Omloop Nieuwsblad women’s race RECAP - Demi Vollering wins first Omloop title in sprint against Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney

Demi Vollering (FDJ United-SUEZ) kick-started her Spring Classics season with her first Omloop Nieuwsblad title, out-sprinting Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) for the victory in Ninove.

After second and third-place finishes in recent years, Vollering’s ascension to the top step of the podium was underlined by a near-perfect race from her team. 

FDJ United-SUEZ played their cards perfectly to secure the win for Vollering, with new signing Franziska Koch putting in the decisive attacking move on the Muur-Kapelmuur to launch her team-mate to victory, and Elise Chabbey setting up the previous breakaway. 

The Muur proved once again to be a pivotal point in the race, this year with Koch leading Vollering up past Chabbey’s breakaway group at the perfect moment. 

Vollering was met by fellow former Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift champion Niewiadoma-Phinney, who reached the top of the 1.1 km, 7.5% climb in the fastest time of 2'37".

The Polish national champion stuck by Vollering up until the final 150 metres, where the Dutchwoman powered to a clear victory in the sprint after working to wear her fellow breakaway rider out.

Before the Muur, Belgian favourite Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) was delayed by an unfortunately timed crash involving a large group of riders, which damaged her derailleur and ultimately put her out of contention, unable to gain a positive position on the famed climb.

Kopecky’s SD Worx teammate Lorena Wiebes clinched third place as she led the chase group over the line.

The Belgian rider confirms after the race that she was held up by the crash in the peloton before the Muur.

She said: "It was a crash and the girl behind me, I think crashed into my derailleur, and I could not shift anymore and I had to change [bikes]. Luckily, it was Elena Cecchini who gave me her bike but yeah, just before the Muur, the worst possible moment... If you're not in position on the Muur, then your race is over...If you're not there, you can be whoever you want but you don't manage to come back there. I felt okay, it's always a little bit hectic the first race but I mean, overall it was a good feeling."

1. Demi Vollering (FDJ United-SUEZ) 3:35'51"

2. Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) "

3. Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx - Protime) 21"

4. Cat Ferguson (Movistar) "

5. Franziska Koch (FDJ United-SUEZ)"

6. Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ) "

7. Shari Bossuyt (AG Insurance - Soudal) "

8. Millie Couzens (Fenix-Premier Tech) "

9. Nina Berton (EF Education-Oatly)"

10. Letizia Paternoster (Liv AlUla Jayco)"

A huge ride from young British riders Ferguson and Couzens!

A great start to the Spring Classics for Niewiadoma-Phinney! Wiebes takes third from the group behind, 21 seconds back from our winner.

The Dutch rider takes her first Omloop title! Twice on the podium before, she now moves to the top step!

Here she comes!

Will she hold on?!

Here we go then, 1km left! Niewiadoma sits behind Vollering.

Vollering encouraging Niewiadoma to keep working!

A 38" advantage for our front two as they move into the final 4km!

Vollering and Niewiadoma retain their gap! I can't wait to see how this plays out...neither of these front two riders have won this race before! 15 riders in the chase group now.

Into the final 10km and it's a gap of around 48" now for the breakaway duo, with Van der Breggen coming to the front of the chase group again.

They've created a gap of around 28" here as they approach the climb! Van der Breggen and Wiebes both in this chase group, as are Chabbey, Koch, and Ferguson among others - looking like around 10 riders in the mix.

The two Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift winners go clear at the front of the race after the Muur! The Polish champ gets a time of 2'37" up the iconic climb! The gap is growing to the group behind.

The 2023 champ is trying to make her way back up on the Muur, not sure if she was delayed by that crash but she's got some work to do now after dropping back!

The new signing for FDJ does a fabulous job to bring Vollering up on the climb, reaching and surpassing the breakaway!

AG Insurance - Soudal put in the work to reduce the gap, before Koch puts in a huge move to bring Vollering up with her as the road steepens!

Around 16 riders go down in this crash, Zoe Backstedt is one of them, but she swiftly gets back on her way again. Consonni, Alessia Vigilia (Uno-X Mobility), and Karlijn Swinkels (UAE Team ADQ) also impacted.