Blaak wins women's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Chantal Blaak brought her Boels-Dolmans team their first victory of the season with a solo victory at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Marta Basitanelli (Team Virtu Cycling) was among the large chase group behind Blaak, and she sprinted to second place ahead of Jip van den Bos in third, which gave Boels-Dolmans two spots on the podium.

Blaak went solo off the front and raced over the final summit of the Bosberg with a 28-second advantage over a chase group that appeared to lack the organisation needed to catch the current Dutch champion and former world champion.

Among the large chase group were Black’s teammates; world champion Anna van der Breggen and van den Bos (Boels-Dolmans), along with Marta Bastianelli (Virtu Cycling), Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (CCC Liv), Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM), Annemiek van Vleuten (Mitchelton-Scott), Floortje Mackaij (Sunweb), and Trek-Segafredo teammates Elisa Longo Borghini and Ellen van Dijk.

As the race stretched into the final kilometres, Van Dijk put forth several counter attacks in an attempt to bridge across to Blaak, but the group would not let her go clear and her efforts only served to distance teammate Longo Borghini at times.

With seven kilometres to the finish, Blaak pushed her lead out to 45 seconds and then to 50 seconds a kilometre later, signifying that the chasing riders behind would not catch her. Blaak had twice placed second in previous editions (2016 and 2017) of Omloop Het Nieuwsbald and did not give way to the chasers behind as she saw the victory in her grasp.

How it unfolded

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad kicked off the European classics season for the elite women with the UCI 1.1 one-day race offering the peloton a 123km race from Gent to Ninove. The race included five cobble sectors: Haaghoek (39km), Ruiterstraat (54km), Kerkgate (57km), Jagerij (60km) and Paddestraat (71km).

There were also 10 hills to contend with that included the Leberg (42km), Wolvenberg (54km), Molenberg (66km), Rekelberg (80km), Berendries (84km), Elverenberg-Vossenhol (86km), Tenbosse (91km), Eikenmolen (94km), and the decisive Muur-Kapelmuur (106km) and the final climb over the Bosberg (110km).

Bigla kicked off the race with a solo breakaway in Nicole Hanselmann, who built her lead out of one minute in the opening kilometres of the race. Officials were forced to neutralize the women's race after 35km, however, as they were too close to the back of the elite men's peloton. The elite men's race had started first in the early morning with the elite women's race started under 10 minutes later. 

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad organisers provided a statement on their official Twitter feed regarding the neutralisation of the women's race saying that it was due to the slower speeds of the men's field. "Neutralisation of our women race at railroad crossing in Sint-Denijs-Boekel in #OHNWomen #ohn19 due to a very slow mens race. riders will restart with same timings."

Once the race restarted, Hanselmann approached the cobbles of the Haaghoek with a 15-second lead on the field, while all other chasers were reeled back into the bunch.

The race began to split apart at the halfway point while significant lead groups formed over the Molenberg. Five riders emerged over the top to include Bastianelli, van Vleuten, along with Canyon-SRAM riders Niewiadoma, Ryan and Hannah Barnes. They were soon joined by a larger chase group that included van der Breggen.

The splits among the front of the peloton closed when Blaak launched an attack. She was quickly joined by Niewiadoma and the pair gained a small lead. The advantage didn't stick as the chase group caught up, but Blaak had enough left in the tank to make another attack over the top of the Muur, and this time she was alone in pursuit of her first Omloop victory.

 

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Chantal Blaak (Ned) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam3:20:58
2Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Team Virtu Cycling0:01:09
3Jip van den Bos (Ned) Boels Dolmans CyclingteamRow 2 - Cell 2
4Annemiek van Vleuten (Ned) Mitchelton-Scott WomenRow 3 - Cell 2
5Alexis Ryan (USA) Canyon-SRAMRow 4 - Cell 2
6Jeanne Korevaar (Ned) CCC-LivRow 5 - Cell 2
7Aude Biannic (Fra) Movistar Team WomenRow 6 - Cell 2
8Sofie De Vuyst (Bel) Parkhotel ValkenburgRow 7 - Cell 2
9Christina Malling Siggaard (Den) Team Virtu CyclingRow 8 - Cell 2
10Floortje Mackaij (Ned) Team Sunweb WomenRow 9 - Cell 2
11Anna van der Breggen (Ned) Boels Dolmans CyclingteamRow 10 - Cell 2
12Elena Cecchini (Ita) Canyon-SRAMRow 11 - Cell 2
13Sarah Roy (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott WomenRow 12 - Cell 2
14Chloe Hosking (Aus) Ale CipolliniRow 13 - Cell 2
15Stine Borgli (Nor) Keukens Redant Cycling TeamRow 14 - Cell 2
16Anouska Koster (Ned) Team Virtu CyclingRow 15 - Cell 2
17Katarzyna Niewiadoma (Pol) Canyon-SRAMRow 16 - Cell 2
18Soraya Paladin (Ita) Ale CipolliniRow 17 - Cell 2
19Eugenia Bujak (Slo) BTC City LjubljanaRow 18 - Cell 2
20Leah Thomas (USA) Bigla Pro Cycling TeamRow 19 - Cell 2
21Ellen van Dijk (Ned) Trek-Segafredo WomenRow 20 - Cell 2
22Janneke Ensing (Ned) Team Sunweb WomenRow 21 - Cell 2
23Vita Heine (Nor) Hitec Products-Birk SportRow 22 - Cell 2
24Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (RSA) CCC-LivRow 23 - Cell 2
25Marlen Reusser (Sui) WCC TeamRow 24 - Cell 2
26Valerie Demey (Bel) CCC-LivRow 25 - Cell 2
27Shara Gillow (Aus) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine FuturoscopeRow 26 - Cell 2
28Hannah Barnes (GBr) Canyon-SRAMRow 27 - Cell 2
29Riejanne Markus (Ned) CCC-LivRow 28 - Cell 2
30Eri Yonamine (Jpn) Ale CipolliniRow 29 - Cell 2
31Danielle Christmas (GBr) Lotto Soudal Ladies0:01:25
32Roxane Fournier (Fra) Movistar Team WomenRow 31 - Cell 2
33Lotta Pauliina Lepistö (Fin) Trek-Segafredo WomenRow 32 - Cell 2
34Tiffany Cromwell (Aus) Canyon-SRAMRow 33 - Cell 2
35Bryony van Velzen (Ned) Doltcini-Van Eyck SportRow 34 - Cell 2
36Grace Brown (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott Women0:01:29
37Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) Trek-Segafredo Women0:01:31
38Lucinda Brand (Ned) Team Sunweb WomenRow 37 - Cell 2
39Malgorzata Jasinska (Pol) Movistar Team WomenRow 38 - Cell 2
40Roxane Knetemann (Ned) Parkhotel Valkenburg0:02:02
41Audrey Cordon Ragot (Fra) Trek-Segafredo Women0:02:19
42Tayler Wiles (USA) Trek-Segafredo Women0:04:23
43Barbara Guarischi (Ita) Team Virtu CyclingRow 42 - Cell 2
44Juliette Labous (Fra) Team Sunweb WomenRow 43 - Cell 2
45Leah Kirchmann (Can) Team Sunweb WomenRow 44 - Cell 2
46Alice Barnes (GBr) Canyon-SRAMRow 45 - Cell 2
47Daniela Reis (GBr) DoltciniVan Eyck Sport0:05:32
48Agnieszka Skalniak (Pol) CCC-Liv0:06:24
49Jesse Vandenbulcke (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck SportRow 48 - Cell 2
50Maria Vittoria Sperotto (Ita) Bigla Pro Cycling TeamRow 49 - Cell 2
51Elizabeth Banks (GBr) Bigla Pro Cycling Team0:07:55
52Danique Braam (Ned) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 51 - Cell 2
53Alana Castrique (Bel) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 52 - Cell 2
54Marion Norbert Riberolle (Fra) Multum Accountants Ladies CyclingteamRow 53 - Cell 2
55Rozemarijn Ammerlan (Ned) Rogelli-GyprocRow 54 - Cell 2
56Jessica Allen (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott WomenRow 55 - Cell 2
57Ruth Winder (USA) Trek-Segafredo WomenRow 56 - Cell 2
58Kathrin Schweinberger (Aut) Health Mate-Ladies TeamRow 57 - Cell 2
59Evy Kuijpers (Ned) CCC-LivRow 58 - Cell 2
60Romy Kasper (Ger) Ale CipolliniRow 59 - Cell 2
61Gracie Elvin (Aus) Mitchelton-Scott WomenRow 60 - Cell 2
62Ann-Sophie Duyck (Bel) Parkhotel Valkenburg0:12:01
63Nicole Steigenga (Ned) BePinkRow 62 - Cell 2
64Mikayla Harvey (NZl) Bigla Pro Cycling TeamRow 63 - Cell 2
65Lone Meertens (Bel) Keukens Redant Cycling TeamRow 64 - Cell 2
66Lucy Garner (GBr) Hitec Products-Birk SportRow 65 - Cell 2
67Teniel Campbell (Tto) WCC Team0:12:57
68Jade Wiel (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine FuturoscopeRow 67 - Cell 2
69Anastasiya Kolesava (Blr) WCC TeamRow 68 - Cell 2
70Agua Marina Espinola (Par) WCC TeamRow 69 - Cell 2
71Marion Sicot (Fra) Doltcini-Van Eyck Sport0:12:59
72Emilie Moberg (Nor) Team Virtu CyclingRow 71 - Cell 2
73Mieke Kröger (Ger) Team Virtu CyclingRow 72 - Cell 2
74Nicole Hanselmann (Swi) Bigla Pro Cycling TeamRow 73 - Cell 2
75Eva Buurman (Ned) Boels Dolmans CyclingteamRow 74 - Cell 2
76Saartje Vandenbroucke (Bel) Doltcini-Van Eyck SportRow 75 - Cell 2
77Diana Carolina Peñuela Martinez (Col) Ale CipolliniRow 76 - Cell 2
78Fien Delbaere (Bel) Health Mate-Ladies TeamRow 77 - Cell 2
79Georgia Williams (NZl) Mitchelton-Scott WomenRow 78 - Cell 2
80Antonia Grondahl (Fin) Isorex Cycling TeamRow 79 - Cell 2
81Julia Soek (Ned) Team Sunweb WomenRow 80 - Cell 2
82Christina Schweinberger (Aut) Health Mate-Ladies TeamRow 81 - Cell 2
83Julie Solvang (Nor) Hitec Products-Birk SportRow 82 - Cell 2
84Urska Zigart (Slo) BTC City LjubljanaRow 83 - Cell 2
85Alicia Gonzalez Blanco (Spa) Movistar Team Women0:13:03
86Ilaria Sanguineti (Ita) Valcar-Cylance Cycling0:13:04
87Nadia Quagliotto (Ita) Ale CipolliniRow 86 - Cell 2
88Tatiana Guderzo (Ita) BePink0:13:07
89Alessia Vigilia (Ita) Valcar-Cylance Cycling0:14:17
90Skylar Schneider (USA) Boels Dolmans Cyclingteam0:15:14
91Birgitte Ravandal (Nor) Keukens Redant Cycling Team0:15:49
DNFLaura Süßemilch (Ger) Health Mate-Ladies TeamRow 91 - Cell 2
DNFRachele Barbieri (Ita) BePinkRow 92 - Cell 2
DNFSara Mustonen (Swe) Health Mate-Ladies TeamRow 93 - Cell 2
DNFAlice Sharpe (Irl) WCC TeamRow 94 - Cell 2
DNFThi That Nguyen (Vie) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 95 - Cell 2
DNFSeverine Eraud (Fra) Doltcini-Van Eyck SportRow 96 - Cell 2
DNFMaria Yapura Plaza (Arg) WCC TeamRow 97 - Cell 2
DNFKylie Waterreus (Ned) Health Mate-Ladies TeamRow 98 - Cell 2
DNFPuck Moonen (Ned) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 99 - Cell 2
DNFAiko Uyttenhove (Bel) Multum Accountants Ladies CyclingteamRow 100 - Cell 2
DNFLauren Kitchen (Aus) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine FuturoscopeRow 101 - Cell 2
DNFMarjolein Moreau (Bel) Isorex Cycling TeamRow 102 - Cell 2
DNFCamille Delestrait (Bel) Isorex Cycling TeamRow 103 - Cell 2
DNFQuinty van de Guchte (Ned) Keukens Redant Cycling TeamRow 104 - Cell 2
DNFKatie van Geyte (Bel) Keukens Redant Cycling TeamRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFAmber Lacompte (Bel) Keukens Redant Cycling TeamRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFChloë Turblin (Fra) Health Mate-Ladies TeamRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFKim van den Steene (Bel) Multum Accountants Ladies CyclingteamRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFSilvia Pollicini (Ita) Valcar-Cylance CyclingRow 109 - Cell 2
DNFJosefine Huitfeldt (Ita) Multum Accountants Ladies CyclingteamRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFSilvia Persico (Ita) Valcar-Cylance CyclingRow 111 - Cell 2
DNFNathalie Bex (Bel) Rogelli-GyprocRow 112 - Cell 2
DNFCathalijne Hoolwerf (Ned) Rogelli-GyprocRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFEva Jonkers (Ned) Rogelli-GyprocRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFBritt Knaven (Bel) Rogelli-GyprocRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFIngrit Verhoeff (Ned) Rogelli-GyprocRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFEmily Meakin (GBr) Isorex Cycling TeamRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFCrystal Lane-Wright (GBr) Isorex Cycling TeamRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFSilvia Zanardi (Ita) BePinkRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFLauren Creamer (Irl) Multum Accountants Ladies CyclingteamRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFCharlotte Bravard (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine FuturoscopeRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFChiara Perini (Ita) BePinkRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFChristine Majerus (Lux) Boels Dolmans CyclingteamRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFUrska Pintar (Slo) BTC City LjubljanaRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFMaaike Boogaard (Ned) BTC City LjubljanaRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFAnja Longyka (Slo) BTC City LjubljanaRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFMonique van de Ree (Ned) BTC City LjubljanaRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFMaëlle Grossetete (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine FuturoscopeRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFGreta Richioud (Fra) FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine FuturoscopeRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFFemke Verstichelen (Bel) Isorex Cycling TeamRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFGloria Rodriguez Sanchez (Spa) Movistar Team WomenRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFKatia Ragusa (Ita) BePinkRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFChanella Stougje (Ned) Hitec Products-Birk SportRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFAmalie Lutro (Nor) Hitec Products-Birk SportRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFIngrid Lorvik (Nor) Hitec Products-Birk SportRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFSheyla Gutierrez Ruiz (Spa) Movistar Team WomenRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFEsther van Veen (Ned) Parkhotel ValkenburgRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFLorena Wiebes (Ned) Parkhotel ValkenburgRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFMeike Uiterwijk Winkel (Ned) Parkhotel ValkenburgRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFChiara Consonni (Ita) Valcar-Cylance CyclingRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFVittoria Guazzini (Ita) Valcar-Cylance CyclingRow 141 - Cell 2
DNSJulie Van de Velde (Bel) Lotto Soudal LadiesRow 142 - Cell 2

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Kirsten Frattini
Deputy Editor

Kirsten Frattini is the Deputy Editor of Cyclingnews, overseeing the global racing content plan.

Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling's biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.

She began her sports journalism career with Cyclingnews as a North American Correspondent in 2006. In 2018, Kirsten became Women's Editor – overseeing the content strategy, race coverage and growth of women's professional cycling – before becoming Deputy Editor in 2023.

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