Alaphilippe, Gilbert, Van Avermaet, Van der Breggen among top riders training in Belgium for spring Classics opener
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Belgian Frederik Frison leads Lotto Soudal team during recon ride(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux ride the cobbles on a sunny day(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Denmark's Kasper Asgreen of Deceuninck-QuickStep on one of 14 cobbled sectors(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Belgian Greg Van Avermaet rides for his new AG2R Citroën Team(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Four members of Jumbo-Visma ride recon(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Edward Theuns leads Trek-Segafredo teammates on climb(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Alexander Kristoff at front of ride with UAE Team Emirates teammates(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Belgian Gijs Van Hoecke at front of AG2R Citroën group(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
2012 World Champion Philippe Gilbert (Lotto Soudal)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Marcus Burghardt rides with a Bora-Hansgrohe teammate(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Belgian Victor Campenaerts sets pace with Qhubeka Assos teammates(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
B&B Hotels p/b KTM features Belgian Bert De Backer(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Sep Vanmarcke will race in his home country for Israel Start-Up Nation(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Reigning World Champion Julian Alaphilippe of Deceuninck-QuickStep(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
SD Worx was in full force for training in Belgium this week(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)
SD Worx teammates ready for action - Ashleigh Moolman Pasio of South Africa and Anna Van Der Breggen of the Netherlands(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)
Reigning World Champion Anna Van Der Breggen of SD Worx on cobbled climb(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)
SD Worx teammates Briton Anna Shackley and South African Ashleigh Moolman Pasio tackle climb(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)
16th edition of Omloop for women and course recon by Anna van der Breggen, Demi Vollering and Chantal van den Broek-Blaak of SD Worx during training camp this week(Image credit: Getty Images Sport)
Saturday's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad races are the first major meetings for cobbled stars in the spring Classics for the men, covering several weeks racing across Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Italy.
Many of the teams were in Belgium this week to preview the course, a 76th edition covering 200 kilometres with 13 hills and 14 cobbled sections, including the famous Muur van Geraardsbergen.
Last year's winner, Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo), will be back to defend his title, and his team was seen on the cobbles and climbs. Other big names pre-riding the course included Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep), Greg Van Avermaet (AG2R Citröen Team) and Philippe Gilbert (Lotto Soudal).
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Elite Women is the first 'big' race of the season for the women’s peloton. The 2021 route will cover 126 kilometres after a start in Gent and will include five cobbled sectors and 10 climbs, three of which are cob
The SD Worx team was training this week on the cobbles, including Chantal van den Broek-Blaak, a four-time podium finisher in the one-day opener that includes her victory in the 2019 edition, and reigning double world champion Anna van der Breggen, who will try to unseat 2020 winner Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar).
Cyclingnews will provide full reports, results, news, interviews, and analysis throughout the races on Saturday.
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