The ‘cobbled classics’ season started off with female rider catching the back of mens peloton
Bigla Pro team’s Swiss rider, Nicole Hanselmann, set an early pace in the womens Omloop Het Nieuwsblad race this past weekend. The 27 year-old Hanselmann launched an attack 7km into the race, setting herself up for a 30km solo break. She then soon surprised the race organizers by catching the back of the mens peloton who had started 10 minutes earlier. Organisers had to neutralise the women’s race to create a gap between the two races.

“Today was the first spring classic in Belgium. I attacked after 7km, and was alone in the break for around 30km…but then a awkward moment happend and I almost saw the back of the men’s peloton… Maybe the other women and me were too fast or the men too slow🙈
After the neutralization, I was caught up again and finished the race on the 74th place. ” Nicole Hanselman on her Instagram page