This weekend, Dutch squad Jumbo-Visma turned up at each Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne with the strongest squad on paper, even with Classics celebrity Wout van Aert absent. Nevertheless, few might’ve countenanced the extent of domination they confirmed throughout each races of the Opening Weekend.
Following a plan executed to perfection on Saturday with Dylan van Baarle soloing house on his debut for the group, it was extra of the identical on Sunday in Kuurne. Once more, they hit the entrance exhausting a great distance once more, once more they made the decisive cut up, and once more, they took the glory.
As spectacular as Van Baarle’s win was, with teammates marking strikes and Christophe Laporte sprinting to 3rd in Ninove, the one-two that Tiesj Benoot and Nathan Van Hooydonck pulled off in Kuurne was much more so.
The ultimate run to the road introduced a masterclass in group ways and energy, with the 2 Belgians taking turns to assault off the entrance of the five-man lead group – a complete of 5 inside the ultimate 4km – earlier than the exit of the ultimate bend, the place Benoot jumped from the rear to flee to the win.
Behind him, Van Hooydonck performed the a part of blocker masterfully and had the energy left to seize second – even after a trio of late assaults on his half. It wasn’t a primary professional victory the 27-year-old may’ve dreamed about, however he was nonetheless thrilled.
“I received one of many few possibilities for private success right here, and I took full benefit of it,” Van Hooydonck instructed the assembled media shortly after crossing the road. “We actually seemed ahead to this era of racing, and we’ve skilled a dream begin.
“I felt good at the moment, however I additionally skilled very exhausting to be good. If I carry on going like this, the win will even fall my method someday.”
Workforce directeur sportif Arthur Van Dongen had instructed Cyclingnews on Saturday that victory got here after a day that was “precisely the plan that we executed.” It was the identical case a day later and an hour up the street in Kuurne.
“Properly, we’re additionally nonetheless comfortable about yesterday,” Van Dongen mentioned outdoors the Jumbo-Visma group bus. “A one-three and now a one-two – it is an incredible begin.
“It was precisely the identical plan, nicely not the identical plan, however once more we deliberate it – to do what you noticed. That is once we wished to press on the entrance.
“For a very long time, the hole was caught the identical, eh? Round a minute, a bit extra. However then, on the native lap, we noticed it and mentioned, ‘ah, it is between you,’ and the fellows performed good and good. Nathan was actually robust; he killed the opposite guys, after which Tiesj completed it off.”
If it was a plan, then it wasn’t precisely a secret one, Van Hooydonck added. The long-range accelerations at Omloop could have been one thing of a shock, however they weren’t going to attend for a dash end on Sunday.
“We did not conceal it beforehand that we might begin issues early,” he mentioned. “The course’s ‘centre of gravity’ was a bit earlier right here. We made a plan earlier than the beginning, and it labored out nicely. We begin the race with a sure concept, and we go for it 100% – typically, that makes the distinction.
“It might come throughout as straightforward, nevertheless it completely is not. We’re significantly struggling each in coaching and within the races. Everybody could be very dedicated to the group’s plan. Everybody believes in it, even when it’d sound formidable on the bus within the morning.”
The ultimate, the place Benoot and Van Hooydonck commanded the group, which included Matej Mohorič, Tim Wellens, and Taco van der Hoorn, attacking seemingly at will earlier than executing the ultimate soar for the road completely. It is maybe no shock that the pair appeared to know one another so nicely, given the time they’ve spent collectively at a current coaching camp in Tenerife.
“I shared a room with Tiesj there for 3 weeks, so it is a dream to trip the ultimate collectively,” Van Hooydonck mentioned. “Quite a lot of riders go for altitude coaching, however with us, it is magnified each time as a result of we carry out very nicely afterwards. I am a helper right here, however I get the identical steerage as Van Aert – that makes the distinction.”
