Just days before the curtain rose on the Spring Classics at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, in what now feels like a prophecy, Demi Vollering told the press that to win races this season, she and her FDJ United-SUEZ teammates would lean on their growing team cohesion, camaraderie, and a sense of unity.
Having joined the French team last year, Vollering and her teammates now have one season of racing together under their belts, and while they’ve already managed a lot of success, that shared experience is continuing to pay off in 2026. And in the block of racing as demanding as the Spring Classics, it is precisely that unity that will be as crucial as physical strength and technical skill.
While FDJ United-SUEZ delivered a flawless team performance at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the next day, Charlotte Kool – racing in her new colours of Fenix-Premier Tech – sprinted to the victory at the long-running Omloop van het Hageland in Tielt-Winge.
The contrast between the two events highlights the wide range of talent capable of winning during the Spring Classics. And it’s that depth in the peloton that makes team cohesion an even more valuable asset for every squad on the start line.
A lot of the pre-season conversation may have been centred on how SD Worx-Protime teammates Lorena Wiebes and Lotte Kopecky would split the spoils across one-day races, both with similar targets.
Instead, their best place was third at Omloop, where Kopecky was delayed by a mechanical behind a late-race crash, and Wiebes won the chase group sprint, crossing the line 21 seconds behind the two leaders.
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