80th (Men's) Omloop Het Nieuwsblad - Saturday, March 1, 2025

[Offline]

Even though Philipsen botched the sprint again you have to say what Alpecin does in these races is just quite impressive. Not even in the middle of the pack in terms of budget and they were the only team that was able to organise themselves and force a situation. Thought it was worth a mention.

Alpecin was by far the strongest in the race. Philipsen was the deserved winner of the race.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Alpecin was by far the strongest in the race. Philipsen was the deserved winner of the race.

Why?

 

[Offline]

Read it one more time.

 

[kn0s]

Even though Philipsen botched the sprint again you have to say what Alpecin does in these races is just quite impressive. Not even in the middle of the pack in terms of budget and they were the only team that was able to organise themselves and force a situation. Thought it was worth a mention.

Wouldn't call it a botched sprint, just got out classed.

 

[topcat]

They don't have sprinters. Why risk a crash? Those who saw the race know Wellens and Narvaez were 2 of the 10 strongest riders in the race.

I didn't see the race. Tiz crashed so I carried on living my life. I didn't miss much. Wellens is a donkey but UAE had no racehorse. In 10 years time when cycling is back on free to air, maybe we can have a decent Omloop. But for now, sayonara.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Read it one more time.

Just because Alpecin was the best team?

 

[Offline]

Just because Alpecin was the best team?

They made the race unlike UAE and Visma. Strongest team. I feel for them.

 

[Samamba]

Anyone know what happened to Rex? He was in the front group after Muur but has a DNF?

 

[Brullnux]

They made the race unlike UAE and Visma. Strongest team. I feel for them.

Surely Philipsen didn't deserve the win then? Like, he failed at the main thing he was supposed to do

 

[Peyroteo94]

They made the race unlike UAE and Visma. Strongest team. I feel for them.

I will never feel sorry for someone who doesn't like to race and just waits for the sprint. It is like feeling sorry for Roglic in the 2020 Tour when all he did, was killing the race with his superb team pacing all day and him waiting for an uphill sprint.
I will never feel sorry for those who don't attack and ride passively

 

[Red Rick]

Surely Philipsen didn't deserve the win then? Like, he failed at the main thing he was supposed to do

Alpecin actually failed to have anyone other than Philipsen in that first group over the Muur, which is a pretty big mistake in my book if your aim is to win a sprint.

Philipsen had to jump on 5th wheels all the time and that cost him probably too.

 

[Brullnux]

Alpecin actually failed to have anyone other than Philipsen in that first group over the Muur, which is a pretty big mistake in my book if your aim is to win a sprint.

Philipsen had to jump on 5th wheels all the time and that cost him probably too.

Exactly, it's not like Philipsen got wheelsucked to the finish. Went hard to keep Van Aert et al at bay, lost people for the Muur, Philipsen then had to do some solo chasing and lost his fifth sprint of the season. Not really a masterclass

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Anyone know what happened to Rex? He was in the front group after Muur but has a DNF?

Tim Van Dijke as well, on the attack near the finish and out in the end. Maybe they forgot about them?

 

[Balthazar]

Wouldn't call it a botched sprint, just got out classed.

Yes and no. I looked back the sprint a couple of times and he makes a mistake by not following Vermeersch and instead choosing to stay back on Wouts wheel on the left hand side. Wout was weak so he goes around and starts sprinting and getting out of the draft way before Waerenskjold and Magnier do. If he is in position I think he wins but same goes for Magnier who almost makes up the stagger.

 

[Balthazar]

Alpecin actually failed to have anyone other than Philipsen in that first group over the Muur, which is a pretty big mistake in my book if your aim is to win a sprint.

Philipsen had to jump on 5th wheels all the time and that cost him probably too.

Other than Vermeersch you cant logically expect anyone from the team to go over in the first group. Philipsen just needs to gamble and stay at the back of the group like a good sprinter should which is actually what annoys me about him, he is no Mvdp but sometimes rides like he is.

 

[Gigs_98]

That's actually such a *** top ten. Very disappointing race.

 

[Samamba]

Tim Van Dijke as well, on the attack near the finish and out in the end. Maybe they forgot about them?

It's possible they had a bikechange so a teammate is in the results instead of them

 

[Baldinger]

It just feels great to have a surprising winner of a classic race. Enjoy it while you can.

 

[Heston]

Fun race that was open until the end.

The haters must be the people who are gonna love watching a Strade Bianche where a Pogacar crash is literally the only possible way there can be any doubt about the winner. Such fun when we know the winner 2 weeks in advance.

 

[tobydawq]

They don't have sprinters. Why risk a crash? Those who saw the race know Wellens and Narvaez were 2 of the 10 strongest riders in the race.

I think Narváez did try to sprint but I don't know what happened to him.

Anyway, of course you should try to sprint. It's not like they don't go for points usually, either.

 

[tobydawq]

Fun race that was open until the end.

The haters must be the people who are gonna love watching a Strade Bianche where a Pogacar crash is literally the only possible way there can be any doubt about the winner. Such fun when we know the winner 2 weeks in advance.

The haters must be people who don't like seeing supposedly great classics end in 50 rider bunch sprints. You can not like that and not like knowing the winner beforehand at the same time.

 

[Red Rick]

The haters must be people who don't like seeing supposedly great classics end in 50 rider bunch sprints. You can not like that and not like knowing the winner beforehand at the same time.

Things can both be ass and still be better than an 80km fait accompli.

 

[jmdirt]

How is that not an exciting race? Granted the last bit isn't a great course (they have to get into town I guess), but the last 20 K with that many guys hammering the cobble climbs?! That's good stuff! Solos are boring, groups are boring...what do people want?! I love that that many guys have this fitness on March 1! It wasn't like they were just spinning along waiting for the last 500 M.

 

[E_F_]

the last 20 K with that many guys hammering the cobble climbs?!

"Hammering" the cobbles? I didn't see anyone hammering any cobbles.

Solos are boring, groups are boring...what do people want?!

Neither a bunch sprint nor a long solo... Hm... Perhaps a dynamic race with groups forming and merging and splitting? Y'know like one of those cobbled classics in Flanders, people keep talking about... That'd be nice.

 

[Netserk]

How is that not an exciting race? Granted the last bit isn't a great course (they have to get into town I guess), but the last 20 K with that many guys hammering the cobble climbs?! That's good stuff! Solos are boring, groups are boring...what do people want?! I love that that many guys have this fitness on March 1! It wasn't like they were just spinning along waiting for the last 500 M.

I want last year's race. I want the old route with all the great editions of the race with the finish in Gent. 2012-2017 was such a great run of editions, and then they changed the finish, with the worst edition being this one.