75th Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: February 29, 2020

[Bonimenier]

I'm expecting Sénéchal to take a next step in the spring classics. Also interested to see how the combination Trentin-GVA will work. DQS and VDP are my favourites for the Omloop, but I hope Naesen takes some victories this year,

 

[tomorrow]

Any idea why sagan is not riding this? According to original plans he was planning to, but bora didn't put him on the list after all and I can't find out why.

 

[repre]

Any idea why sagan is not riding this? According to original plans he was planning to, but bora didn't put him on the list after all and I can't find out why.

It's a small race for him nowadays.

 

[tobydawq]

Any idea why sagan is not riding this? According to original plans he was planning to, but bora didn't put him on the list after all and I can't find out why.

He always rides depressingly few races.

 

[Boes]

I'm going for

**** *Stybar, Van der Poel
****Teuns, Van Avermaet, Wellens
***Lampaert, Van Marcke, Jungels, Gilbert
**Benoot, Stannard, Valgren, Asgreen, Pedersen
* Stuyven, Terpstra, Degenkolp

A shame Van Aert - apprently - isn't in the race, then. Given that he's a Belgian cross specialist, he should have an extra edge.

He said last year he was at his best around MSR until E3 and he wants to peek a little later on in the holy week (RVV, PR). So that's why he's going in competition a bit later this year.

 

[Oliver]

I think Sagan’s still doing high altitude training?

why is Matthews not here!? He said this was his first race of the season?

 

[RunningRouleur]

Is Stybar on good form yet? I think GVA is the danger man this weekend, but you're never wise to bet against Quickstep. MVDP to peak later and win De Ronde.

 

[Bonimenier]

Is Stybar on good form yet? I think GVA is the danger man this weekend, but you're never wise to bet against Quickstep. MVDP to peak later and win De Ronde.

Stybar will probably be ok, I guess. Already won a stage in San Juan with a strong attack in the final km.

 

[Sciatic]

The historical pattern in this race, including 2015-2018, is to have riders win in back-to-back years (10 times since the mid-1970s, and usually those were the only times those individuals won it). So that means it must by Stybar this year, right?

 

[MartinGT]

Great showing from Yorkshire there!

Ben Swift
Connor Swift
Scott Thwaites
Gab Cullaigh

 

[Velolover2]

I'm looking forward to see Molano in action.

The Colombian Kristoff.

 

[myrideissteelerthanyours]

MVP is going to drop the pack, then the motorbikes, then the helicopters. People don't realize this but he already crossed the finish line of KBK in spite of the start not taking place until Sunday.

 

[Bonimenier]

Belgian weatherman Frank Deboosere expects gusts of wind till 80 km/h on saturday. It's going to be a fun race.

 

[tobydawq]

Jumbo have made their team public, and Wout Van Aert is in, contrary to PCS' start list!

 

[Boes]

Appearently they're anticipating the cancellation of strade/MSR.
Hope it doesn't get that far.

 

[Naico]

Appearently they're anticipating the cancellation of strade/MSR.
Hope it doesn't get that far.

That reasoning is ridiculous. The Corona thing is hundreds of kilometers away from Strade. I don’t care in the end, because I’m glad he’s starting but they could have found a better reason to publish in their press release. Or they really are THAT paranoid (which could explain the issues with their GT riders).

 

[Mayomaniac]

Belgian weatherman Frank Deboosere expects gusts of wind till 80 km/h on saturday. It's going to be a fun race.

That's G-W levels of wind
Always a great race, for me the real season starts with this one, everything before is just pre-season stuff.

 

[Boes]

That reasoning is ridiculous. The Corona thing is hundreds of kilometers away from Strade. I don’t care in the end, because I’m glad he’s starting but they could have found a better reason to publish in their press release. Or they really are THAT paranoid (which could explain the issues with their GT riders).

It's not that unlikely. They've cancelled several football games in Serie A already.
https://cyclingtips.com/2020/02/milano-sanremo-other-italian-races-at-risk-of-cancellation-due-to-coronavirus/

If MSR and/or Strade were to be cancelled then his first race would be G-W and that would be a pitty for a big contender like WVA.

 

[Naico]

It's not that unlikely. They've cancelled several football games in Serie A already.
https://cyclingtips.com/2020/02/milano-sanremo-other-italian-races-at-risk-of-cancellation-due-to-coronavirus/

If MSR and/or Strade were to be cancelled then his first race would be G-W and that would be a pitty for a big contender like WVA.

Strade (unless a sudden crazy outbreak) will be raced. The organization is confident as well:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1232321099783864320

View: https://twitter.com/stradebianche/status/1232321099783864320?s=21

Like I said, it really wouldn’t make any sense to cancel it at this point.

Even for M-S, I highly doubt it won’t just be raced. It’s a flue ffs. And yes there will be crowds, but it’s not like they’re in a packed stadium. You might as well forbid people to go the market or even leave their houses.

So yes I agree it’s not unlikely, but I feel like Jumbo is blowing this thing out of proportion (while there’s no need to). Or there are other reasons behind the decision (maybe Van Aert said he was ok and put his foot down because he really wanted to race, and that decision had to be explained to the rider(s) who’s spot he took?) or they’ve really become paranoia.

Talking about Jumbo: coincidentally all their top GC riders and helpers (Roglic, Dumoulin, Kruijswijk, De Plus) have not or barely raced. I feel that here as well, there’s more to it. Small issues are used to limit the riders’ racing days. All of that to prevent them from risking more problems but surely also to be more fresh at the start of the Tour. My feeling is that they’ve gone full paranoia about the Tour.
I also feel like their communication is seriously lacking as of late. If you’re going to give racing reasons then at least make some sense out of the reasons you give the media and the public and be totally transparent about it.
I sincerely hope for them that this isn’t going to bite them up the *ss later (an actual severe injury before or during the Tour for example).

 

[MartinGT]

That reasoning is ridiculous. The Corona thing is hundreds of kilometers away from Strade. I don’t care in the end, because I’m glad he’s starting but they could have found a better reason to publish in their press release. Or they really are THAT paranoid (which could explain the issues with their GT riders).

Probably more to do with the risk of contamination due to the logistics. It's not like they can all avoid airports etc.

 

[Pantani_lives]

A shame Van Aert - apprently - isn't in the race, then. Given that he's a Belgian cross specialist, he should have an extra edge.

Somebody must have read this.

 

[RedheadDane]

Jumbo have made their team public, and Wout Van Aert is in, contrary to PCS' start list!

He's on the PCS list now. Basically, unless there's a little green check mark next to the team name, you can't really trust the PCS start lists. After all; they're trying to make Demare ride both P-N and T-A, which I'd consider to be slightly complicated.

 

[Sciatic]

Strade (unless a sudden crazy outbreak) will be raced. The organization is confident as well:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1232321099783864320

View: https://twitter.com/stradebianche/status/1232321099783864320?s=21

Like I said, it really wouldn’t make any sense to cancel it at this point.

Even for M-S, I highly doubt it won’t just be raced. It’s a flue ffs. And yes there will be crowds, but it’s not like they’re in a packed stadium. You might as well forbid people to go the market or even leave their houses.

So yes I agree it’s not unlikely, but I feel like Jumbo is blowing this thing out of proportion (while there’s no need to). Or there are other reasons behind the decision (maybe Van Aert said he was ok and put his foot down because he really wanted to race, and that decision had to be explained to the rider(s) who’s spot he took?) or they’ve really become paranoia.

Talking about Jumbo: coincidentally all their top GC riders and helpers (Roglic, Dumoulin, Kruijswijk, De Plus) have not or barely raced. I feel that here as well, there’s more to it. Small issues are used to limit the riders’ racing days. All of that to prevent them from risking more problems but surely also to be more fresh at the start of the Tour. My feeling is that they’ve gone full paranoia about the Tour.
I also feel like their communication is seriously lacking as of late. If you’re going to give racing reasons then at least make some sense out of the reasons you give the media and the public and be totally transparent about it.
I sincerely hope for them that this isn’t going to bite them up the *ss later (an actual severe injury before or during the Tour for example).

<You might as well forbid people to go the market or even leave their houses.>
You realize that is exactly what's happening in some countries? In some cases it may be more for political than scientific reasons, but that makes it even more unpredictable regarding how a country like Italy will respond.

 

[Naico]

<You might as well forbid people to go the market or even leave their houses.>
You realize that is exactly what's happening in some countries? In some cases it may be more for political than scientific reasons, but that makes it even more unpredictable regarding how a country like Italy will respond.

That was a sarcastic wink to what’s going on these days. I don’t get the hysteria surrounding it. But in the end I think it’s just too important for all parties involved. After all it’s still Italy. It’s still RCS Sport. It’s still cycling. Panem et circenses. This isn’t football where you can just postpone a match.

Anyway, I just can’t imagine it (or I’m just desperately hoping it won’t)

 

[MartinGT]

It's to subdue the masses. Keep their mind of the Brexit sh!t storm and Prince Andrew's mate

OT :- Some interesting reading into the stats here

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/