenburgRow 42 - Cell 2
44Sarah Rijkes (Aut) Experza-Footlogix0:01:32
45Jelena Eric (Srb) Cylance Pro CyclingRow 44 - Cell 2
46Christine Majerus (Lux) Boels Dolmans CyclingteamRow 45 - Cell 2
47Lucy Garner (GBr) Wiggle High9Row 46 - Cell 2
48Ilaria Sanguineti (Ita) Valcar PBMRow 47 - Cell 2
49Romy Kasper (Ger) Ale CipolliniRow 48 - Cell 2
50Trixi Worrack (Ger) Canyon-SRAM RacingRow 49 - Cell 2
51Alice Barnes (GBr) Canyon-SRAM Racing0:01:38
52Eugenia Bujak (Slo) BTC City Ljubljana0:04:59
53Anna Plichta (Pol) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam0:05:07
54Julia Soek (Ned) Team Sunweb WomenRow 53 - Cell 2
55Vita Heine (Nor) Hitec Products-Birk Sport0:07:26
56Lorena Wiebes (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg0:09:41
57Maaike Boogaard (Ned) BTC City Ljubljana0:09:45
58Juliette Labous (Fra) Team Sunweb Women0:05:07
59Anne De Ruiter (Ned) Parkhotel ValkenburgRow 58 - Cell 2
60Lone Meertens (Bel) Keuken Redants Cycling Team0:09:45
61Marieke van Witzenburg (Ned) Health Mate-Cyclelive TeamRow 60 - Cell 2
62Kirsten Peetoom (Ned) Jos Feron Lady ForceRow 61 - Cell 2
63Kaat Hannes (Bel) Jos Feron Lady ForceRow 62 - Cell 2
64Isabelle Beckers (Bel) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 63 - Cell 2
65Fien Delbaere (Bel) Autoglas Wetteren Cycling TeamRow 64 - Cell 2
66Sabrina Stultiens (Ned) Waowdeals Pro Cycling TeamRow 65 - Cell 2
67Laura Vainionpää (Fin) Health Mate-Cyclelive TeamRow 66 - Cell 2
68Sara Penton (Swe) Team Virtu CyclingRow 67 - Cell 2
69Emilie Moberg (Nor) Team Virtu CyclingRow 68 - Cell 2
70Monique van de Ree (Ned) Waowdeals Pro Cycling TeamRow 69 - Cell 2
71Stine Borgli (Nor) Autoglas Wetteren Cycling TeamRow 70 - Cell 2
72Sara Mustonen Lichan (Swe) Experza-FootlogixRow 71 - Cell 2
73Marta Tagliaferro (Ita) Cylance Pro CyclingRow 72 - Cell 2
74Marion Sicot (Fra) Doltcini-Van Eyck SportRow 73 - Cell 2
75Pascale Jeuland (Fra) Doltcini-Van Eyck SportRow 74 - Cell 2
76Thea Thorsen (Nor) Hitec Products-Birk SportRow 75 - Cell 2
77Louise Norman Hansen (Den) Team Virtu CyclingRow 76 - Cell 2
78Greta Richioud (Fra) DJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine FuturoscopeRow 77 - Cell 2
79Line Marie Gulliksen (Nor) Hitec Products-Birk SportRow 78 - Cell 2
80Demi de Jong (Ned) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 79 - Cell 2
81Susanne Andersen (Nor) Hitec Products-Birk SportRow 80 - Cell 2
82Allegra Arzuffi (Ita) Valcar PBMRow 81 - Cell 2
83Mia Radotic (Cro) BTC City LjubljanaRow 82 - Cell 2
84Silvia Persico (Ita) Valcar PBM0:09:49
85Silvia Pollicini (Ita) Valcar PBMRow 84 - Cell 2
86Ilona Hoeksma (Ned) Parkhotel ValkenburgRow 85 - Cell 2
87Sarah Roy (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott Women0:09:52
88Skylar Schneider (USA) Boels Dolmans CyclingteamRow 87 - Cell 2
DNFLaura Van Geyt (Bel) Wielerclub de Sprinters MalderenRow 88 - Cell 2
DNFLisa Vermeire (Bel) Wielerclub de Sprinters MalderenRow 89 - Cell 2
DNFShana Van Glabeke (Bel) Wielerclub de Sprinters MalderenRow 90 - Cell 2
DNFMaxime Roes (Bel) Wielerclub de Sprinters MalderenRow 91 - Cell 2
DNFKarolina Perekitko (Pol) Wielerclub de Sprinters MalderenRow 92 - Cell 2
DNFLensy Debboudt (Bel) Keuken Redants Cycling TeamRow 93 - Cell 2
DNFTrine Holmsgaard (Den) Experza-FootlogixRow 94 - Cell 2
DNFQuinty Van De Guchte (Ned) Isorex Cycling TeamRow 95 - Cell 2
DNFAlexandra Nessmar (Swe) Jos Feron Lady ForceRow 96 - Cell 2
DNFFrida Knutsson (Swe) Jos Feron Lady ForceRow 97 - Cell 2
DNFClaudia Koster (Ned) Team Virtu CyclingRow 98 - Cell 2
DNFOlena Pavlukhina (Aze) BTC City LjubljanaRow 99 - Cell 2
DNFArianne Pruijsser (Ned) Jos Feron Lady ForceRow 100 - Cell 2
DNFVibeke Dybwad (Nor) Keuken Redants Cycling TeamRow 101 - Cell 2
DNFAgnieszka Skalniak (Pol) Experza-FootlogixRow 102 - Cell 2
DNFSusanna Zorzi (Ita) Experza-FootlogixRow 103 - Cell 2
DNFMalin Eriksen (Nor) Keuken Redants Cycling TeamRow 104 - Cell 2
DNFEvy Roelen (Bel) Keuken Redants Cycling TeamRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFCaren Commissaris (Bel) Jos Feron Lady ForceRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFChloë Turblin (Fra) Health Mate-Cyclelive TeamRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFAlicia Helderweirt (Bel) Isorex Cycling TeamRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFHolly Breck (USA) Cylance Pro CyclingRow 109 - Cell 2
DNFMarcella Toldi (Bra) Cylance Pro CyclingRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFSarah Borremans (Bel) Autoglas Wetteren Cycling TeamRow 111 - Cell 2
DNFMaelle Grossetete (Fra) DJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine FuturoscopeRow 112 - Cell 2
DNFMartine Fon (Nor) quano-Wase Zon Cycling TeamRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFJanine van der Meer (Ned) Health Mate-Cyclelive TeamRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFSheyla Gutierrez (Spa) Cylance Pro CyclingRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFDelphine Brits (Bel) Health Mate-Cyclelive TeamRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFKeira Mc Vitty (GBr) Isorex Cycling TeamRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFLara Defour (Bel) Autoglas Wetteren Cycling TeamRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFKarlijn Swinkels (Ned) Ale CipolliniRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFKim Kohlmeyer (Ger) Autoglas Wetteren Cycling TeamRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFGrace Garner (GBr) Wiggle High7Row 121 - Cell 2
DNFTara Gins (Bel) Health Mate-Cyclelive TeamRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFChayenne Vranken (Bel) Isorex Cycling TeamRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFSarah Inghelbrecht (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck SportRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFSaartje Vandenbroucke (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck SportRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFKim De Baat (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck SportRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFMieke Leeman (Bel) Isorex Cycling TeamRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFJulie Solvang (Nor) Hitec Products-Birk SportRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFKim Van Den Steen (Bel) Autoglas Wetteren Cycling TeamRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFAnisha Vekemans (Bel) Ale CipolliniRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFTherese Belfors (Swe) quano-Wase Zon Cycling TeamRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFSoetkin Vertenten (Bel) quano-Wase Zon Cycling TeamRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFNaïka Deneef (Bel) quano-Wase Zon Cycling TeamRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFGaia Tortolina (Ita) quano-Wase Zon Cycling TeamRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFIlse Temmerman (Bel) quano-Wase Zon Cycling TeamRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFKerry Jonker (Aus) Isorex Cycling TeamRow 136 - Cell 2
DNSPuck Moonen (Ned) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 137 - Cell 2
DNSLauren Kitchen (Aus) DJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine FuturoscopeRow 138 - Cell 2
DNSChantal Hoffmann (Lux) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 139 - Cell 2

 

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