View source for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

{{short description|Recurring sporting event}}
{{Infobox cycling race
| name          = {{Lang|nl|Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|italic=no}}
| current_event =
| image         =Omloop Het Nieuwsblad-logo 2022.png
| image_caption =
| date          = Late February
| region        = [[Flanders]], Belgium
| localnames    = {{Lang|nl|Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|italic=no}} (Dutch)
| nickname      = ''The Omloop'' <br/> ''The Opening Classic''
| discipline    = [[Road bicycle racing|Road]]
| competition   = [[UCI World Tour]]
| type          = One-day
| director      = Wim Van Herreweghe
| history     = Men's history
| first       = {{start date|1945}}
| number      = 77 (as of 2024)
| last        =
| firstwinner = {{flagathlete|[[Jean Bogaerts]]|BEL}}
| mostwins    = {{flagathlete|[[Joseph Bruyère]]|BEL}}<br />{{flagathlete|[[Ernest Sterckx]]|BEL}}<br />{{flagathlete|[[Peter Van Petegem]]|BEL}}<br />''(3 wins each)''
| mostrecent  = {{flagathlete|[[Jan Tratnik]]|SVN}}
| history_women     = Women's history
| first_women       = {{start date|2006}}
| number_women      = 19 (as of 2024)
| last_women        =
| firstwinner_women = {{flagathlete|[[Suzanne de Goede]]|NED}}
| mostwins_women    = {{flagathlete|[[Suzanne de Goede]]|NED}}<br />{{flagathlete|[[Emma Johansson]]|SWE}}<br />{{flagathlete|[[Anna van der Breggen]]|NED}}<br />{{flagathlete|[[Annemiek van Vleuten]]|NED}}<br />''(2 wins each)''
| mostrecent_women  = {{flagathlete|[[Marianne Vos]]|NED}}
|organiser=[[Flanders Classics]]}}
'''{{Lang|nl|Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|italic=no}}''', previously '''Omloop Het Volk''', is a one-day [[Road bicycle racing|road cycling race]] in Belgium, held annually in late February.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Omloop Het Nieuwsblad |url=https://firstcycling.com/race.php?r=53 |website=FirstCycling.com |language=en}}</ref> It is the opening event of the Belgian cycling season, as well as the first race of the year in Northwestern Europe, and holds significant prestige because of it.<ref name="CN preview 2015">{{cite web|last1=Barry|first1=Ryan|title=Omloop Het Nieuwsblad marks coming of Belgian spring. Boonen, Wiggins and Cavendish on show at opening weekend|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/omloop-het-nieuwsblad-elite-2015/preview/|website=Cyclingnews|date=26 February 2015 |access-date=12 December 2015}}</ref> Since [[2017 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2017]], the race is part of the [[UCI World Tour]], cycling's top-tier professional events.<ref name="2017CN">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-expands-worldtour-to-37-events/ |title=UCI expands WorldTour to 37 events |access-date=2 October 2016 |work=Cycling News|date=2 August 2016 }}</ref><ref name="2017UCI">{{Cite web|url=http://www.uci.ch/pressreleases/the-uci-reveals-expanded-uci-worldtour-calendar-for-207/ |title=The UCI reveals expanded UCI WorldTour calendar for 2017 |access-date=2 October 2016 |work=UCI}}</ref>
The race starts in [[Ghent]], [[Flanders]] and finishes in [[Ninove]], [[Flanders]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Women's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2020 Preview |url=https://www.procyclinguk.com/womens-omloop-het-nieuwsblad-2020-preview/ |website=ProCyclingUK.com |date=25 February 2020 |access-date=28 February 2020}}</ref> The race route covers the hills in the [[Flemish Ardennes]], marking the start of the [[cobbled classics]] season in Europe. Due to its early calendar date, it is characterized by often cold weather, coming as a contrast to the early-season stage races in the Middle East and Southern Europe.<ref name= "CN preview 2016" >{{cite web|title=Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Elite 2016|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/omloop-het-nieuwsblad-elite-2016/|website=[[Cycling News]]|access-date=23 February 2016}}</ref> The day after the {{Lang|nl|Omloop}}, [[Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne]] completes the opening weekend.
Since 2006, a women's edition of {{Lang|nl|Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|italic=no}} is held on the same day as the men's race, also starting in Ghent and finishing in Ninove, approximately 130 kilometres in distance. Both events are organized by [[Flanders Classics]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (Bel) - Cat.1.UWT |url=http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.eu/ligne/cla_het_volk.php |accessdate= |work=Memoire-du-cyclisme.eu |language=fr}}</ref>
[[File:Tom Boonen 28-02-2009 11-29-17.JPG|thumb|260px|[[Tom Boonen]] at the start of the [[2009 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2009 event]]]]
==History==
===Omloop Het Volk===
First held in 1945, the race was called ''Omloop van Vlaanderen ("Circuit of Flanders")''. The event was initiated by [[Flanders|Flemish]] newspaper ''[[Het Volk (newspaper)|Het Volk]]'', in response to rivaling newspaper ''[[Het Nieuwsblad]]'''s [[Classic cycle races|classic]], the [[Tour of Flanders]]. ''Het Volk'', of [[Left-wing politics|left-leaning]] publication, wanted to start a new cycling event in Flanders as a rival race to what it saw as the Tour of Flanders' closeness to the Nazis during World War II.{{efn|The Tour of Flanders is the only [[classic cycle races|cycling classic]] in Europe that was organized on German-occupied territory during the Second World War and in full agreement with the German command.<ref>Bicycling, USA, undated cutting</ref> The Germans not only allowed and enjoyed the race but helped police the route as well.<ref name="Konrad p101">Konrad, Gabe and Melanie (200), Bikelore, On The Wheel Publications (USA), {{ISBN|1-892495-32-5}}, p101</ref> This led to accusations of [[Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy|collaboration]] with [[Nazi Germany]].<ref>[http://www.sbrshop.com/aboutus/staythecourse/stc20070418.php SBR, Stay the Course, Tour de Flanders, April 7th, 2007 by Christophe Vandaele] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309121559/http://sbrshop.com/aboutus/staythecourse/stc20070418.php |date=2016-03-09 }}</ref>}}<ref name="DailyPeloton">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailypeloton.com/displayarticle.asp?pk=3419|title=Daily Peloton – Pro Cycling News|work=dailypeloton.com}}</ref> The ''Ronde's'' organizers protested that the name was too close to their own – there is little [[semantics|semantic]] difference between "Ronde" and "Omloop". The Belgian cycling federation demanded Het Volk to change the name of the event, prompting Het Volk to serve as title sponsor of their own race.<ref>Vanwalleghem, Rik, Het Wonder van Vlaanderen, Pinguin, Belgium, {{ISBN|90-73322-09-X}}, p69</ref><ref>Vanwalleghem, Rik, Het Wonder van Vlaanderen, Pinguin, Belgium, {{ISBN|90-73322-09-X}}, p72</ref> In 2009 the former rival newspapers ''Het Volk'' and ''Het Nieuwsblad'' merged, causing the event to be renamed ''Omloop Het Nieuwsblad'' for its 64th edition.{{efn|[[Het Nieuwsblad]], as the bigger newspaper, became the name-bearer of the merge.}}<ref>{{cite web|last1=Haake|first1=Bjorn|title=64th Omloop Het Nieuwsblad – 1.HC: New name, similar route for Classic opener|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2009/feb09/hetvolk09/|website=[[cyclingnews.com]]|access-date=8 July 2016}}</ref> Until 2016, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad was ranked as a [[UCI race classifications|1.HC event]] of the [[UCI Europe Tour]]; since 2017, it is included in the [[UCI World Tour]].<ref name="2017CN"/>
===Winter race===
Due to its early-season calendar date, the race has occasionally been affected by cold and wintry conditions.<ref name= "CN preview 2016" /> Three editions of the event were cancelled. The 1971 race was postponed due to snow and run three weeks later. In 1986 and 2004 organizers were forced to cancel the race, as snow and freezing temperatures had made the route too dangerous and riders' safety could not be guaranteed.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=Jeff|title=59th Omloop Het Volk|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2004/feb04/hetvolk04/|website=cyclingnews.com|access-date=8 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=Jeff|title=Het Volk cancelled|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2004/feb04/hetvolk04/?id=results|website=cyclingnews.com|access-date=8 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=Jeff|title=An icy start in Belgium|url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2005/feb05/hetvolk05/?id=default|website=cyclingnews.com|access-date=8 July 2016}}</ref> In modern times, organizers rely heavily on weather forecasts and adjust the course if some sectors are deemed unsafe. Unrelated to the weather, the 1960 race was cancelled following a disagreement between the organizers and cycling's ruling body [[Union Cycliste Internationale|UCI]].{{efn|UCI had given better calendar dates to other Belgian races, prompting ''Het Volk'' to call off the race in protest.}}
===Belgian opening race===
Traditionally the opening event of the Belgian cycling season, the race holds particular importance for Belgian cyclists. Throughout its history, Belgian riders, comfortable with cold weather and aided by large, supportive crowds, have dominated the race. Belgians have won 56 editions, although, exemplary for the growing international status of the race, they have only won four of the last ten editions. In 1948 Italian cycling icon [[Fausto Coppi]] won the race, but was disqualified for receiving an illegal wheel-change.{{efn|Belgian Walschott had given Coppi his wheel, but rules allowed assistance only from team-mates}}
The record for wins is three, shared by [[Joseph Bruyère]], [[Ernest Sterckx]] and [[Peter van Petegem]]. Bruyère holds the fastest average (43.35&nbsp;km/h) for his 1975 win. Other notable winners include [[Eddy Merckx]], [[Roger De Vlaeminck]], [[Freddy Maertens]], [[Johan Museeuw]], [[Philippe Gilbert]] and [[Thor Hushovd]].
==Route==
[[File:Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2015.jpg|thumb|180px|left|Route of the [[2015 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2015 edition]]]]
{{Lang|nl|Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|italic=no}} starts in [[Ghent]], [[East Flanders]], and addresses the [[Flemish Ardennes]] in the south of the [[Provinces of Belgium|province]], featuring numerous short climbs, before returning to Ghent.<ref name="roadmap16" /> From 1996 until 2007 the finish was in [[Lokeren]], 20&nbsp;km east of Ghent.
At 200 kilometres and with 13 climbs in the ''hill zone'', the course is challenging and arduous. Additionally, there are several flat stretches of cobbles.<ref name= "CN preview 2016" /> Despite annual changes, some of the regular climbs in the {{Lang|nl|Omloop}} are the [[Leberg]], [[Berendries]], [[Taaienberg]], [[Muur van Geraardsbergen]], [[Eikenberg]] and [[Molenberg (Zwalm)|Molenberg]]. Due to its hilly course in the Flemish Ardennes, the race is similar in nature to the [[Tour of Flanders]], and is often used in preparation for the bigger event five weeks later. The [[2016 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2016 race]] featured one new climb, Boembekeberg, as a replacement for the Molenberg, which was skipped because of road works.<ref name="roadmap16" >{{cite web|title=Roadmap|url=http://ohn.pro.p.assets.flandersclassics.be/files/2682/original/omloop2016-elite-men-roadmap.pdf|website=omloophetnieuwsblad.be|publisher=[[Flanders Classics]]|access-date=22 February 2016}}</ref> This was reversed for the [[2017 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2017 race]].
Both the official start and finish are traditionally on Ghent's largest square, ''[[Sint-Pietersplein]]''. Every seven years however, when [[Easter]] comes early in the year, the square is booked for the annual [[Lent|Mid-Lent]] fair and organizers need to find different locations. In 2016 and 2017, the [[:nl:Citadelpark|Citadel city park]], next to the [[Kuipke]] velodrome, served as start location. The finish was on the Emile Clauslaan [[thoroughfare]], near the starting place.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bekijk hier het gewijzigde parcours van de Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|url=http://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20160223_02144671|website=[[Het Nieuwsblad]]|date=23 February 2016 |publisher=[[Mediahuis]]|access-date=23 February 2016}}</ref>
{{clear}}
==Men's winners==
The following riders have won the race:<ref name="Men">{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclingarchives.com/wedstrijdfiche.php?wedstrijdid=347 |title=Omloop Het Nieuwsblad |access-date=27 February 2016 |work=Cycling Archives}}</ref>
[[File:PodiumHetVolk2008.jpg|thumb|Podium of the [[2008 Omloop Het Volk]]: [[Nick Nuyens]], [[Philippe Gilbert]] and [[Thor Hushovd]].]]
[[File:Gent - Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, 28 februari 2015 (E16).JPG|thumb|Podium of the [[2015 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2015 event]]: [[Niki Terpstra]], winner [[Ian Stannard]] and [[Tom Boonen]].]]
[[File:Gent - Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, 27 februari 2016 (E18).JPG|thumb|[[2016 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2016 podium]]: [[Peter Sagan]], [[Greg Van Avermaet]] and [[Tiesj Benoot]].]]
{{Cycling past winner start}}
|-
|colspan=4 align=center|↓ '''"Omloop van Vlaanderen"''' ↓
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1945 Omloop Het Volk|1945]]|name={{sortname|Jean|Bogaerts}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Alcyon–Dunlop]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1946 Omloop Het Volk|1946]]|name={{sortname|André|Pieters||Pieters, Andre}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Alcyon–Dunlop]]}}
|-
|colspan=4 align=center|↓ '''"Omloop Het Volk"''' ↓
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1947 Omloop Het Volk|1947]]|name={{sortname|Albert|Sercu}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Bertin–Wolber]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1948 Omloop Het Volk|1948]]|name={{sortname|Sylvain|Grysolle}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Zircon]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1949 Omloop Het Volk|1949]]|name={{sortname|André|Declerck||Declerck, Andre}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Bertin–Wolber]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1950 Omloop Het Volk|1950]]|name={{sortname|André|Declerck||Declerck, Andre}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Bertin–Wolber]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1951 Omloop Het Volk|1951]]|name={{sortname|Jean|Bogaerts}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Starnord–Wolber]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1952 Omloop Het Volk|1952]]|name={{sortname|Ernest|Sterckx}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[L'Avenir (cycling team)|L'Avenir]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1953 Omloop Het Volk|1953]]|name={{sortname|Ernest|Sterckx}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[L'Avenir (cycling team)|L'Avenir]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1954 Omloop Het Volk|1954]]|name={{sortname|Karel|De Baere}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Mercier–BP–Hutchinson]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1955 Omloop Het Volk|1955]]|name={{sortname|Lode|Anthonis}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[L'Avenir (cycling team)|L'Avenir]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1956 Omloop Het Volk|1956]]|name={{sortname|Ernest|Sterckx}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[L'Avenir (cycling team)|L'Avenir]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1957 Omloop Het Volk|1957]]|name={{sortname|Norbert|Kerckhove}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Faema–Guerra]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1958 Omloop Het Volk|1958]]|name={{sortname|Joseph|Planckaert}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Carpano (cycling team)|Carpano]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1959 Omloop Het Volk|1959]]|name={{sortname|Seamus|Elliott}}|nat=IRL|natvar=|team=[[Helyett–Fynsec]]}}
{{Cycling past winner no race|year=1960|reason=disagreement between organisation and UCI}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1961 Omloop Het Volk|1961]]|name={{sortname|Arthur|De Cabooter}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Groene Leeuw–Sinalco–SAS]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1962 Omloop Het Volk|1962]]|name={{sortname|Robert|De Middeleir}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Wiel's–Groene Leeuw]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1963 Omloop Het Volk|1963]]|name={{sortname|René|Van Meenen}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Wiel's–Groene Leeuw]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1964 Omloop Het Volk|1964]]|name={{sortname|Frans|Melckenbeek}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Mercier–BP–Hutchinson]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1965 Omloop Het Volk|1965]]|name={{sortname|Noël|De Pauw||De Pauw, Noel}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Solo–Superia]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1966 Omloop Het Volk|1966]]|name={{sortname|Jo de|Roo}}|nat=NED|natvar=|team=[[Televizier–Batavus]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1967 Omloop Het Volk|1967]]|name={{sortname|Willy|Vekemans}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Goldor–Gerka]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1968 Omloop Het Volk|1968]]|name={{sortname|Herman|Van Springel}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Mann–Grundig]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1969 Omloop Het Volk|1969]]|name={{sortname|Roger|De Vlaeminck}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|FLA|1969}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1970 Omloop Het Volk|1970]]|name=[[Frans Verbeeck (cyclist)|Frans Verbeeck]]|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Geens–Watney]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1971 Omloop Het Volk|1971]]|name={{sortname|Eddy|Merckx}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Molteni (cycling team)|Molteni]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1972 Omloop Het Volk|1972]]|name=[[Frans Verbeeck (cyclist)|Frans Verbeeck]]|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Watney–Avia]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1973 Omloop Het Volk|1973]]|name={{sortname|Eddy|Merckx}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Molteni (cycling team)|Molteni]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1974 Omloop Het Volk|1974]]|name={{sortname|Joseph|Bruyère}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Molteni (cycling team)|Molteni]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1975 Omloop Het Volk|1975]]|name={{sortname|Joseph|Bruyère}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Molteni (cycling team)|Molteni-RYC]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1976 Omloop Het Volk|1976]]|name={{sortname|Willem|Peeters}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[IJsboerke–Colnago]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1977 Omloop Het Volk|1977]]|name={{sortname|Freddy|Maertens}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|FLA|1977}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1978 Omloop Het Volk|1978]]|name={{sortname|Freddy|Maertens}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|FLA|1978}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1979 Omloop Het Volk|1979]]|name={{sortname|Roger|De Vlaeminck}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Gis Gelati]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1980 Omloop Het Volk|1980]]|name={{sortname|Joseph|Bruyère}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Marc-Carlos-V.R.D.]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1981 Omloop Het Volk|1981]]|name={{sortname|Jan|Raas}}|nat=NED|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|TIR|1981}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1982 Omloop Het Volk|1982]]|name={{sortname|Alfons|De Wolf}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Vermeer Thijs]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1983 Omloop Het Volk|1983]]|name={{sortname|Alfons|De Wolf}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Bianchi–Piaggio]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1984 Omloop Het Volk|1984]]|name={{sortname|Eddy|Planckaert}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Panasonic (cycling team)|Panasonic]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1985 Omloop Het Volk|1985]]|name={{sortname|Eddy|Planckaert}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Panasonic (cycling team)|Panasonic]]}}
{{Cycling past winner no race|year=1986|reason=snow}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1987 Omloop Het Volk|1987]]|name={{sortname|Teun van|Vliet}}|nat=NED|natvar=|team=[[Panasonic (cycling team)|Panasonic]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1988 Omloop Het Volk|1988]]|name={{sortname|Ronny|Van Holen}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Roland (cycling team)|Roland]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1989 Omloop Het Volk|1989]]|name={{sortname|Etienne|De Wilde}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team=[[Histor–Sigma]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1990 Omloop Het Volk|1990]]|name={{sortname|Johan|Capiot}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|TVM|1990}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1991 Omloop Het Volk|1991]]|name={{sortname|Andreas|Kappes}}|nat=GER|natvar=|team=[[Toshiba–Look]]}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1992 Omloop Het Volk|1992]]|name={{sortname|Johan|Capiot}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|TVM|1992}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1993 Omloop Het Volk|1993]]|name={{sortname|Wilfried|Nelissen}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|NOV|1993}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1994 Omloop Het Volk|1994]]|name={{sortname|Wilfried|Nelissen}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|NOV|1994}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1995 Omloop Het Volk|1995]]|name={{sortname|Franco|Ballerini}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|MAP|1995}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1996 Omloop Het Volk|1996]]|name={{sortname|Tom|Steels}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|MAP|1996}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1997 Omloop Het Volk|1997]]|name={{sortname|Peter|Van Petegem}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|TVM|1997}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1998 Omloop Het Volk|1998]]|name={{sortname|Peter|Van Petegem}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|TVM|1998}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[1999 Omloop Het Volk|1999]]|name={{sortname|Frank|Vandenbroucke|Frank Vandenbroucke (cyclist)}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|COF|1999}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2000 Omloop Het Volk|2000]]|name={{sortname|Johan|Museeuw}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|MAP|2000}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2001 Omloop Het Volk|2001]]|name={{sortname|Michele|Bartoli}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|MAP|2001}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2002 Omloop Het Volk|2002]]|name={{sortname|Peter|Van Petegem}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|SIL|2002}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2003 Omloop Het Volk|2003]]|name={{sortname|Johan|Museeuw}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|QST|2003}}}}
{{Cycling past winner no race|year=2004|reason=snow}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2005 Omloop Het Volk|2005]]|name={{sortname|Nick|Nuyens}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|QST|2005}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2006 Omloop Het Volk|2006]]|name={{sortname|Philippe|Gilbert}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|FDJ|2006}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2007 Omloop Het Volk|2007]]|name={{sortname|Filippo|Pozzato}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|LIQ|2007}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2008 Omloop Het Volk|2008]]|name={{sortname|Philippe|Gilbert}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|FDJ|2008}}}}
|-
|colspan=4 align=center|↓ '''"Omloop Het Nieuwsblad"''' ↓
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2009 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2009]]|name={{sortname|Thor|Hushovd}}|nat=NOR|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|CTT|2009}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2010 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2010]]|name={{sortname|Juan Antonio|Flecha}}|nat=ESP|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|SKY|2010}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2011 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2011]]|name={{sortname|Sebastian|Langeveld}}|nat=NED|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|RAB|2011}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2012 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2012]]|name={{sortname|Sep|Vanmarcke}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|GRS|2012a}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2013 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2013]]|name={{sortname|Luca|Paolini}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|KAT|2013}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2014 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2014]]|name={{sortname|Ian|Stannard}}|nat=GBR|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|SKY|2014}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2015 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2015]]|name={{sortname|Ian|Stannard}}|nat=GBR|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|SKY|2015}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2016 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2016]]|name={{sortname|Greg|Van Avermaet}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|BMC|2016}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2017 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2017]]|name={{sortname|Greg|Van Avermaet}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|BMC|2017}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2018 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2018]]|name={{sortname|Michael|Valgren}}|nat=DEN|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|AST|2018}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2019 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2019]]|name={{sortname|Zdeněk|Štybar}}|nat=CZ|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|QST|2019}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2020 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2020]]|name={{sortname|Jasper|Stuyven}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|TFS|2020}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2021 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2021]]|name={{sortname|Davide|Ballerini}}|nat=ITA|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|QST|2021}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2022 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2022]]|name={{sortname|Wout|van Aert}}|nat=BEL|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|TJV|2022}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2023 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2023]]|name={{sortname|Dylan|van Baarle}}|nat=NED|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|TJV|2023}}}}
{{Cycling past winner rider|year=[[2024 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2024]]|name={{sortname|Jan|Tratnik}}|nat=SVN|natvar=|team={{UCI team code|TJV|2024}}}}
{{Cycling past winner end}}
===Multiple winners===
''Riders in italics are active''
{| class="wikitable"
! Wins
! Rider
! Editions
|-
| align=center rowspan= 3 | '''3''' || {{flagathlete|[[Ernest Sterckx]]|BEL}} || [[1952 Omloop Het Volk|1952]], [[1953 Omloop Het Volk|1953]], [[1956 Omloop Het Volk|1956]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Joseph Bruyère]]|BEL}} || [[1974 Omloop Het Volk|1974]], [[1975 Omloop Het Volk|1975]], [[1980 Omloop Het Volk|1980]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Peter Van Petegem]]|BEL}} || [[1997 Omloop Het Volk|1997]], [[1998 Omloop Het Volk|1998]], [[2002 Omloop Het Volk|2002]]
|-
| align=center rowspan= 14 | '''2''' || {{flagathlete|[[Jean Bogaerts]]|BEL}} || [[1945 Omloop Het Volk|1945]], [[1951 Omloop Het Volk|1951]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[André Declerck]]|BEL}} || [[1949 Omloop Het Volk|1949]], [[1950 Omloop Het Volk|1950]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Frans Verbeeck (cyclist)|Frans Verbeeck]]|BEL}} || [[1970 Omloop Het Volk|1970]], [[1972 Omloop Het Volk|1972]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Eddy Merckx]]|BEL}} || [[1971 Omloop Het Volk|1971]], [[1973 Omloop Het Volk|1973]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Freddy Maertens]]|BEL}} || [[1977 Omloop Het Volk|1977]], [[1978 Omloop Het Volk|1978]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Roger De Vlaeminck]]|BEL}} || [[1969 Omloop Het Volk|1969]], [[1979 Omloop Het Volk|1979]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Fons De Wolf]]|BEL}} || [[1982 Omloop Het Volk|1982]], [[1983 Omloop Het Volk|1983]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Eddy Planckaert]]|BEL}} || [[1984 Omloop Het Volk|1984]], [[1985 Omloop Het Volk|1985]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Johan Capiot]]|BEL}} || [[1990 Omloop Het Volk|1990]], [[1992 Omloop Het Volk|1992]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Wilfried Nelissen]]|BEL}} || [[1993 Omloop Het Volk|1993]], [[1994 Omloop Het Volk|1994]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Johan Museeuw]]|BEL}} || [[2000 Omloop Het Volk|2000]], [[2003 Omloop Het Volk|2003]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Philippe Gilbert]]|BEL}} || [[2006 Omloop Het Volk|2006]], [[2008 Omloop Het Volk|2008]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Ian Stannard]]|GBR}} || [[2014 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2014]], [[2015 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2015]]
|-
|{{flagathlete|[[Greg Van Avermaet]]|BEL}} || [[2016 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2016]], [[2017 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|2017]]
|}
===Wins per country===
{| class="wikitable"
! Wins|| Country
|-
| 58 || {{BEL}}
|-
| rowspan= 2 | 5 || {{ITA}}
|-
| {{NED}}
|-
| 2 || {{GBR2}}
|-
| rowspan= 7 | 1 || {{CZE}}
|-
| {{DEN}}
|-
| {{GER}}
|-
| {{IRL}}
|-
| {{NOR}}
|-
| {{SVN}}
|-
| {{ESP}}
|}
==Women==
Since 2006 there is a women's version of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Held on the same day as the men's event, it uses much of the same roads and equally opens the women's cycling season in Northern Europe. In recent editions the route is 122&nbsp;km, featuring eight climbs and six sections of cobbles.<ref>{{cite web|title=Van der Breggen wins women's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/omloop-het-nieuwsblad-elite-women-2015/results/|website=Cyclingnews|date=28 February 2015 |access-date=12 December 2015}}</ref> The race became part of the [[UCI Women's WorldTour]] in 2023. {{asof|2022}}, Dutch riders [[Suzanne de Goede]], [[Anna van der Breggen]] and [[Annemiek van Vleuten]] and Sweden's [[Emma Johansson]] have won the race twice.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%"
! Edition
! Winner
! Second
! Third
|-
|colspan=4 align=center|'''"Omloop Het Volk"'''
|-
| [[2006 Omloop Het Volk – Women's race|2006]]
| {{flagicon|NLD}} [[Suzanne de Goede]]
| {{flagicon|NLD}} [[Mirjam Melchers]]
| {{flagicon|GER}} [[Tanja Schmidt-Hennes|Tanja Hennes]]
|-
| [[2007 Omloop Het Volk – Women's race|2007]]
| {{flagicon|DEN}} [[Mie Lacota]]
| {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Monica Holler]]
| {{flagicon|NLD}} [[Jaccolien Wallaard]]
|-
| [[2008 Omloop Het Volk – Women's race|2008]]
| {{flagicon|NLD}} [[Kirsten Wild]]
| {{flagicon|GER}} [[Angela Brodtka]]
| {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Emma Johansson]]
|-
|colspan=4 align=center|'''"Omloop Het Nieuwsblad"'''
|-
| [[2009 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad – Women's race|2009]]
| {{flagicon|NLD}} [[Suzanne de Goede]]
| {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Noemi Cantele]]
| {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Kelly Druyts]]
|-
| [[2010 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad – Women's race|2010]]
| {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Emma Johansson]]
| {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Liesbet De Vocht]]
| {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Grace Verbeke]]
|-
| [[2011 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad – Women's race|2011]]
| {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Emma Johansson]]
| {{flagicon|NED}} [[Andrea Bosman]]
| {{flagicon|NED}} [[Chantal van den Broek-Blaak|Chantal Blaak]]
|-
| [[2012 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (women's race)|2012]]
| {{flagicon|NED}} [[Loes Gunnewijk]]
| {{flagicon|NED}} [[Ellen van Dijk]]
| {{flagicon|GER}} [[Trixi Worrack]]
|-
|[[2013 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (women's race)|2013]]
|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Tiffany Cromwell]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Megan Guarnier]]
|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Emma Johansson]]
|-
|[[2014 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (women's race)|2014]]
|{{flagicon|NED}} [[Amy Pieters]]
|{{flagicon|SWE}} [[Emma Johansson]]
|{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Lizzie Deignan|Lizzie Armitstead]]
|-
|[[2015 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (women's race)|2015]]
|{{flagicon|NED}} [[Anna van der Breggen]]
|{{flagicon|NED}} [[Ellen van Dijk]]
|{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Lizzie Deignan|Lizzie Armitstead]]
|-
|[[2016 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (women's race)|2016]]
|{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Lizzie Deignan|Lizzie Armitstead]]
|{{flagicon|NED}} [[Chantal van den Broek-Blaak|Chantal Blaak]]
|{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Tiffany Cromwell]]
|-
|[[2017 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (women's race)|2017]]
|{{flagicon|NED}} [[Lucinda Brand]]
|{{flagicon|NED}} [[Chantal van den Broek-Blaak|Chantal Blaak]]
|{{flagicon|NED}} [[Annemiek van Vleuten]]
|-
|[[2018 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (women's race)|2018]]
|{{flagicon|DEN}} [[Christina Siggaard]]
|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Alexis Ryan]]
|{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Maria Giulia Confalonieri]]
|-
|[[2019 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (women's race)|2019]]
|{{flagicon|NED}} [[Chantal van den Broek-Blaak|Chantal Blaak]]
|{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Marta Bastianelli]]
|{{flagicon|NED}} [[Jip van den Bos]]
|-
|[[2020 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (women's race)|2020]]
|{{flagicon|NED}} [[Annemiek van Vleuten]]
|{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Marta Bastianelli]]
|{{flagicon|NED}} [[Floortje Mackaij]]
|-
|[[2021 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (women's race)|2021]]
|{{flagicon|NED}} [[Anna van der Breggen]]
|{{flagicon|DEN}} [[Emma Norsgaard Jørgensen]]
|{{flagicon|NED}} [[Amy Pieters]]
|-
|[[2022 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (women's race)|2022]]
|{{flagicon|NED}} [[Annemiek van Vleuten]]
|{{flagicon|NED}} [[Demi Vollering]]
|{{flagicon|NED}} [[Lorena Wiebes]]
|-
|[[2023 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (women's race)|2023]]
|{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Lotte Kopecky]]
|{{flagicon|NED}} [[Lorena Wiebes]]
|{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Marta Bastianelli]]
|-
|[[2024 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (women's race)|2024]]
|{{flagicon|NED}} [[Marianne Vos]]
|{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Lotte Kopecky]]
|{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Elisa Longo Borghini]]
|}
===Multiple winners===
{| class="wikitable"
! Wins
! Rider
! Editions
|-
| align=center rowspan= 4 | 2 ||  {{flagathlete|[[Suzanne de Goede]]|NED}}  || 2006, 2009
|-
| {{flagathlete|[[Emma Johansson]]|SWE}}  || 2010, 2011
|-
| {{flagathlete|[[Anna van der Breggen]]|NED}}  || 2015, 2021
|-
| {{flagathlete|[[Annemiek van Vleuten]]|NED}}  || 2020, 2022
|}
===Wins per country===
{| class="wikitable"
! Wins|| Country
|-
| 12 || {{NED}}
|-
| rowspan= 2 | 2 || {{DEN}}
|-
| {{SWE}}
|-
| rowspan= 3 | 1 || {{AUS}}
|-
| {{BEL}}
|-
| {{GBR2}}
|}
==Omloop Het Nieuwsblad U23==
{{main article|Omloop Het Nieuwsblad U23}}
An edition of the race for under-23 men has been held since 1950.
==Notes==
{{notelist}}
==References and footnotes==
* ''European Cycling – The 20 Greatest Races'' by Noel Henderson (1989) {{ISBN|0-941950-20-4}}.
{{reflist|30em}}
==External links==
{{commons category|Omloop Het Nieuwsblad}}
*{{Official website|http://www.omloophetnieuwsblad.be/en}}
{{Omloop Het Nieuwsblad}}
{{UCI World Tour}}{{UCI Women's World Tour}}{{Classic cycle races}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Omloop Het Nieuwsblad}}
[[Category:Omloop Het Nieuwsblad| ]]
[[Category:UCI World Tour races]]
[[Category:UCI Europe Tour races]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1945]]
[[Category:1945 establishments in Belgium]]
[[Category:Annual sporting events in Belgium]]
[[Category:Winter events in Belgium]]
[[Category:Super Prestige Pernod races]]
[[Category:Women's road bicycle races]]
[[Category:Men's road bicycle races]]