2024 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Live Coverage
Welcome to our live coverage of 2024 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad! Our live profile and commentary are below, followed by a preview of the technical aspects of the route.
Course Preview
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad kicks off the Classics season of 2024. The 202 kilometres route features twelve hills, sometimes cobbled, and nine flat stretches of pavé. The one-two punch of the Wall of Geraardsbergen and Bosberg inside the last 16 kilometres precedes a flat run-in to the line in Ninove.
The route is virtually a carbon copy of last year’s race. The only changes are in the first part of the Omloop. Effectually, the route is 5.3 kilometres shorter. The hills and cobbles are exactly the same as in the race that was won by Dylan van Baarle and dominated by Jumbo-Visma (now Visma|Lease a Bike).
Climbing commences on the Leberg after almost 40 kilometres, and 64 kilometres later, the second hill takes the shape of the Kattenberg. By now, the action should get started. The first half of the race is nothing special, but after the Kattenberg, it’s full-on action with every 10 kilometres or so another hill. Leberg again, Hostellerie, Valkenberg and Wolvenberg follow in quick succession, while a number of cobbled sectors are thrown in along the way.
After two cobbled sectors in the village of Mater, the finale is well underway, and four ‘hellingen’ appear at even shorter intervals. Within 14 kilometres the riders tackle the Molenberg, Leberg, Berendries and Elverenberg-Vossenhol, while the cobbles of the Haaghoek add another shaking element in this phase.
Still roughly 27 kilometres to go when the Omloop heads for 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%. No time for a breather at the top, as the Bosberg appears very shortly. The partly cobbled climb is 980 metres long and the average gradient sits at 5.8%.
After that final test comes a 12-kilometer-long flat run-in to the finish line in Ninove.
Last year, Dylan van Baarle upped the pace in a small peloton just after the Molenberg, with roughly 40 kilometres to go. Mathis Le Berre, Florian Vermeersch and Jonathan Milan died in his wheel to latch on but were eventually distanced, and the Dutchman soloed to victory. Arnaud De Lie bested Christophe Laporte in the sprint for second place.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad starts at 11 a.m. and the race is expected to finish around 4 p.m. – both are local times (CET).
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