The 11th running of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad women's race in Belgium was held on 27 February 2016 and is widely regarded as the start of the Classics season.

[1] Armitstead’s win marks the first time a world champion has graced the top step of the podium at the Belgian Semi-Classic.

The Omloop started and finished in Ghent, addressing several climbs in the Flemish Ardennes and covering 124 km (77.1 mi).

Romy Kasper (Boels-Dolmans) led a trio of riders, part of a fragmented reduced bunch, just beyond the Paddestraat.

Behind her Chantal Blaak delivered a one-two for Boels-Dolmans as she beat Tiffany Cromwell (Canyon-SRAM) in a reduced bunch sprint.