Four former champions will be on the start line for Saturday’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, a race that marks the traditional opening of the Spring Classics season. Defending champion Lotte Claes of Fenix-Premier Tech will return, alongside compatriot Lotte Kopecky, widely considered a favorite. Joining them are two-time winner Anna van der Breggen, and Tiffany Cromwell of Canyon-SRAM, whose victory in 2013 predates the current decade.
Cromwell’s win came when Omloop Het Nieuwsblad was a 1.2 event, before the establishment of the Women’s WorldTour, and outside of the then-existing World Cup calendar. The course itself differed significantly from the modern iteration, featuring climbs earlier in the race and a flatter finale, creating a different tactical dynamic. Despite the lower ranking, Cromwell recalls the victory as profoundly meaningful.
“It’s definitely still strong in my memory, because I’m not a rider who’s had a lot of big victories, so the ones that I have had have always left a lasting impression,” Cromwell told Cyclingnews. “It was one of those days that just went perfect.”
Riding for Orica-AIS at the time, Cromwell’s team included Emma Johansson, who finished third, alongside Loes Gunnewijk, Gracie Elvin, Amanda Spratt and Jessie Maclean. The 2013 edition was marked by bitterly cold conditions, a recurring feature of Opening Weekend. Cromwell described racing in full thermal gear, including a neck warmer pulled over her face.
“I got there, it was a really, really cold day…we had a super cold spring,” Cromwell said. “The goal wasn’t for me to win, we had Emma Johansson in the team and the goal was to function for her. But as an Australian coming out of the Australian summer, we often have great form early, and it was just that.”
Cromwell’s victory followed stage wins at the Giro d’Italia Femminile and Route de France, adding to a growing palmarès. She recalled that even at the time, winning Omloop carried significant weight. “I remember when I won it, people were like ‘wow, that’s huge, you won a Classic’,” she said.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad has evolved considerably since 2013. While still signaling the start of the Spring Classics, it is no longer the first race of the season for many riders, with increased competition in January and February. This has led to a deeper, more competitive field.
“The traditionalists still look at it as Opening Weekend even though it’s far from actual Opening Weekend, but it’s still the Opening Weekend of the Classics,” Cromwell explained. “But I perceive people arrive into it now with a lot more fitness, a lot more form. The sport has got way more professionalised, way more serious, teams are doing more and more training camps. So for sure people are coming to the start line and the depth is much, much deeper.”
The race itself has also grow more challenging, with a greater emphasis on cobbled climbs. Cromwell likened the current course to the older iterations of the Tour of Flanders, which previously finished with the Muur and Bosberg climbs. “It started as being not as hard as what it is now, it was more like the warm up into the Classics, but like with many events they’ve all got harder, they try to make them more challenging,” she said.
Flanders Classics, the race organizer, has been instrumental in the growth of women’s cycling, increasing television coverage and prioritizing the event. Cromwell highlighted their commitment to elevating the women’s race. “They were one of the first to say ‘OK, the sport is growing’,” she said. “They were one of the first to put in the TV time, or more than the mandatory, and they put us into the prime time slot.”
Flanders Classics has also focused on aspects beyond prize money, recognizing the importance of television viewership, organization, and safety measures. While they have since matched prize money between the men’s and women’s races, Cromwell acknowledged the importance of a holistic approach to development.
Now 37, Cromwell will be the oldest rider on the start line on Saturday, bringing a wealth of experience to Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto. She will fulfill a key role as a road captain and domestique, supporting her team’s ambitions. “For me, I’ve had my ups and downs, I’ve had my results but also been there and been a teammate, but I think I’ve had a team that has really appreciated what I bring to the team and doing that role,” she said. “With Canyon-SRAM, there’s plenty of times they could have said ‘you’re not good enough anymore’ but knowing that I’m valued, knowing I can still come to the start line and be competitive.”
Cromwell expressed confidence in her team’s preparation and their pursuit of a Classics victory. “We want to win,” she stated. “Every team goes with the highest ambitions and then they’re either crash and burn in the first race or you start well and you just keep building on that so we’re hoping for the latter.”
