The opening race of the Belgian Classics season delivered exactly what everyone expected: rain, wind, cobbles, and pure Flemish drama. At the Omloop het Nieuwsblad, UAE Team ADQ played a leading role throughout a demanding day, finishing with a strong sixth place thanks to Karlijn Swinkels after a race marked by commitment and a dose of bad luck.
The team was immediately active in the early phases, with an excellent collective effort from Brodie Chapman, Elynor Backstedt, Lara Gillespie, and Megan Jastrab, who worked tirelessly to protect the leaders and guide them safely through the nervous opening kilometres.
A key moment came with a brave and well-timed move by Eleonora Gasparrini, who reacted smartly to an attack by Elise Chabbey (FDJ-SUEZ). Gasparrini joined a four-rider breakaway that also included Nina Berton (EF Education) and Kamila Aasebo (Uno-X). The quartet worked smoothly together, building a solid advantage and staying at the head of the race for several kilometres.
With just over thirty seconds of advantage heading into the decisive phase of the race, the attackers approached the legendary Kapelmuur, where the favourites began to make their move, led by European Champion Demi Vollering.
Shortly before that, misfortune struck UAE Team ADQ. A crash in the peloton brought several riders down, including Lara Gillespie and, crucially, Karlijn Swinkels. Forced to chase, Swinkels showed great determination and resilience, managing to fight her way back into the first chasing group together with Gasparrini.
At the front, after the Kapelmuur, a decisive duo formed with Demi Vollering and Kasia Niewiadoma, who went on to contest the victory, with Vollering taking the win.
Behind them, a group of 13 riders regrouped, featuring both Gasparrini and Swinkels. In the sprint for third place, Swinkels once again showed her fighting spirit, finishing sixth — an excellent result considering the crash and the energy spent in the chase.
Thankfully, both Swinkels and Gillespie escaped the crash without serious consequences, closing a tough but encouraging opening chapter of the Classics campaign for UAE Team ADQ.
(ph. @gettysport)
