Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (1 day race - no spoilers needed)

TheBlaaMan

After the away races and early season tours, the grime and hardcore of the Belgian classics season pro racing begins this coming weekend, with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Volk on Saturday and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne on Sunday. It should be great ! Bring on the cobbles...

The finale on Saturday is relatively novel, incorporating the old route of the Tour of Flanders. In recent years, Omloop finished in in Ghent but the new
course finishes in Meerbeeke district of Ninove with the legendary duo of De Muur van Geraardsbergen and the Bosberg featuring in the final 20km.

teaser video here
https://twitter.com/i/web/status/965596746448539648

Official site with lots of info here: https://www.touretappe.nl/omloop-het-nieuwsblad-2018/

Greg vanAvermaet has won the last two editions and is in good form already, so could it be three in a row?

Ryan Mullen is on the provisional start list for Trek, and looks like our sole participant (CJJ is on the Michelton Scott team, so I guess that's 1.5 Irishmen... )

Omloop tends to be won from a small select group, and will presumably be the same again this weekend. It's hard to look beyond a Belgian winner, with plenty to choose from: GVA, Gilbert, Naesen (the Belgian champions jersey should overcome a broken nose handicap...), Benoot etc, but there are a wide range of other possible winners. Something approaching 90% of wins have been local.....

Time to book some couch space and get in some Duvel....

Live coverage from 13:15 on ES player and 14:30 on ES2

Can't wait, start list as of today is here http://www.cyclingfever.com/editie.html?detp=view&_ap=startlijst&editie_idd=MjgzNTQ=

Hard to look passed GvA, read a piece this week with him full of praise for Philippe Gilbert.

EDIT: Just remembered Abu Dhabi is this week too so long day in the saddle on the couch on Saturday :pac:

JK.BMC

Ah the real racing is beginning; call me lazy or old fashioned but I cannot bring myself to watching exhibition type racing in far flung banana dictatorships; I get zero excitement watching Marcel Kittel or GVA sprinting up the side of a dam in the middle of a desert - Europe is where its at and this time of year that means the start of the classics.
Anyway, I think it could be a big year for Naesen - AG2R have quite a decent gang of rouleurs and bad weather bruisers; plus the other guy I'm looking forward to is Trentin now that he is off the leash in his new team; he is a monument winner in waiting. The Mur/Bosberg finish changes things up a bit, so a select group or solo winner is very likely. Will be nice to see that route used once more.

As for Sunday (different thread?) Kristoff is off riding in Yabbu Dabby so he won't be winning - I would actually fancy his chances if he were here. All the publicity is about Sagan and his white horse but Trek and Quickstep will have the numbers to make it difficult for him I suspect. On the weather front, Siberian east winds will make it especially cold on Sunday, but lots of tailwind in the final 50km it seems. There is therefore a good chance of echelons on the final circuit so a bunch finish is far from guaranteed.

Edit: Sagan isn't in the start list, I wasn't following what he was up to lately. Where is he?

@JK

Sagan's been in Australia , took Stage 4 i think it was of Tour Down Under. Looks to be in good shape. Been some decent 2.1/HC races in Spain and Portugal in recent weeks. Valverde is looking in top shape after his return from injury and Kwiatkowski also looks very good, actually surprised he was allowed to take the yellow from Thomas there on Sunday.

EDIT: : @JK.BMC I'd forgotten Sundays race, thats a 13:30 start on ES2

buffalo

Great to see the traditional launch isn't steering away from controversy... https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20180219_03365270

If anyone can tell me what that video of the two women dancing has to do with racing, I'd be much obliged!

Lusk_Doyle

Where did Benoot come from in the list of favourites?

koutoubia

buffalo wrote: »

Great to see the traditional launch isn't steering away from controversy... https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20180219_03365270

If anyone can tell me what that video of the two women dancing has to do with racing, I'd be much obliged!

thats bizarre.very bizarre!

Macy0161

JK.BMC wrote: »

Edit: Sagan isn't in the start list, I wasn't following what he was up to lately. Where is he?

Training in Sierra Nevada, according the posts of him wheeling up mountains on Facebook.

Miklos

I'll be sitting on a long haul flight while this is going on, hoping to jaysus there'll be a bit of Wifi and I can stream it.

JK.BMC

buffalo wrote: »

Great to see the traditional launch isn't steering away from controversy... https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20180219_03365270

If anyone can tell me what that video of the two women dancing has to do with racing, I'd be much obliged!

Im not too fluent in Flemish so can you tell me what exactly is the 'controversy?'
Should we call Oprah or something?
Any opinion on the race....?

buffalo

JK.BMC wrote: »

Im not too fluent in Flemish so can you tell me what exactly is the 'controversy?'
Should we call Oprah or something?

Here: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nieuwsblad.be%2Fcnt%2Fdmf20180219_03365270&edit-text=&act=url

Although you don't need to understand Flemish to watch the video.

JK.BMC wrote: »

Any opinion on the race....?

I'm looking forward to watching it!

JK.BMC

buffalo wrote: »

Here: https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nieuwsblad.be%2Fcnt%2Fdmf20180219_03365270&edit-text=&act=url

Although you don't need to understand Flemish to watch the video.


I'm looking forward to watching it!

Ah good

Me Too.... ðŸ˜

Chips Lovell

No Sagan this year. He's not starting until the Strade Bianchi. Shame. Would have loved to have seen an early duel between himself and Van Avermaet.

cunavalos

The impending cold snap may play a key role in how things play out this weekend. Temperatures in belgium are not expected to rise above freezing all weekend but there is no precipitation forecast so unlikely to see any postponements.

Also interesting to see that Sam Bennett has not chosen to enter (or been selected) for Omloop. Most of the other sprinters are racing both days to sharpen the legs

Baron de Charlus

Baron de Charlus wrote: »

No Sagan this year. He's not starting until the Strade Bianchi. Shame. Would have loved to have seen an early duel between himself and Van Avermaet.

Wasn't he doing his best Napoleon impression on the promo poster for Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne

I assumed that was a sign of his intent to race but not listed to start, it's as you say Strade Bianchi he's next down to race.

TheBlaaMan

I've just noticed that there will be complete overlap between the finale of the race and the Ireland v Wales rugby match....

kevingonewest

buffalo wrote: »

Great to see the traditional launch isn't steering away from controversy... https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20180219_03365270

If anyone can tell me what that video of the two women dancing has to do with racing, I'd be much obliged!

Men have probably always done sport to ultimately, even if subconsciously, indicate their health/virility in a flamboyant display to impress females

Lumen

kevingonewest wrote: »

Men have probably always done sport to ultimately, even if subconsciously, indicate their health/virility in a flamboyant display to impress females

So these dancing women are being paid to look impressed? Not sure I follow.

Grassey

Because men have probably always paid women to pretend to be impressed by their flamboyant displays?

greenspurs

Is there a womans race too ?? :P

JK.BMC

greenspurs wrote: »

Is there a womans race too ?? :P

Hopefully not!
Who will kiss the winner?

nialljf

looking forward to this. living in brussels, so gonna head out and watch a bit. not sure whether to spectate from finish or muur/bosberg.

JK.BMC

nialljf wrote: »

looking forward to this. living in brussels, so gonna head out and watch a bit. not sure whether to spectate from finish or muur/bosberg.

If you go to Haaghoek, or the Leberg climb just around the corner, you will see them 3 times; bars and cafes in the area will keep you warm in between. It's gonna be pretty cold! From my experience you don't see too much on the Muur as it's very narrow and twisty

CantGetNoSleep

greenspurs wrote: »

Is there a womans race too ?? :P

There is a women's race on Saturday morning, not a women's world tour official event though

neris

nialljf wrote: »

looking forward to this. living in brussels, so gonna head out and watch a bit. not sure whether to spectate from finish or muur/bosberg.

make sure you get photos for on here

CantGetNoSleep

CantGetNoSleep wrote: »

There is a women's race on Saturday morning, not a women's world tour official event though

Shame, a lot of the bigger names in the womens game not going to be there and it would be a hell of a race. Lizzy Deignan has won it twice in the past I think ( can we claim her through marriage yet ? )

Borderfox

Is there a local beer to go with this race?

TheBlaaMan

Borderfox wrote: »

Is there a local beer to go with this race?

Probably about 800.......

greenspurs

Deleted User wrote: »

Shame, a lot of the bigger names in the womens game not going to be there and it would be a hell of a race. Lizzy Deignan has won it twice in the past I think ( can we claim her through marriage yet ? )

Is she missing it ?



(same as she missed her drug tests)

JK.BMC

TheBlaaMan wrote: »

Probably about 800.......

This should do

Translated as 'Instant Death'

Lusk_Doyle

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Lizzy Deignan ... ( can we claim her through marriage yet ? )

Why on earth would we want to do that?

Lusk_Doyle

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

Why on earth would we want to do that?

We wouldn't, but I need to work on my sarcasm a little.

JK.BMC

[Deleted User] wrote: »

We wouldn't, but I need to work on my sarcasm a little.

It's OK. I understand you.

Christ Almighty, there has been more talk of wimmin and femaley stuff on this thread already than in the whole of the classics season last year. What is happening at all!!!!

Lusk_Doyle

[Deleted User] wrote: »

We wouldn't, but I need to work on my sarcasm a little.

Ah yes. Use a winkie smiley face next time!

eeeee

JK.BMC wrote: »

It's OK. I understand you.

Christ Almighty, there has been more talk of wimmin and femaley stuff on this thread already than in the whole of the classics season last year. What is happening at all!!!!

Yup it's great isn't it?!

Taxuser1

My 3 against the Belgians

Fabio Felline
Soren Kragh Andersen
Sonny Colbrelli

GVA will be hard to beat though

cyclingnews ticker is live, coverage on eurosport player at 13:15 and then es2 at 14:30 ...... please not with Carlton Kirby !!!!!

elchupanebrey

Deleted User wrote: »

cyclingnews ticker is live, coverage on eurosport player at 13:15 and then es2 at 14:30 ...... please not with Carlton Kirby !!!!!

He's not in Abu Dhabi so chances are

With a bit of luck he's busy covering the Olympics

CantGetNoSleep

I was out on roads near this earlier today, was considering doing the Muur but the fact that it never went above -4c and thought of a headwind on the way back put me off going that far. Still can't feel my feet.

Bitterly cold but sunny and dry so road conditions shouldn't be a problem (although I passed a burst pipe and the road was like glass). Perhaps potential for crosswinds too assuming my orientation was ok.

Lusk_Doyle

[Deleted User] wrote: »

With a bit of luck he's busy covering the Olympics

He knows a fair bit about speed skating. Mind you, I know nothing about it so my qualification to comment is limited!

Still no break in the womens race.

One mad bastard from AG2R is in shorts, guess he missed the weather forecast.

Mullen taking a turn at the front in his nationals jersey.

Mullen looking good on the front

CantGetNoSleep

Deleted User wrote: »

One mad bastard from AG2R is in shorts, guess he missed the weather forecast.

Mullen taking a turn at the front in his nationals jersey.

It's your man without the gloves I'm worried about

doubt he can feel his fingers at this stage.

velo.2010

Couple of Lucan riders in the mix up front!:D

dahat

WTF is going on with Europsport 2?

Hanging on for live coverage to start.

nilhg

Wellans after trying a few times to get away has finally done it, 31km to go though.

GVA has looked under pressure a few times, all to play for though

dahat

dahat wrote: »

WTF is going on with Europsport 2?

Hanging on for live coverage to start.

I switched over from the stream on the player at 14:30 and they were still showing snowboarding then over again 10 minutes later and they had Watts on ffs.

lukegjpotter

Deleted User wrote: »

they had Watts on ffs.

Quigley had some pre-race jitters.