March 04, 2019 (Tielt-Winge, Belgium) – On the opening weekend of classic action in Belgium, Team Sunweb lined up at Omloop van het Hageland, from Tienen to Tielt-Winge, 132.6 km, to once again play an attacking role in the race.

The pace was up and down throughout the day, with numerous moves trying their luck at the head of the race. Always present at the front of the bunch, Team Sunweb covered the important moves and brought back the dangerous ones so that the day would play into their hands.

After many attacks in what was a familiar scene, Team Sunweb slipped into TTT mode to launch a brutal attack inside the final 10 kilometres, forcing a select group forward. Canada’s Leah Kirchmann was the rider up there in the sprint for the team, rounding out the podium in a solid 3rd place as Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Team Virtu Cycling Women took the win over Lotta Pauliina Lepisto (Fin) Trek-Segafredo Women in second.

“I’m really pleased to achieve the of the season for the team today! We wanted to ride aggressive and to make it a hard race, and everyone really committed to this goal,” said Kirchmann. “We had a perfect lead out into the final climb and tried for a breakaway with Floortje. The other teams set a super high pace in the final kilometres, and I was able to find a good wheel to follow. There was a close call in the final sprint where I lost some speed to Bastianelli and Lepisto, but I was happy to hang on for a podium finish.”

Results (brief)
1. Marta Bastianelli (Ita) Team Virtu Cycling Women 3:32:50
2. Lotta Pauliina Lepisto (Fin) Trek-Segafredo Women
3. Leah Kirchmann (Can) Team Sunweb