77th Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: February 26, 2022

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Its a super-tired complaint when your guy doesnt win or you dislike the guy that did win. Nothing more
Lame

In this case, there was nothing to complain about as the break got to benefit from drafting just as well. But i don't agree that the argument is always without merit.

Usually the moto can get beside the solo attacker, or even behind him, and it will still give a good image of the situation in the front of the race. However, camera motors usually can't shoot an interesting image from the back of the chasing group. In my experience the chasers (plural) are usually getting drafted more than the attacker. There are blatant examples of the opposite (Alaphilippe TDF 2019 solo), but it is especially infuriating when the solo attacker who is already "outnumbered" sees his chasers getting paced. The opposite feels less of an injustice.

I already spoke of the Alaphilippe example, but some of the most mind boggling pacing i've seen was in San Juan, where the peloton split due to wind, but the front peloton got pulled for over a dozen of miles by an armada of motors and cars, and the chasing peloton got one one motor filming from the side. The break of the day, that had a lead of a few minutes got reeled in by the first peloton in a matter of minutes. (pic)

There have been plenty of studies that show that this can really skew the race in favor of either party. It would be nice if they could just stay far enough away so we didn't have to discuss this anymore. It'd be safer for the riders as well.

 

[noob]

Great effort by the mighty Wout to escape from a strong group like that. Chapeau!



The kiddo was like "Mommy, I don't know this man. I'm scared!"

Honestly she has had that look after every race so far this year.

I mean why would a kid like cameras and a parent that's cold from sweat and snot. Like I don't understand how the partners stand it either honestly.

 

[RedheadDane]

I mean why would a kid like cameras and a parent that's cold from sweat and snot. Like I don't understand how the partners stand it either honestly.

One day, a rider winning a race will lean in for a kiss, and their partner will just be like "Naah! Go take a shower!"

 

[Unchained]

I absolutely loved this race,loved the results and love seeing a guy in the saddle, generating mega watts dropping other competitors that are out of the saddle desperately trying to counter power and speed that almost nobody has..Wout is an absolute monster!!!
van Avermaet w w great pre race attitude!! Awesome result and showing some famous form!!great to see!!

 

[saunaking]

In this case, there was nothing to complain about as the break got to benefit from drafting just as well. But i don't agree that the argument is always without merit.

Usually the moto can get beside the solo attacker, or even behind him, and it will still give a good image of the situation in the front of the race. However, camera motors usually can't shoot an interesting image from the back of the chasing group. In my experience the chasers (plural) are usually getting drafted more than the attacker. There are blatant examples of the opposite (Alaphilippe TDF 2019 solo), but it is especially infuriating when the solo attacker who is already "outnumbered" sees his chasers getting paced. The opposite feels less of an injustice.

I already spoke of the Alaphilippe example, but some of the most mind boggling pacing i've seen was in San Juan, where the peloton split due to wind, but the front peloton got pulled for over a dozen of miles by an armada of motors and cars, and the chasing peloton got one one motor filming from the side. The break of the day, that had a lead of a few minutes got reeled in by the first peloton in a matter of minutes. (pic)

There have been plenty of studies that show that this can really skew the race in favor of either party. It would be nice if they could just stay far enough away so we didn't have to discuss this anymore. It'd be safer for the riders as well.

Thanks for the logical response

You are probably correct - for me I dont mind an attacking rider getting a camera draft but would frown upon the chase group getting the same treatment.
It's one of those things that makes cycling a super cool niche hipster sport i guess..

 

[tobydawq]

It's one of those things that makes cycling a super cool niche hipster sport i guess..

It's really not.

 

[Barkintheeye]

Impressive by WvA but not surprising. Should he have gone to the WC CX it would almost surely have been a one-sided story and Pidcock would not have been WC.

Quite clear that WvA have leveled up and it will definitely be interesting to see him up against some of last year’s top riders such as Pogacar and MVDP.

Can anyone match him on MSR, Strade Bianche, RVV or PR?

 

[AlfaLum]

Van Aert and van der Poel would also win all of those races in 2021.

In the end:
Stuyven won San Remo
Asgreen won Flanders
Colbrelli won Roubaix

Van Aert is definitely the favorite, but there is a lot of tarmac and other types of road surface to be raced on before we are at the finish of those races. In Strade he isn't even competing, so definitely no one will be able to match him there this year.

 

[Boes]

Van Aert and van der Poel would also win all of those races in 2021.

In the end:
Stuyven won San Remo
Asgreen won Flanders
Colbrelli won Roubaix

Van Aert is definitely the favorite, but there is a lot of tarmac and other types of road surface to be raced on before we are at the finish of those races. In Strade he isn't even competing, so definitely no one will be able to match him there this year.

True but

• Amstel: WVA
• Gent Wevelgem: WVA
• Strade: MVP

So all in they won half-ish of the classics.
So if he stays healthy it's not at all impossible that WVA wins half of the big classics he races because of absence of MVP, Alafpolak or an Asgreen in good shape.

 

[Hugo Koblet]

True but

• Amstel: WVA
• Gent Wevelgem: WVA
• Strade: MVP

So all in they won half-ish of the classics.
So if he stays healthy it's not at all impossible that WVA wins half of the big classics he races because of absence of MVP, Alafpolak or an Asgreen in good shape.

Haha, that's some cherry picking right there What about all the classics you left out?

 

[AlfaLum]

True but

• Amstel: WVA
• Gent Wevelgem: WVA
• Strade: MVP

So all in they won half-ish of the classics.
So if he stays healthy it's not at all impossible that WVA wins half of the big classics he races because of absence of MVP, Alafpolak or an Asgreen in good shape.

But they won no monument. And those are the real prizes of course. Also you indeed missed quite a few other races such as the E3 etc.

Anyway I agree that Wout can win quite a few classics, and is the most likely monument winner of all at the moment. But at the same time drawing too many conclusions from the Omloop is always dangerous. Quickstep and Asgreen will surely improve between now and the E3 classic. Pedersen who looks in great shape wasn't there in the opening weekend. Don't think we have seen the best of Bahrain and Ineos either.

 

[Boes]

Haha, that's some cherry picking right there What about all the classics you left out?

Yeah ok. The 50% thingie was a bit much.
Still, I woun't be suprised of the end his classics part of the season with 3 or 4 wins.