The 2017 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad was a road cycling one-day race that took place on 25 February 2017. It was the 72nd edition of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and was the fourth event of the 2017 UCI World Tour. It was the first time that the race was included in the UCI World Tour calendar.

The race was won, from a three-up sprint finish, by Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team), ahead of the reigning world champion Peter Sagan – riding for Bora–Hansgrohe – and Cannondale–Drapac's Sep Vanmarcke completed the podium, after the three riders broke away from the field in the final quarter of the race.

Teams

As a new event to the UCI World Tour, all UCI WorldTeams were invited to the race, but not obligated to compete in the race. As such, fifteen of the eighteen WorldTeams – all except Team Dimension Data, Movistar Team and UAE Team Emirates – competed in the race. Ten UCI Professional Continental teams competed, completing the 25-team peloton.

UCI WorldTeams

UCI Professional Continental teams

Route

After a forced relocation from Sint-Pietersplein to the Citadel Park[nl] – the site adjacent to the Kuipke velodrome – for the 2016 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the Citadel Park again hosted the start of the race. The finish was once again held on the Emile Claus thoroughfare, close to the starting place.

At 198.3 kilometres (123.2 miles) and with thirteen climbs in the hill zone, the course was challenging and arduous. Additionally, there were several flat stretches of cobbles. After a year's hiatus due to roadworks, the Molenberg returned to the race for its 2017 edition; the Eikenberg was also partially paved for the 2017 race.

Categorised climbs and cobbles

Climbs and cobbled sections in the 2017 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
No.NameDistance fromSurfaceLength (metres)Gradient (%)
Start (km)Finish (km)(ave.)(max.)
Haaghoek51.4146.9cobbles2000
1Leberg54.4143.9asphalt9504.2%13.8%
2Berendries58.5139.8asphalt9407%12.3%
3Tenbosse63.4134.9asphalt4506.9%8.7%
4Eikenmolen68.9129.4asphalt6105.9%12.5%
5Muur van Geraardsbergen80.7117.6cobbles7509.3%19.8%
6Valkenberg98.499.9asphalt5408.1%12.8%
Haaghoek107.291.1cobbles2000
7Kaperij117.081.3asphalt10005.5%9%
8Kruisberg128.969.4asphalt & cobbles18004.8%9%
Donderij133.664.7cobbles800
9Taaienberg138.659.7cobbles5306.6%15.8%
10Eikenberg143.954.4cobbles12005.2%10%
11Wolvenberg147.051.3asphalt6457.9%17.3%
Ruiterstraat147.151.2cobbles800
Karel Martelstraat148.449.9cobbles1300
Holleweg149.848.5cobbles350
Haaghoek154.443.9cobbles2000
12Leberg157.440.9asphalt9504.2%13.8%
13Molenberg162.935.4cobbles4637%14.2%
Paddestraat167.830.5cobbles2300
Lippenhovestraat170.527.8cobbles1300
Lange Munte177.520.8cobbles2500

Result

Result
RankRiderTeamTime
1Greg Van Avermaet (BEL)BMC Racing Team4h 55' 06"
2Peter Sagan (SVK)Bora–Hansgrohe+ 0"
3Sep Vanmarcke (BEL)Cannondale–Drapac+ 0"
4Fabio Felline (ITA)Trek–Segafredo+ 45"
5Oscar Gatto (ITA)Astana+ 52"
6Luke Rowe (GBR)Team Sky+ 52"
7Oliver Naesen (BEL)AG2R La Mondiale+ 52"
8Jasper Stuyven (BEL)Trek–Segafredo+ 52"
9Matteo Trentin (ITA)Quick-Step Floors+ 56"
10Adrien Petit (FRA)Direct Énergie+ 58"

External links