When Lotte Claes (Arkea - B&B Hotels Women) and Aurela Nerlo (Winspace Orange Seal) crossed the finish line, both riders could hardly believe their luck. They benefited from the negligence of the peloton, which clearly failed to close the gap on the two remaining riders of an original five-rider breakaway group. For Claes and Nerlo, first and second place in the Omloop Nieuwsblad World Tour race are the biggest successes of their careers.
Claes pulls away from Nerlo in the final metres
Well before the finish it was already clear that Claes and Nerlo would finish as the breakaway ahead of the peloton around Kasia Niewiadoma or Demi Vollering. The tactics of the two riders began early on. While Nerlo rode confidently in the wind, local heroine Claes launched an attack on a ramp just a few kilometres before the finish. But the Polish rider Nerlo had no problems countering the local heroine's attack. Nerlo then stepped up the pace early on in the final kilometre, but did not manage to pull away decisively. With 300 metres to go, Claes stepped out of the Polish rider's slipstream and overtook her. The 31-year-old then brought her lead to the finish.
Women's Omloop Nieuwsblad 2025 - Results: the top 10
Omloop Nieuwsblad WE: Ghent - Ninove
Omloop Nieuwsblad WE 2025: Omloop Nieuwsblad WE, Ghent - Ninove
| Rnk. | Riders | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arkéa - B&B Hotels Women | 03:39:43 |
| 2 | Winspace Orange Seal | +00:00:00 |
| 3 | FDJ - SUEZ | +00:03:25 |
| 4 | Fenix-Deceuninck | +00:03:25 |
| 5 | Team SD Worx - Protime | +00:03:35 |
| 6 | UAE Team ADQ | +00:03:35 |
How the women's Omloop Nieuwsblad 2025 went
A five-man breakaway group formed after the start of the race on the 137.9 kilometre route between Ghent and Ninove. Elena Pirrone (Roland), Lotte Claes (Arkea - B&B Hotels Women), Aurela Nerlo (Winspace Orange Seal), Julie Stockman (DD Group Pro Cycling Team) and Mieke Docx (Lotto Ladies) managed to break away from the peloton.
The five riders were initially let go by the peloton. Behind them, other riders such as Valerie Demey (VolkerWessels Women's Pro Cycling Team) also endeavoured to catch up with the front of the race. In the end, however, no rider was able to catch up with the leading quintet.
Peloton acts carelessly
With 50 kilometres to go, Julie Stockman had to bid farewell to the front of the race. At the front, the riders worked harmoniously throughout, while the peloton took a very relaxed approach to the chase. As a result, the four remaining escapees had a safe cushion of over 11 minutes 43 kilometres before the finish line.
The peloton slowly woke up. In order to catch the breakaway, they now had to push hard. FDJ - SUEZ in particular was now putting on the pressure. The increase in speed in the peloton had an effect - 20 kilometres before the finish, the lead of the leading quartet was 6 minutes.
Attacks in the wall of Geraardsbergen
At the wall of Geraardsbergen, the so-called "Kapelmuur", there were attacks in the leading group. As a result, Pirrone and Docx had to break away and from then on there were only two riders at the front of the race: Lotte Claes and Aurela Nerlo.
The peloton also stepped up the pace at the "Kapelmuur". Demi Vollering started and several riders were immediately on the Dutchwoman's wheel. This included Marleen Reusser and Liane Lippert (both Movistar). In the end, however, only Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Decuninck) managed to follow Vollering. The two Dutchwomen now chased down the leading duo in pairs.
Vollering attack comes too late
However, it soon became clear that Claes and Nerlo's lead was too big and also unassailable for the two exceptional riders Vollering and Pieterse. In the end, Claes came out on top ahead of Nerlo and celebrated victory at Omloop Nieuwsblad 2025, with Demi Vollering finishing in third place.
