AG Insurance – Soudal ready for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Saturday, March 1, marks the start of the Opening Weekend of the spring classics with the 17th edition of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. AG Insurance – Soudal is ready to battle in the first major race of the season on Belgian soil.

The 137,9 kilometer course takes the riders from Ghent, starting in 't Kuipke, to Ninove. The race’s decisive phase begins right after the cobbled section of Jagerij, where the pace will ramp up significantly. At 42 kilometers from the finish, the demanding Molenberg awaits, quickly followed by one of the first key challenges of the day: the Haaghoek – Leberg duo. From there, the route continues via the Berendries and Elverenberg-Vossenhol, leading into the legendary Muur van Geraardsbergen and the Bosberg—the final climb that often determines the outcome of this race.

AG Insurance – Soudal brings a strong lineup to the start, featuring Anya Louw, Justine Ghekiere, Gaia Masetti, Alexandra Manly, Ilse Pluimers, and Gladys Verhulst – Wild. The riders are well-prepared and will give their all to be in contention for the win in the final.

"It will be my first Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, and I’m really looking forward to it. Climbing is my strength, but if I position myself well on the cobbles, I should be able to survive this race. It will be all about pushing hard and making the right moves at the right time. We have a strong team at the start, so I’m excited to see what we can achieve together!" said an eager Justine.

The action continues on Sunday as the AG Insurance – Soudal U23 team lines up for the 17th edition of Omloop van het Hageland. The 135.6-kilometer course takes the riders from Aarschot to Tielt-Winge, offering another exciting challenge. Representing the team will be Messane Braütigam, Nina Lavenu, Luca Vierstraete, Anna Bruneel, Billy Goossens, Marith Vanhove, and Margot Marasco—a talented squad ready to make their mark in this classic.