Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2026: Vollering wins the women's race - thanks to preparatory work by Koch

For the women, the classics season began with the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. In the end, Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) came out on top in the intermediate sprint against Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM-Zondacrypto). Franziska Koch played a big part in her team-mate's victory.

As with the men's race, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad also heralded the start of the 2026 classics season for the women on Saturday. The decision was made in the two-rider sprint between Demi Vollering (FDJ United - Suez) and Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon - SRAM - Zondacrypto) for the win, which European champion Vollering won. Third place was secured 21 seconds later by Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx - Protime). Franziska Koch (FDJ United - Suez) finished in fifth place at the same time and did important work for the victory of her team-mate Vollering.

For the women, 137.2 kilometres were on the programme. From the Holleweg cobbled section onwards, the last 60 kilometres or so of the route were similar to the men's course. A total of nine slip roads and five cobbled sections had to be tackled.

Vollering has already stood on the podium of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in previous years, but never in first place. In 2022, she finished second in the classic, last year she finished third. "I'm happy that I was able to finish. I thought beforehand that I could win - but the fact that I actually did it makes me proud," said Vollering in the winner's interview.

Women's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2026 - Results

How the women's Omloop Nieuwsblad 2026 went

The breakaway group of the day consisted of Lea Lin Teutenberg (Lotto-Intermarché), Émilie Fortin (Minimax) as well as Jony van den Eijnden and Britt de Grave (both Citymesh-Customm). However, Teutenberg and van den Eijnden were caught again early on. Things hardly went any better for Liane Lippert (Movistar), who crashed in the first half of the race.

Due to the weather conditions - rain and wind - the field split up in the meantime. Elise Chabbey (FDJ United - Suez), Nina Berton (EF Education - Oatly), Eleonora Gasparrini (UAE - ADQ) and Kamilla Aasebo (Uno-X Mobility) took advantage of this situation to break away from the field. However, they were only able to pull out a lead of around 30 seconds.

At the Muur van Geraardsbergen, Koch then did the decisive groundwork for her captain Vollering. Only Niewiadoma was able to follow her increase in speed. When the trio caught up with the leading group, Vollering and Niewiadoma broke away as a duo. Together they reached the Flamme Rouge, where Vollering proved to have the better sprint legs.