Belgium’s Lotte Claes made history on Saturday as she claimed victory at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, marking her emergence as a prominent name in cycling. The 31-year-old, who transitioned to bike racing just four years ago, is no stranger to challenges, having first made her mark as a duathlete and hospital nurse. Additionally, Claes appeared on the popular Belgian reality show Kamp Waes, which tests contestants in military-style tasks.
Reflecting on her win, Claes described the moment as surreal. “It’s crazy. I can’t believe it. Wow,” the Arkéa-B&B Hotels rider exclaimed, still processing the victory.
Not accustomed to the celebrations of a podium finish, Claes enlisted the help of seasoned racer Demi Vollering to open the celebratory champagne. “I’ve never had this experience of opening champagne before, so Demi helped me,” Claes said, laughing. Vollering had finished in third place after a determined but ultimately insufficient chase.
Claes’ appearance on Kamp Waes, a grueling reality competition, was brief yet intense. “It was just one week, but really hard. I think I slept three hours in three days,” she recalled, mentioning the physically demanding challenges such as weighted runs and resistance to interrogation. “I prefer being a professional cyclist,” she added with a smile.
Her journey from juggling nursing and duathlons to focusing solely on cycling marked a significant shift. “It was a big step,” Claes explained. “Now I have more time to rest, to go to the physio, to go to the doctor. Before, I had to train before or after work when I was already tired.”
As a rider who prefers not to be in the thick of the peloton, Claes found herself at ease in the breakaway group during the race. “I was really happy I was in the breakaway because I don’t like being in the big peloton. The positioning is always difficult for me,” she shared. “It was good to be in the breakaway. It was a nice day.”
When the breakaway group gained a 10-12 minute lead, Claes began to believe in the possibility of victory. “We worked really well together,” she said, noting the teamwork that helped the group stay strong, even on the climbs. Her team manager gave the final instructions as they approached the iconic Mur de Geraardsbergen, signaling the moment to push for the win.
On cue, Claes, along with Poland’s Aurela Nerlo (Winspace Orange Seal), surged ahead, opening a gap that led to their eventual 3.25-minute victory over Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) and Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck), who had broken free from the peloton.
Reflecting on the breakaway’s sizable lead, Claes was unsure why the chasing teams had allowed such a gap to form. “I don’t understand why they gave us so much time. But you have the big teams, and maybe they thought, ‘Ah yeah, we’ll ride the last 30 or 40 K full gas.’”
Was it disrespectful to underestimate the breakaway? “Well, for me, it’s not a problem because I won this race,” she quipped, adding with a smile, “But I think next time they won’t give me 12 minutes.”
After half an hour of interviews, Claes was greeted by her teammates, some in tears, waiting in the cold to celebrate her achievement. “We have a really good team,” she said. “They’re all so friendly and kind. When you see them crying and laughing, my heart was melting.”
Lotte Claes’ unexpected journey from nurse to cycling champion has not only earned her a prestigious victory but also solidified her place as one of the rising stars in professional cycling.
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