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Squads kick off the classics at Omloop het Nieuwsblad
March 2, 2025
The first cobbled classic of the year was always going to be chaotic.
That’s what we love about racing in Flanders. Our men’s and women’s squads rolled up to Omloop het Nieuwsblad, ready to throw themselves into the action. The crowds that showed up to the start of the race in ‘t Kuipke velodrome in Gent were electric. Our riders fed off their energy but stuck to their game plans, keeping calm and managing their strength well, as they clattered over cobbled bergs at high speed and dodged left and right through Flemish towns at the front of the frenzied peloton.
The cruxes of both races on the hills around the Muur van Geraardsbergen didn’t pan out the way we had hoped.
In the women’s race, the early breakaway was still well up the road, as the teams of favorites had left it very late to chase. That made the final climbs even more explosive. From the peloton, Letizia Borghesi led our team up the Muur, grinding past the chapel at the summit just off the back of a very elite selection. She mounted a brave solo chase and came back to them but was caught by riders from behind and then sprinted to 18th out of what was left of the peloton.
In the men’s race, our team did a huge turn after the top of the Muur to bring back the lead group and try to set Marijn van den Berg up for the sprint. With Vincenzo Albanese by his side, Marijn was in a great spot going into the final uphill drag to the finish in Ninove. But he found himself boxed in during the wild final kilometer and couldn’t find space to launch his sprint. Marijn came across the line in ninth, just behind Vincenzo, who was eighth.
Our squads wanted more from the race.
The Omloop is done. Now, we are all the more motivated for the rest of the classics.
Hear from our riders from the finish of Omloop het Nieuwsblad.
Letizia Borghesi
It was a really weird race, because the first 80 kilometers were really slow. A breakaway went away and got a huge gap. When we hit the climbs, it was full gas.
Personally, I had really good feelings on the climbs and could always be there with the best. I did a really good climb on the Muur, staying with the strongest. I'm a bit disappointed with my final sprint. At 400 meters to go, I was in a really good position, but then suddenly I was closed in and I couldn't sprint. Still, I'm happy about my feelings on the bike and I am confident for the next classics.
Sarah Roy
The whole time, the peloton was a bit on edge. I'm sure that will settle down for the next races. It was an interesting way that it played out, with the break winning which is actually really exciting for them. It was cool to see different people winning. There were some interesting tactics out there. I'm happy to knock the first one out with the team, but still looking forward to some better days here at the classics.
Veronica Ewers
The atmosphere going up the Muur was really cool. I definitely chuckled at the amusement rides in the middle of it. The ferris wheel was a bit much! Being a part of a chaotic race and staying upright was pretty solid. I wanted to be in the break today, which is pretty rough given that they won, but I think it's really cool that they made it to the finish line and the underdogs won.
Nina Berton
It was a weird race. I was a bit frustrated and disappointed in the end.
From around kilometer 74, it got really nervous and fast. Going into the different cobbled sections and climbs, it was always quite a fight for position. Until the Kapelmuur, I felt really good. My legs felt quite good so I was disappointed to get stuck behind the good group in front of Kapelmuur because there was a bit of chaos happening so I lost Wiebes’ wheel.
Nina Kessler did a really good job with positioning. On the Berendries, I had a good feeling and I could climb with the best so at least this gives me some confidence for the next classics. If we have good luck, that will help because we have a good team with a lot of power so that’s something positive to look at. It’s not that our form isn’t good, we just need some more luck. I think we can do some good things in the next classics.
EF Education-Oatly Sports Director Daniel Foder
The early breakaway got a time gap up to about 14 minutes. That changed everything for us, because we knew from kilometer 85, going into the Wolvenberg, it would just be one big chase. Our ambition then was to hang on as well as possible before the Muur, where, of course, it will always explode.
Unfortunately, Nina Berton crashed deep in the final on the Bosberg. Then, we ended in the big group with Sarah and Letizia sprinting for top 20. It was definitely not an easy race. With the quality we have in the team, we could have got something more, but sometimes the circumstances make it difficult.
Marijn van den Berg
It was a hectic day. I was feeling good all day and was always up there in a good position on the climbs. It broke on the Molenberg and I was in the first group, still feeling good. Then, a lot of guys came back who had some teammates with them and they made sure no one went away, so we went for a sprint. It was quite a hectic sprint. There was not really a lot of space for me to go. I'm a bit disappointed with that, because I was feeling good all day and ninth place is not really what I wanted, but the legs are good. I'll try again.
Kasper Asgreen
The boys did everything they could, but when you're missing a bit in the legs on the climb, it's a hard race. Unfortunately, it wasn’t what we hoped for today. We were there at the end and we could pull things back together and try to set Marijn up in the sprint. But then, unfortunately, he got boxed in.
Vincenzo Albanese
I'm very happy to be part of this team, especially in these races. Today, we tried to do the best until the finish. For me, it was a good day, good legs. I'm happy with my form and to be on this team.
Mikkel Honoré
The breakaway went, and then the teams were playing with who had to take control to pull it back. An easy start means a harder finale. At the end, it was a super hard last part of the race.
We rode well together, organized as a team in the final part and sacrificed for one another. It was a pity that we ended with two in the top ten after being a bit closed in the sprint, but I think we can take some positives for Kuurne and all of the races coming up.
EF Education-EasyPost Sports Director Andreas Klier
We were in the game. On the Muur, we could have been better. That's the only climb, where we had to repair afterwards. We had to throw Mikkel Honoré overboard, pulling group two to group one. We were actually lucky that group one in the front was looking at each other.
Vincenzo Albanese did very well until the line. He was really strong, but the sprint didn't work out at all. Vincenzo pulled a lot, helping the team to try to give Marijn the chance to win, and that just didn't work out.