Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2023

The latest results from the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2023

Dylan van Baarle takes solo victory at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Wout Van Aert may not have been racing at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, but that didn't stop Jumbo-Visma from defending their title on the streets of Ninove. This time, it was Dylan van Baarle who took top honours, attacking on the Molenberg, dropping his breakaway companions and taking a solo win.

Check out the full report, results and gallery.

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Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Information

In 2023 Omloop het Nieuwsblad Elite will be the first WorldTour race on European soil, taking place February 25 from Ghent to Ninove. There is a new finish line for the opening spring Classic this year in Nivone, on the Elisabethlaan and no longer on the Onderwijslaan, providing a wider and slightly uphill conclusion to the 207.3km race.

Read the full Omloop Het Nieuwsblad route details.

Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) made his winning attack 13km out from the finish line to take an incredible solo victory at last year's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. He made his move just prior to the final climb, the Bosberg, and then crested that climb with a lead of about 10 seconds. 

He held his solo lead to the finish in Ninove. Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Victorious) won the sprint for second place from a group of about 20 riders, with Greg Van Avermaet (AG2R Citröen) finishing behind in third. 

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Elite marks the traditional opening of the spring Classics and has historically been heralded by some as the beginning of 'serious' racing in Europe. The main spring period may be a little further away, but the gentle early-season racing is out of the way and the tone will be set for the spring. 

The race, which holds its 78th edition in 2023, takes place in the heart of the Flemish Ardennes, on many of the same cobbles and bergs as the Tour of Flanders five weeks down the line. Omloop Het Nieuwsblad was first held in 1945, and in that time, three editions have been missed - 1960, 1986, 2004 - largely due to the wintery conditions that often strike northern Belgium in February.

Formerly known as Omloop Het Volk, the merging of newspaper companies now means the race is named after the Flemish daily, Het Nieuwsblad. Together with Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne the very next day, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad forms one part of what's widely known as the 'Opening Weekend'. 

Jean Bogaerts was the first winner and Belgians have gone on to dominant race, with only 20 winners from outside the home nation. Three Belgians - Ernest Sterckx, Joseph Bruyère, Peter Van Petegem - hold the joint record of three victories. 

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Past winners

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2023 teams

• AG2R Citroën Team
• Alpecin-Deceuninc
• Astana Qazaqstan Team
• Bahrain Victorious
• Bora-Hansgrohe
• Cofidis
• EF Education-EasyPost
• Groupama-FDJ
• Ineos Grenadiers
• Intermarché-Circus-Wanty
• Jumbo-Visma
• Movistar Team
• Soudal QuickStep
• Team Arkéa-Samsic
• Team DSM
• Team Jayco AlUla
• Trek-Segafredo
• UAE Team Emirates
• Bingoal WB
• Human Powered Health
• Israel-Premier Tech
• Lotto Dstny
• Team Flanders-Baloise
• Team TotalEnergies
• Uno-X Pro Cycling Team