Tour de France winner Kasia Niewiadoma will line up at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad anticipating a full-gas race that may assist her put together for larger targets in the course of the Spring Classics marketing campaign and summer season stage racing season.
The Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto chief predicted that the final two hours of racing could be the hardest however that she would goal to recover from the decisive Muur van Geraardsbergen with the entrance group to contest the win in Ninove.
“I really like Classic racing. The faster I can begin them, the higher I can get for my goal races. Nieuwsblad could be very laborious, particularly within the final two hours. It is simply all out on each sector and climbs, and also you solely have the descents to recuperate. This sort of racing forces you to modify into the combating mindset wanted for the entire spring,” Niewiadoma mentioned.
After an excellent 2024 season the place she received the Tour de France and Flèche Wallonne, Niewiadoma heads into the Belgian classics opener as one of many favourites alongside different contenders Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez), Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck), and Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime).
Niewiadoma has been a staple on the beginning line at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad however her greatest performances have been ninth in 2014 and seventh final yr. Her teammate Tiffany Cromwell received the 2013 version and the pair will likely be joined by Chiara Consonni, Soraya Paladin, Alice Towers and Maike van der Duin on Saturday.
The 137.9km route from Gent to Ninove will showcase the primary ascents within the final half; Edelareberg, Wolvenberg, Molenberg, Leberg, Berendries, Elverenberg Vossenhol, and the ultimate one-two punch of the Muur and Bosberg earlier than a quick run-in to the end line.
“I at all times wish to do my greatest and with that, there are some ambitions related. From previous editions, you may see that the winner is determined on the Muur, so I wish to recover from it within the entrance – powering by means of and never simply holding onto the closest wheel for expensive life,” she mentioned.
The Polish all-rounder already began her racing season on the Setmana Valenciana the place her compatriot and teammate Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka completed twice on the rostrum and sixth total. She has spent the final two weeks fine-tuning her type forward of the Spring Classics, then turns her consideration to summer season stage racing together with a title protection on the Tour.
“It was an adjustment to go from winter coaching into full fuel efforts in the beginning of stage one in Valenciana, however I used to be getting higher with every day. Having two weeks between the final stage and Nieuwsblad has allowed me to fine-tune all of the little particulars that wanted extra consideration.”
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