'I had to believe I could do it' - Lotte Claes on surprising Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Women victory

NINOVE BELGIUM MARCH 01 LR Aurela Nelos of Poland and Team Winspace Orange Seal on second place race winner Lotte Claes of Belgium and Team Arkea BB Hotels Women and Demi Vollering of Netherlands and Team FDJ Suez on third place pose on the podium ceremony after the 17th Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2025 Womens Elite a 1379km one day race from Ghent to Ninove UCIWWT on March 01 2025 in Ninove Belgium Photo by Rhode Van ElsenGetty Images.

If one moment summed up how unexpected Lotte Claes' victory had been in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, it was surely when one of the world's top racers, Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) leaned over on the winner's podium to give her a hand opening the champagne bottle.

Claes’ triumph was not just a surprise because it was her first, with favourites of the calibre of Vollering finishing third at best.  She has also only been a fully-fledged professional for two years, working as a nurse prior to that as well as racing as much as she could.