Omloop Het Nieuwsblad kicks off the European racing season on the WorldTour and Women's WorldTour, sparking excitement among fans and pressure on riders. The event, known for its rugged Flemish cobbles and challenging climbs, includes separate races for men and women over the weekend. With the weather impacting training, racers are faced with both snowy conditions and a promising warming trend, although early snow could pose a hazard. Top contenders like Jan Tratnik, Wout van Aert, and Demi Vollering are set to compete fiercely.
There's excitement for fans and some trepidation for riders as Saturday's events also mark the start of Opening Weekend, a back-to-back assault through Flemish hills and winds.
Defending Omloop champion Jan Tratnik, 2022 Omloop winner Wout van Aert, and others are among the favourites for the 197km men's contest.
Leading the way to notch the first Classics victory of the season for women are Demi Vollering and Lorena Wiebes, among other competitive riders.
The action starts at 11:15 CET for 197km for the men, with 11 climbs and eight sections of cobbles, the final one with 15.7km to go.
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