Ed on the ‘kinderkopje’: The Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the primary Basic of the season is all the time regarded ahead to by riders and followers alike. Ed Hood often takes his gang to Flanders to warship on the alter of biking, this yr the journey is off, so we glance again to 2019.
After Ed and the gang’s go to to the EF Schooling First crew and the ‘Koers’ cycle racing museum on day 1 of their annual Flemish journey, it was time to see some racing. The Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is the primary of the early Spring Classics and the place the riders wish to strike the primary blow.
Let’s begin with a little bit of tradition; it’s well-known Flandrian ‘luminist’ painter Emile Claus who retains an eye fixed on proceedings because the 2019 Gent-Gent involves life on a chill, gray however not too savage morning.
The race begins with a presentation within the large exhibition corridor adjoining to the Kuipke Velodrome; we favored it higher when the buses lined up on the street throughout from the monitor – however with the race now a part of ‘Flanders Classics’ bundle there needs to be glitz.
It’s fairly cool to look at the crew wagons roll in, very navy – however the diesel fumes aren’t a lot enjoyable. The groups do their greatest to maintain saddos like us away from the bikes with these tapes they use exterior evening golf equipment – no creds for us for this race, we’re simply followers – so you need to make do with the ‘B’ bikes on the crew automobile roofs for.
This neat rear suspension on the Direct Energie Wiliers caught our eye although.
It was good to fulfill up with our outdated buddy, former Belgian Time Trial Champion and now the face of Shimano in any respect the massive races; Bert Roosems, seen right here chatting with UAE DS and former professional, Alan Peiper. How do they maintain so skinny?
From outdated execs to neo professional; 24 year-old Englishman Harry Tanfield began his World Tour profession properly with the most effective younger rider jersey within the opening time trial of the Valenciana – he was additionally silver medallist within the Commonwealth Video games TT final yr – however the Opening Weekend has scant regard for chrono palmarès and our Harry had a little bit of torrid time. However he’s a flexible, proficient lad and could have realized so much over the weekend.
In the meantime the UCi guys go about their enterprise of checking for hidden motors. . .
Swiss TT star, Stefan Kung took day trip to fulfill his fan membership – it’s a good path from Switzerland to Flanders. . . Let’s sprint, we don’t wish to get caught within the street closures and visitors jams.
‘Break of the day’ at Oombergen some 16 Ok in, working sweetly; Alex Howes (EF), Roy Jans (Correndon), Tom Wirtgen (Wallonie) and Tom Devriendt (Wanty) – it’s not a correct break with no Wanty man.
The slowest transferring peloton we’ve ever seen in Het Nieuwsblad adopted a few minutes later with the ‘begin of time period’ chat audible from means down the street.
Ultimately winner, ‘Styby’ was again amongst automobiles with no signal of hysteria.
Time to maneuver, the highest of the Leberg and the break had constructed such a lead – it could prime out at 14 minutes – that we missed them. However we did catch the bunch; there was no chat in that peloton this time with Iljo Keisse doing what he will get paid for – hammering away on the entrance with one other 4 of the home windows and flooring males in line astern behind him.
Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Merida) was trying as cool as ever nevertheless it wasn’t his day – or weekend.
Over the cobbles at Mater the break was nonetheless trying tidy however behind the strain was telling with gaps within the peloton and discomfort etched on most faces.
Small surprise, that beast of a person Tim (The Tractor) De Clerq (Deceuninck – Fast-Step) had the ache dialled as much as 11 because the Fast-Step purge continued.
Some half-hour later we had been among the many large bucks poseurs on the junction on the prime of the Valkenberg; no Decathlon ‘sports activities’ bikes for these dudes.
The break was nonetheless simply clear and starting to look scrappy – lifeless males strolling.
It was nonetheless a giant bunch with eventual winner Styby trying sharp and prime performers subsequent day at Kuurne, Magnus Cort Nielsen (Astana) – with beard – and Owain Doull (Sky) – with gel – all on the proper finish of affairs.
Not so pre-race fave ‘Massive Sep’ – who would later put his under par efficiency down merely to a ‘unhealthy day.’
Our ultimate view level was on the finish of the cobbled, curler coaster Haaghoek; however earlier than we even acquired there the DNF’s had been passing us.
Close to the junction on the foot of the Leberg we noticed the ‘Stuy Van’ – do you see what they’ve carried out there?
The break of the day was historical past by now and the final man to be caught from a counter transfer which had gone after the Howes break was caught, Baptiste Planckaert (Wallonie) was simply being absorbed as he banked left into the foot of the Leberg.
Podium finisher Wellens lead the cost simply behind him trying imply.
Subsequent day’s winner Bob Jungels was shut behind Wellens and like most everybody else displaying the pressure a bit of.
Massive Lars Growth (Roompot) was on the restrict however it could be fallacious to assume he’s previous ‘promote by’ – he was properly to the fore in Tuesday’s Samyn.
Even tractors run out of fuel and massive De Clerq was fairly a methods again.
It was time for us to retire to our trusted hang-out ‘t Gaaike to view the finale, it wasn’t too busy and all of us had good seats from which to sip our Jupilers. It distilled down to 5 within the finale; GVA, Wellens, Lutsenko (Astana), Dylan Teuns (Bahrain-Merida) and Styby. The primary 4 all have wins this yr and if it got here to a dash it was going to be GVA’s – however the Olympic champion had grafted laborious to maintain them clear and had burned possibly a couple of matches too many in his efforts to please his dwelling followers and the rabid Belgian biking media. However the Czech former World ‘cross Champion’s timing was impeccable, simply as GVA snuffed a Wellens transfer he attacked laborious, inching away as the remainder checked out one another. On the purple kite he had 10 seconds and it was Commodore Lefevere’s eleventh win of the yr.
And because the cocky soccer participant who’s simply scored the winner are susceptible inform the hapless objective keeper; ‘you’ll be capable to examine it within the paper tomorrow, pal.’
Surprisingly, Fast-Step’s first win right here since 2005 when Nick Nuyens did the needful. Time to move again to digs, a pizza, a beer or two and talk about tomorrow’s recreation plan. . .
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