Wearing the rainbow stripes, Lizzie Armitstead started the season where she left off the last – with a win, this time in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
![]() |
News: Armitstead wins Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Boels-Dolmans Press Release
Lizzie Armitstead started the season where she left off the last – with a win. The British World Champion won Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday, riding the final 10 kiloemtres of the European season opener alone.
The Briton’s win marks the first time a world champion has graced the top step of the podium at the Belgian Classic.
Chantal Blaak gave Boels-Dolmans a second rider on the podium. Coming to the finish with a 22-rider chase group, Blaak edged out Tiffany Cromwell (CANYON//SRAM) for second-place in the reduced bunch sprint. “That wasn’t the plan,†Armitstead said of solo effort. “That wasn’t the plan at all. When I was away I was almost hoping they would catch me. I was out there way too long.â€
The plan was, as it often is, to race aggressively to force a selection. Armitstead lifted the pace just beyond the Lange Munted – the fifth and final cobbled sector – and found herself in what she called “an accidental breakawayâ€.
“It wasn’t an attack,†Armitstead insisted. “It was people messing around and watching each other and not watching me, which never happens, so that was really cool. I went to the front of the group and accelerated and somehow ended up on my own.â€
Armitstead was joined up the road by Australian Gracie Elvin (ORICA-AIS).The duo stretched out their advantage to 45-seconds but Elvin wasn’t sharing in the work.
“It was really frustrating to me,†said Armitstead. “I thought, well, we still have the numbers to play behind, so I’m not working if you’re not working. We stopped completely in the road and looked really stupid. But there was a slight drag in the road. I attacked Gracie, and I never looked back.â€
Behind Armitstead, Rabo-Liv and Wiggle High5 led a disorganised chase group. “People hesitated a bit,†noted Blaak, who was in the chase group when Armitstead went away. “Wiggle and Rabo started riding. They kept Lizzie at a certain distance but they couldn’t close it completely. We were waiting because we know when it comes back, we might need to attack again.â€
Boels-Dolmans never needed to attack again as Armitstead’s solo bid for the line proved successful. Frequently asked about the curse of the rainbow jersey over the winter, Armitstead’s decisive victory proved a powerful response.
“I was number 13 today as well,†Armitstead said. “That shows how much I believe in those things. Yeah. I think World Champions aren’t lucky. You work hard and you don’t suddenly stop working next winter because you’re world champion. It gives me extra motivation more than anything.â€
It was a true team effort on Saturday, and Boels-Dolmans was always in control. In an early ten-rider breakaway, the Dutch team had three riders with Armitstead, Blaak and Megan Guarnier. Over the Molenberg, Ellen van Dijk slipped away, giving Boels-Dolmans an upper-hand heading into the Paddestraat. Romy Kasper led a fragmented bunch just beyond the Paddestraat.
Nikki Harris, who made her road racing debut with Boels-Dolmans on Saturday, made every selection and showed that she will prove useful to the team this sprint.
“I’m really happy,†said Armitstead. “It’s always nice to start a season with a win. It makes the rest of the wins easier. The morale in the team is high right now. We’re in a really good place. I’m really proud of how the team road today. I think this is only the start.â€
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- TT Result: Wolsey RC 10m TT
- TT Result: Seamons CC 25m TT
- STARTLIST: National Youth Circuit Series (Wyke)
- Result: Spring in the Park #8
- Result: National Masters Circuit Championships
- Result: Matlock CC Darley Moor Circuit Race #4
- Result: North East Youth League (NEYL) 5
- Result: West Thames League Rnd 14
- Result: On Yer Bike Crit Series #6
- Men’s Tour of Britain Route Update
- Result: Bath CC Odd Down Mid Summer Series Round 1
- Result: SACA Salt Ayre Tuesday Round 14
- Result: PNE Mountbatten Circuit Series #7
- Result: RL360 Isle of Man Youth League 13
- Result: Sheffield Grand Prix Support Races
- RESULT: Sheffield Grand Prix
- Result: Forge Valley Crits #3 P/B YBC
- Result: Hove Park Crits #2
- TT Result: VTTA (London & Home Counties) 10
- Result: CCA Summer in the City Crits #11
- Result: AIRC Course de Deux #1
- Result: Castle Combe Summer Series 9
- Result: Cream First Criterium Series 10
- Result: Chorley CC UCLAN Series 3
- Result: Cowley Road Condors Road Race (women)
- TT Result: AeroCoach Midland Championships
- TT Result: North Devon Velo 10
- TT Result: Jubilee Rumble Strip 10
- TT Result: Muckle CC TT
- TT Result: Cleveland Wheelers CC 18
- TT Result: Wyre Forest Cycle Racing Club 10
- Result: White Rose Youth League R7
- Result: Surrey League/London Dynamo RR
- TT Result: RTTC National 100 Mile Championship
- TT Result: Zak Carr Memorial 10
- TT Result: Yorkshire Cycling Federation 50
- TT Result: Port Sunlight Wheelers 10
- TT Result: Lindsey Roads CC 10
- TT Result: Lea Valley CC 10
- TT Result: Alltrax 10m TT
Other News on VeloUK
- STARTLIST: National Youth Circuit Series (Wyke)
- Men’s Tour of Britain Route Update
- GB Team for Track Euros
- Opening of Sir Mark Cavendish Raceway
- Bike News: Ribble Cycles Alloy Bikes
- This Weekend: Junior Road Championships
- Wednesday: Otley Cycle Races
- Mid Shropshire Wheelers celebrates 100 Years of Cycling
- Team Feature: Prologue Junior Racing Team Spring Review
- New: Ribble Cycles Ultra-Grit & Allgrit Ranges
- START LISTS FOR BRITISH ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS
- STARTLIST: Two day Giant Tugby Ronde van Wymeswold
- NEWS: MAJOR JUNIOR TEAMS TO MERGE FOR 2026
- Entries Wanted: Ilkley Town Centre Races
- Report/Result: Women’s Tour of Britain Stage 2
- Report: Women’s Tour of Britain Stage 1
- STARTLIST: Owen Blower Memorial Road Races
- Events: Halesowen Academy Road Race
- News: May Pedal Club Lunch
- RIBBLE PARTNERS WITH THE BIKE FITTERS
- Monday: Witham Wheelers Road Races
- British Stars for Women’s Tour of Britain
- Women’s Tour of Britain Riders 2025
- BIKES: RIBBLE UNVEILS ULTRA-RACE
- Women’s Tour of Britain Routes
- STARTLISTS: 2025 Lincoln Grand Prix
- STARTLIST: The Witham Hall Grand Prix
- Startlist: Timmy James Memorial Grand Prix
- FEATURE: PEDAL CLUB LUNCH REPORT (APRIL)
- 2025 BRITISH ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS – ROUTES
- STARTLIST: Sloan Trophy (April 27)
- News: Teams Revealed for the Women’s Tour of Britain
- Startlist: CiCLE Classic International
- Sunday: CiCLE Classic UCI Road Race
- News: Women’s Tour of Britain Stage Hosts
- PERTH GRAND PRIX (SCOTLAND)
- April 19: PNE National B Road Race
- STARTLIST: East Cleveland Classic
- Startlists: Witham Hall Junior Two Day (Men & Women)
- Startlist: Totnes-Vire Two Day