78th Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: February 25, 2023

[Berniece]

Very excited for tomorrow, as a Belgian this is really the proper start of the season. Omloop tomorrow, and then non-stop great races every week. Strade next week, PN/TA, MSR, E3, GW, De Ronde, PR, AGR, WP, LBL and to finish we can see Remco win the Giro.

 

[Sciatic]

that always sounds like a reasonable assumption, but somehow he has never even cracked the Top 10 yet in the Omloop

Very possibly wishful thinking at work

 

[postmanhat]

It's a shame Asgreen has withdrawn as he would have been one those most likely to force a selection in the last 30-40K, along with the likes of Mohoric, Pollit, Turner and Van Baarle. With what people are saying about the wind direction in the finale, I wonder how many teams will be motivated to avoid a small bunch sprint?

Either way it's Omloop, so I'll enjoy it as the start of my favourite part of the season, and because it's often an interesting race.

 

[Potomac]

Finally....the season begins.

 

[Jungle Cycle]

King Kung ftw

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

De Lie will take it home today/tomorrow-should be a small group sprint which fits him like a glove.

 

[LesDiablesRouges]

Looking at the actual startlist, I'm guessing (sticking to this race):
"DJ Lange Daan" = Dan Hoole
"DJ Cherry" = Alex Kirsch (mainly because he's the only one left)
"MC Mollemalen" = Bauke Mollema
"Mashmaster" = Toms Skujins (because of his love for potatoes, which can be mashed)
"Stuyge" = Jasper Stuyven
"Looney Theuns" = Edward Theuns
"Prague Party Starter" = Mathias Vacek

How Mollema isn't MC F'ing SRAM is beyond me.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Does anybody know anywhere in Salzburg , Austria where I can watch the Omloop ? Danke

 

[DaLong]

Does anybody know anywhere in Salzburg , Austria where I can watch the Omloop ? Danke

From my experience the best bet is to walk into a bar and ask politely for them to turn the TV on to the channel you ask for while you order a drink and tip well.

 

[Jagartrott]

Both Küng and Kristoff are struggling with illness. Küng more than Kristoff, it seems from their interviews.

For the race: wind will be quite noticeable, and mostly sidewind and headwind in the final 20 km.

 

[Samamba]

Ben Turner DNF after a crash. Also Schar out.

How are they already crashing.

 

[Strawberry_Jams]

classic jelle wallays in a break and staying with the favourites group when they attack until the finish kind of day.

 

[Samamba]

classic jelle wallays in a break and staying with the favourites group when they attack until the finish kind of day.

Are you living in 2015

 

[Strawberry_Jams]

Are you living in 2015

aren't we all?

 

[RedheadDane]

aren't we all?

I don't! Back in 2015 Danish cycling wasn't nearly as successful as it is now.

 

[Boes]

Remember what I said in another thread about Trek making weird "lineup posters"? This is what I meant:

Errrr... not true!

VAN Baarle
T. VAN Dijke
VAN Hooydonck
VAN Avermaet
J. VAN den Berg
VAN Moer
VANmarcke
VAN Asbroeck
VAN Gestel
VAN Boven
VAN Keirsbulck
VAN Hoecke
VAN Hemelen
VANhoof

See? Lot's of vans. They might not be the "Big Vans", but they're Vans nonetheless.
And I hereby declare myself "The Society Against Denying Van-status to Any Riders Other Than WVA and MVDP With Van in Their Names".

I stand corrected.
5 starts go to... erm... Van Hemelen?

 

[Devil's Elbow]

You know the cycling season has started properly when an outside favourite crashes out in the first hour of the race.

 

[Netserk]

Wind forecast for 13:00 CET and 16:00 CET:

EDIT: Race course to compare it with:

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Wind forecast for 13:00 CET and 16:00 CET:

So probably not enough wind for echelons and then a block headwind after the Muur. Could definitely be a repeat of Ballerini's sprint victory two years ago then, albeit probably not Ballerini himself winning again.

 

[Netserk]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1629449718899126272

View: https://twitter.com/Domestique___/status/1629449718899126272


128 km to go is at Eke, so they are done with the headwind and are turning on to crosswinds.

 

[Netserk]

Jumbo leading the peloton over Lange Munte (source: @Domestique__):

 

[Aimar16]

When exactly will live pictures of the men's race actually be broadcast?

 

[Salvarani]

Contador with one of his Giro-trophies in the background of his prediction

 

[Samamba]

Jumbo Visma 6 guys in a group of 20....

Not sure why Jumbo would attack out of this now tho...

 

[Netserk]

So the first 20 minutes of the stream for the men's race is exclusively a preview of the women's race.