Cobbled Classics win quantity 62 simply wasn’t to be for Soudal-QuickStep at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday. The Belgian staff have racked up the wins by spring yearly since their basis again in 2003, however by 21 editions of the Belgian season openers have ‘solely’ 4 on the collective palmarès.
There are many races and loads of probabilities left this spring. That is, in any case, the primary of the lot. However for a staff used to profitable and being one of the best at it within the peloton, Davide Ballerini’s sixth place in Ninove wasn’t an event for celebration.
First up, there was Kasper Asgreen‘s sickness protecting the 2021 Tour of Flanders winner and Classics co-leader out of motion, after which, in the course of the race itself, perennial domestique of the yr contender Tim Declercq was taken out of the working resulting from a crash.
There was unhealthy luck, then, however of the riders who have been contesting the second half of a race dominated by Dutch squad Jumbo-Visma, it simply wasn’t a adequate displaying.
“It is not solely the end result right here right this moment. Ballerini was sixth, however he was by no means within the race,” Wilfred Peeters, former Classics star and lead directeur sportif on the staff, advised Cyclingnews after the race.
“OK, we had a nasty second with the crash of Tim Declercq. however we have been driving behind right this moment and we’ll take away a bit lesson about this.
“It is not the primary time right here that we’ve not had good outcomes. However we will see that we have gained within the UAE with Merlier and we have gained within the Ardeche with Alaphilippe as effectively. Coming in the direction of the primary a part of the Classics we might be blissful about this.”
Yves Lampaert, a co-leader at Omloop together with Frenchman Florian Sénéchal, briefly stopped on the end – few riders had a lot inclination to take action within the freezing situations – to present his perspective.
“There may be work to be finished. We had our share of unhealthy luck – Declercq falling, Sénéchal having unhealthy luck [a crash – Ed.]. It wasn’t our day. Ballerini rode a powerful closing, although,” the Belgian advised the assembled media simply previous the end line.
“I needed to put my foot down on the Muur. Once you try this, you understand your race is over. This is not what we have been hoping for.”
Peeters admitted that his staff bought it flawed on a day which noticed Jumbo set the tempo early, taking command and attacking a number of occasions earlier than Dylan van Baarle’s finally profitable long-range effort.
“I feel the blokes realise it wasn’t good. You could possibly see it from midway by the race – with their first acceleration, Jumbo-Visma instantly rode away,” he advised Het Nieuwsblad. “We had agreed earlier than the race to not take management, however that does not imply we go to sleep. We should always have been with that – if it’s a must to chase as soon as, you chase for the entire day.”
Sunday is one other day, although, bringing with it the second half of Opening Weekend within the form of the extra sprinter-friendly Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne.
It is the spring race QuickStep have skilled probably the most pleasure at, having gained 9 occasions over time, together with three of the previous 4 editions with Bob Jungels, Asgreen, and, final yr, with Fabio Jakobsen.
The Dutch sprinter will probably be once more on Sunday to salvage an Opening Weekend end result for the staff, and Ballerini, Lampaert and Sénéchal will probably be again to assist him out, too. Final yr, staff boss Patrick Lefevere was readily available to give the squad a ‘motivational speech’ of types forward of Kuurne following a disappointing displaying at Omloop.
Peeters, nonetheless, sounded a phrase of warning for anybody anticipating it to be a assured dash end with Jakobsen zooming to his second win of the season.
“The race is tough, eh? It is tougher and tougher yearly. It is not just for the sprinters. However we hope to do effectively.”