2015 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, 28th Feb, 200km, 1.HC

[togo95]

Tactical advantage having two horses in a race.

Kinda like how I'm hoping Breschel could get in a late break while having Sagan follow wheels, and that he could take advantage of the mindgames that ensued.
'Hope is light green' as we say in Denmark.

That's highly unlikely, since Tinkoff doesn't even start in this race.

 

[staubsauger]

He could easily end up being the leader once things start heating up in the race. Surely they'll support the strongest man.

Yeah because that's what Sky always does when Sir Bradley is around.

 

[Taxus4a]

Finally the real season starts, I'm really excited for Omloop and Strade Bianche

I love clasics and coblestones, but what did Froome and Contador is much more important for cycling that that race.

If that race became a face to face Boonen-Cancellara, I wouldnt say is the same,or if it is an epic edition, but we can compare.

The same that if Andalucia would have been a Valverde, Nieve at 2 minutes, wouldnt be an important moment of the year.

Every race is important anyway.

 

[Peccio89]

Let's hope Boonen will try to get this one before he retires, it is the only cobble race that he hasn't won after all.

Finally the season starts! I don't mind Cyclocross for winter, but there's nothing like cobbled classics.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

I love clasics and coblestones, but what did Froome and Contador is much more important for cycling that that race.

If that race became a face to face Boonen-Cancellara, I wouldnt say is the same,or if it is an epic edition, but we can compare.

The same that if Andalucia would have been a Valverde, Nieve at 2 minutes, wouldnt be an important moment of the year.

Every race is important anyway.

But this is the first real race of the season. The first one that really matters. Contador and Froome played an entertaining training match, now but now the league matches start.

 

[greenedge]

Trentin and Gaudin to fight it out for the win from a 2 man break.

Another few names to mention for me, other than the obvious ones are Lithgart, Lemoine, Theuns, Leukemans and Elmiger.

 

[King Boonen]

Let's hope Boonen will try to get this one before he retires, it is the only cobble race that he hasn't won after all.

Finally the season starts! I don't mind Cyclocross for winter, but there's nothing like cobbled classics.

If your name is Tom Boonen I'm pretty sure all you really care about this season is Paris-Roubaix and the Ronde. No point mixing it up here and taking a risk.

 

[Popchu]

I see the name of Gaudin few times but isn't he a bit hyped? Ofcourse he was great in Roubaix 2013, but I can't remember something like that in one of the Flemish races. Or did I miss something? I think there are better French riders for this races - Offredo, Le Bon, Demare, Ladagnous, S?n?chal et cetera.

Anyway, I like Offredo. Such a great rider, but he lacks a bit of luck. Hope he can show something this spring, but I fear he will have to work (too) much for Demare.

My pick for tomorrow is Stybar. He is in great form. Outsider for OHN is maybe Gatto. Anyone knows why he DNF at Haut-Var?

 

[TMP401]

My pick for tomorrow is Stybar. He is in great form. Outsider for OHN is maybe Gatto. Anyone knows why he DNF at Haut-Var?

I think there were a few crashes.

 

[Miburo]

Time boonen ****ing wins this race but he's cursed in this race.

GVA then, but he's cursed to never win.

God sake

 

[barmaher]

How about Florian Senechal? He showed nicely in this race last year, and followed it up with some good results later in the year over the cobbles. I will be very interested to see how he progresses this season.

 

[Flamin]

If your name is Tom Boonen I'm pretty sure all you really care about this season is Paris-Roubaix and the Ronde. No point mixing it up here and taking a risk.

Quite the opposite. Boonen is a winner, he wants to seize every opportunity which presents itself at this point of his career, and that definitely includes winning Omloop.

 

[jens_attacks]

well he will definitely attack on taaienberg. i would love it if he wins this year

 

[Netserk]

After the last two years I just want him to be competitive in all the races and to cause mayhem and win Roubaix one more time

 

[Hugo87]

That final sprint by Stannard last year... never thought he could win that despite GVA curse.

Getting pumped for saturday cobbles fever.

 

[Carstenbf]

That's highly unlikely, since Tinkoff doesn't even start in this race.

Heh.

I could settle for PR or RvV I guess.

 

[Roude Leiw]

I see the name of Gaudin few times but isn't he a bit hyped? Ofcourse he was great in Roubaix 2013, but I can't remember something like that in one of the Flemish races. Or did I miss something? I think there are better French riders for this races - Offredo, Le Bon, Demare, Ladagnous, S?n?chal et cetera.

Anyway, I like Offredo. Such a great rider, but he lacks a bit of luck. Hope he can show something this spring, but I fear he will have to work (too) much for Demare.

My pick for tomorrow is Stybar. He is in great form. Outsider for OHN is maybe Gatto. Anyone knows why he DNF at Haut-Var?

I am with you on gaudin. On the other hand, he just did the track worlds and should be in top shape

 

[ILovecycling]

I just checked weather forecast and it looks like it will be nice and sunny weather....


Can you please move the profile and map into the OP?
Edit: maybe overcast,but still no rain.

 

[staubsauger]

Philippe Gilbert!

 

[MBotero]

Stannard vs GVA episode 2 will be a good end for this

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

How about Florian Senechal? He showed nicely in this race last year, and followed it up with some good results later in the year over the cobbles. I will be very interested to see how he progresses this season.

Yep, I'll definitely be looking at him. Very talented rider for the cobbles I think.

 

[ILovecycling]

Stannard vs GVA episode 2 will be a good end for this

That would be so awesome,but Im worried that iron ian is not at this sort of form.
Still prefer terpstra,but an outsider from belgian teams would be nice

 

[Hugo Koblet]

That would be so awesome,but Im worried that iron ian is not at this sort of form.
Still prefer terpstra,but an outsider from belgian teams would be nice

Why is that? He looked quite strong in Qatar - and did as well as last year.

 

[ILovecycling]

Why is that? He looked quite strong in Qatar - and did as well as last year.

He missed a lot of cobble races last year.I think he will miss it in his performace this time.

 

[Kwibus]

I love clasics and coblestones, but what did Froome and Contador is much more important for cycling that that race.

If that race became a face to face Boonen-Cancellara, I wouldnt say is the same,or if it is an epic edition, but we can compare.

The same that if Andalucia would have been a Valverde, Nieve at 2 minutes, wouldnt be an important moment of the year.

Every race is important anyway.

It's nit much more important, but I'm no longer someone who says that Omloop is the real start. We allready had some really good racing, specially at Andalucia this year.

Omloop is the real start of the spring classics though and that season only lasts 1.5 months unfortunately, but that makes all of the spring classics very important. Also usually the most entertaining racing is during the spring(cobbled) classics.