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Omloop van het Hageland -
Tielt-Winge
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Omloop van het Hageland is the
fourth race in Belgium in just over a week and the final
before racing move on to the Netherlands. In previous years it
has attracted many of the big names of the women's peloton.
The field is not as strong in 2015 as Strade Bianche the day
before has attracted the attention of most of the big names.
Emma Johansson and Lizzie Armitstead are both two-time winners
but will not be making it a third. Of last years top 10 only
Sofie De Vuyst is down to ride.
The second round of the season long Lotto Cycling Cup. No UCI
points are on offer for winning the Lotto Cycling Cup but
there is jerseys, prize money available across the overall,
sprint, mountains and team classifications. As well as the
standard UCI points for the individual race.
2014 Results
1 Elizabeth ARMITSTEAD 3:15:43
2 Emma JOHANSSON +0
3 Audrey CORDON +4
4 Thalita DE JONG +4
5 Sofie DE VUYST +4
6 Annemiek VAN VLEUTEN +4
7 Jessie DAAMS +4
8 Amanda SPRATT +7
9 Katarzyna NIEWIADOMA +9
10 Elisa LONGO BORGHINI +9
Past Winners
2014 Elizabeth Armitstead
2013 Emily Collins
2012 Elizabeth Armitstead
2011 Emma Johansson
2010 Emma Johansson
2009 Andrea Bosman
2008 Liesbet De Vocht
2007 Louise Moriarty
2006 Ilse Geldhof
2005 Ludivine Henrion
The Route
The 120.1km race starts with an opening lap of 53.1km before
five laps of a local 13.4km finishing circuit. The opening
20km of the race as mostly flat, with the remainder of the lap
up and down. The first categorised climb Kerkstraat comes
after 49km, just ahead of the start of the finishing circuits.
As the peloton crosses the finish line to start the finishing
circuits riders have the first sprint. Sprint points are
available on the line the first four laps. The first seven
kilometres of the lap are flat before the Roeselberg, with GPM
points on offer the first four laps. Over the top the road
levels out for around four kilometres before a descent and
flat run in to the finish.
The Contenders
Start list available
here
Sofie De Vuyst
Finished fifth here last year in a select chase group between
that was four seconds down on Lizzie Armitstead and Emma
Johansson. A very strong classics rider who is often under the
radar as she doesn't ride for one of the big teams. Top 10
last year in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Le Samyn des Dames, Omloop
van het Hageland and Gent-Wevelgem plus numerous other top 20
finishes. Very strong from a select group.
Boels Dolmans
The team might be without defending champion Lizzie Armitstead
but they still have the strongest team in the race. Chantal
Blaak has had a very strong start to the year finishing fourth
at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad before taking a convincing win over
Anna Van der Breggen and Emma Johansson at Le Samyn during the
week.
Blaak is a rider who likes to attack
especially in the closing stages and that is usually how she
picks up her wins but has proven this year that her sprint is
as strong as ever.
Ellen Van Dijk won Ronde van Vlaanderen last year when she
attacked and nobody was willing to chase with Lizzie
Armitstead sitting on. If Van Dijk managed to get even a small
gap she will be hard to bring back without a strong
coordinated chase and there are few teams with the strength of
Boels in the race. Started 2015 very strongly finishing third
overall in Qatar and taking a solo stage win.
Alexis Ryan (National Team United
States)
Alexis Ryan is in her second year as a professional and had a
strong debut last year in the spring classics. Finished 15th
last year in the main peloton and 12th at Gent-Wevelgem a race
with a similar field. Ryan has a quick finish and should not
be discounted from a select group.
Other names to keep an eye on from the US National team
including Kendall Ryan, Heather Fischer and Coryn Rivera.
Poitou-Charentes.Futuroscope.86
Pascale Jeuland started 2015 strongly finishing eighth overall
at the Ladies Tour of Qatar. Doesn't quite have the speed to
match the pure sprinters but has a strong history at the race.
Sixth in 2011 and 13th and 14th the past two years. If she
still has the form she did in Qatar will be challenging for a
top 10.
Roxane Fournier won the opening stage of Trophée d'Or Féminin
at the end of 2014 and picked up where she left off finishing
fourth on the final stage of the Ladies Tour of Qatar last
month. A quick finisher, finished fourth at the Tour of
Chongming Island last year. Won the bunch sprint for 11th in
2014.
Aude Biannic is another name to watch from the only French UCI
team.
Lucy Martin (Matrix Fitness)
Martin is the most experienced rider on Matrix and is now in
her fifth year as a professional. Had a difficult time the
past two years but is ready to bounce back in a new
environment. Finished ninth in 2012 and could well find
herself improving on that this year. Her track background
gives her a quick sprint from a select group.
Sara Olsson is another rider who has been continually
improving and is ready to step up. British duo of Penny Rowson
and Jessie Walker are also worth watching.
Wiggle Honda
Jolien D'hoore took five wins in 2014 including the Belgium
Championship for 25 top 10 finishes. Has picked up where she
left off finishing sixth at the Ladies Tour of Qatar and
narrowly missed a medal finishing fourth in the omnium at the
Track World Championships. One of the fastest finishers in the
race and has proven to be very strong just after track season
Dani King returns from injury and decided to sit out the
2014/15 track season to focus on the road. King showed just
what she is capable of during the British Championships last
year. Unlikely to be at her best having suffered a life
threatening crash at the end of 2014 but will be an important
learning experience.
Lucy Garner and Amy Pieters
With Kirsten Wild having left the team it is time for two time
junior World Champion Lucy Garner and 2014 Omloop Het
Nieuwsblad winner to step up and start taking wins. Garner had
a strong first year as a professional in 2013 winning a stage
of the Tour of Chongming Island but was quieter in last year.
There is no doubting Garner is one of the quickest finishers
in the peloton. Took podium finishes at Molecaten Drentse 8,
Grand Prix de Dottignies and Dwars door de Westhoek last year.
Amy Pieters has a quick finisher but is a more punchier
sprinter and a strong classics rider. Was regularly in the mix
last year with the likes of Emma Johansson and Lizzie
Armitstead. Ninth at the Tour of Qatar but doesn't seem to
have the form of last season.
Lauren Kitchen
Kitchen has had a strong start to 2015 finishing ninth in the
road race at the Australian Championships before taking the
Oceania road race title and silver in the time trial. Before
adding two second places and fourth overall at the Women's
Tour of New Zealand. Will be chasing an early season win in
Europe and a win would be a big confidence boost.
Other names to watch: Kaat Hannes, Soline Lamboley, Fanny
Riberot, Emilie Moberg, Claudia Lichtenberg and Anna Christian
and Eileen Roe. |
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