After two early cobbled sectors, the climbing kicks off after just over 50 kilometres on the Leberg. It’s somewhat of a blank shot in this phase, but that’s different when the riders tackle the same climb again at kilometre 120.9. Almost 8 kilometres later, the Valkenberg awaits, as the race gradually moves towards its crucial phase.
Tension is building as the riders hit the steep cobbles of the Eikenberg. Once over the top, with 55.6 kilometres remaining, the race kicks into a higher gear. In the following 27 kilometres, the organisers send the peloton over the Wolvenberg, Molenberg, Leberg, Berendries, and Elverenberg-Vossenhol—a section further spiced up with four cobbled sectors. After the relatively easy climb of Elverenberg-Vossenhol, more than 28 kilometres remain.
With roughly 27 kilometres to go, the Omloop heads towards the one-two punch of the Wall of Geraardsbergen and Bosberg. The steep and cobbled Wall is just 475 metres long but averages 9.3% and ramps up to almost 20%. There’s no time for a breather at the top, as the Bosberg appears very shortly after. The partly cobbled climb is 980 metres long, with an average gradient of 5.8%.
After that final test comes a 12-kilometre flat run-in to the finish line in Ninove.
Last year, Matteo Jorgenson attacked between the Elverenberg-Vossenhol climb and the Kapelmuur, breaking away from a lead group including Wout van Aert, Christophe Laporte, Arnaud De Lie, Toms Skujins, and Gianni Moscon. As more riders bridged across, Jorgenson built up a half-minute lead. For a moment, it looked promising for the American, but the Bosberg proved his undoing.
Jan Tratnik then launched an attack with 9 kilometres to go, and Nils Politt joined him. The chase group hesitated, and Politt did most of the heavy lifting at the front. Tratnik gladly accepted the free ride and outkicked the German in the sprint to take the win.
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Other interesting reads: results and start list 2025 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
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