Belgium 28 Feb 2026 Class 1.WWT – 1 day – UCI Women’s WorldTour
Website www.omloopnieuwsblad.be
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Nina Berton: Biography and Career Overview
Nina Berton is a Luxembourgish professional racing cyclist, currently competing at the World Tour level. As of early 2026, she is in her second season with the EF Education-Oatly team.
Professional Career & Profile
- Current Team: EF Education-Oatly (joined in 2025).
- Specialization: She is a budding classics rider known for her aggressive racing style and ability to perform in challenging weather conditions.
- Key Teams: * EF Education-Oatly (2025–Present)
- Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling (2023–2024)
- Andy Schleck-CP NVST-Immo Losch (2021–2022)
Achievements & Stats
- UCI Wins: She has secured 2 UCI victories in her career thus far.
- National Success: She has been a consistent podium finisher at the Luxembourg National Championships, including multiple 2nd place finishes in the Road Race (2021, 2022, 2023, 2025) and Time Trial (2024, 2025).
- Rankings: As of February 2026, she holds 326th place in the UCI World Ranking.
- 2026 Season: Her early 2026 schedule includes the UAE Tour Women and the Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, with an upcoming start at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on February 28.
Personal Background
Nickname: “Noodles.”
Born: August 3, 2001, in Kehlen, Luxembourg.
Education: Alongside her cycling career, she is studying for a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Interests: She is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys hiking, backpacking, and bikepacking.
Languages: She is multilingual, speaking Luxembourgish, German, French, English, and basic Dutch.
Gwen Nothum: Biography and Career Overview
Gwen Nothum (born October 17, 2006) is a professional road cyclist and triathlete from Luxembourg. Currently competing for the Minimax Cycling Team in the 2026 season, she has emerged as one of Luxembourg’s most promising young endurance athletes, specializing in time trials and hilly classics.
Personal Profile
- Full Name: Gwen Nothum
- Date of Birth: October 17, 2006
- Nationality: Luxembourgish
- Professional Debut: 2026 (Continental level)
Cycling Career & Teams
Nothum’s career has seen a rapid ascent from the junior ranks to international professional competition:
- Minimax Cycling Team (2026–Present): For the 2026 season, she joined this UCI Women’s Continental Team, marking her first full season at the professional level.
- Cyclingteam Belco / Van Eyck (2025): Competed at the club level, where she secured significant results that earned her a spot in the Under-23 World Championships.
- Vermarc Cycling Team (2024): Competed as a junior, establishing herself as a dominant force in national time trialing.
Major Results and Achievements
Nothum has been particularly successful in the Individual Time Trial (ITT), where she has secured multiple national titles.
| Achievement | Year(s) |
| Luxembourg National Junior ITT Champion | 2023, 2024 |
| World Championships WU-ITT (17th Place) | 2025 |
| European Championships WU-ITT (23rd Place) | 2025 |
| European Championships Mixed Relay TTT (5th Place) | 2025 |
| Brussel-Opwijk (3rd Place) | 2025 |
International Representation
Geniets represents Luxembourg in major international UCI events:
- 2025 UCI Road World Championships (Kigali, Rwanda): Competed in the Under-23 category, finishing 17th in the Individual Time Trial.
- 2025 UEC Road European Championships: Finished 46th in the U23 Road Race and 23rd in the U23 Time Trial.
Triathlon Career
In addition to road cycling, Nothum is a high-level triathlete. She has represented Luxembourg in several international triathlon events:
- World Triathlon Athlete ID: 160817
- European Triathlon Junior Championships (2023): Competed in both individual and relay events in Balikesir and Banyoles.
- National Success: She was named the Youth A Girls Champion in the 2023 Luxembourg Triathlon Yearbooks.
2026 Season
As of early 2026, Nothum has begun her professional campaign with the Minimax Cycling Team. She recently participated in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad WE, one of the most prestigious one-day races in the spring classics calendar.
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
The Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is more than just a bike race; for cycling fans, it is the official “New Year’s Day.” Held annually in late February, it serves as the opening event of the Belgian cycling season and the first UCI WorldTour race on European soil.
1. The “Newspaper War” Origins
The race was born in 1945 out of a rivalry between two Belgian newspapers: Het Volk and Het Nieuwsblad.
- The Spite Race: Het Nieuwsblad already owned the prestigious Tour of Flanders (De Ronde). The left-leaning Het Volk wanted to create a rival event to challenge the Ronde’s dominance and its controversial history during WWII.
- The Name Dispute: It was originally named the Omloop van Vlaanderen (Circuit of Flanders). However, the organizers of the Tour of Flanders protested that the name was too similar to their own. Eventually, the race was renamed Omloop Het Volk.
- The Merger: In 2008, the newspaper Het Volk was bought out by its rival, Het Nieuwsblad. For the 2009 edition, the race was rebranded as Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, finally uniting the names under one banner.
2. The Course: A “Mini” Tour of Flanders
The race is famous for its brutal combination of cold late-winter weather, narrow roads, and “hellish” cobbled climbs (hellingen).
- The Route: It typically starts in Ghent and finishes in Ninove.
- Key Climbs: Over the years, the race has adopted many of the iconic climbs from the Tour of Flanders, most notably the Muur van Geraardsbergen and the Bosberg.
- The “Opening Weekend”: It is the first half of a double-header. The following day, riders compete in Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne, making for a grueling two-day introduction to the Classics season.
3. Historical Milestones & Records
- Belgian Dominance: Local riders have historically dominated. Belgians won the first 14 editions and hold the record for most total wins (56).
- The Triple Crown: Only three riders have won the race three times:
- Ernest Sterckx (1952, 1953, 1956)
- Joseph Bruyère (1974, 1975, 1980)
- Peter Van Petegem (1997, 1998, 2002)
- The Cannibal’s First: The legendary Eddy Merckx won his first professional “Opening Weekend” race here in 1971.
- Women’s Race: A women’s edition was established in 2006. In 2023, it was elevated to the UCI Women’s WorldTour, held on the same day as the men’s race.
4. Weather and Cancellations
Because it takes place in February, the “Omloop” is notorious for snow and freezing rain.
- 1986 & 2004: Both editions were famously cancelled due to heavy snowfall.
- 1971: Postponed by three weeks because of severe weather conditions.
The most recent winner (2025) was the Norwegian rider Søren Wærenskjold, who broke the mold with a surprise solo attack.
