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

[yaco]

He's the quickest of the 5 I've seen on the squad (haven't seen Donaldson race yet) so he makes the most sense

Krinjsen is the leader and the only possible victor from the team. Jayco have Groenewegen down for KBK but he is doubtful with concussion.

 

[Rockestar_33]

Krinjsen is the leader and the only possible victor from the team. Jayco have Groenewegen down for KBK but he is doubtful with concussion.

You said that before. I said fair enough. No need to repeat.

 

[Brullnux]

Ehm ...

Go rewatch Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne 2021, check the 2024 and 2022 results of the E3 Harelbeke, take a look at the top five of last year's Ronde van Vlaanderen and search the sprint for the win in that same year's Le Samyn.

I don't think this does anything to disprove what I was saying – Narvaez and Morgado are very talented riders but I don't think Narvaez has really gone all out for Belgian classics yet. Or if he has, then he's not better than Jorgenson, but I don't think I've personally seen enough of him here to say that confidently.

Morgado is in the same boat, crazy ability but not tons of experience so may be way better than Jorgenson (but I don't feel comfortable saying either way).

Vermeersch, Pollitt, Wellens, Bjerg on the other hand, we know aren't at the same level as Jorgenson. Pollitt is the closest, but still a level below.

 

[tobydawq]

I don't think this does anything to disprove what I was saying – Narvaez and Morgado are very talented riders but I don't think Narvaez has really gone all out for Belgian classics yet. Or if he has, then he's not better than Jorgenson, but I don't think I've personally seen enough of him here to say that confidently.

Morgado is in the same boat, crazy ability but not tons of experience so may be way better than Jorgenson (but I don't feel comfortable saying either way).

Vermeersch, Pollitt, Wellens, Bjerg on the other hand, we know aren't at the same level as Jorgenson. Pollitt is the closest, but still a level below.

Narváez was very good in E3 last year, possibly the best after Mathieu and Wout.

 

[Brullnux]

Narváez was very good in E3 last year, possibly the best after Mathieu and Wout.

He was yeah, but that's partly why I feel he's still a bit of an unknown quantity re what his ceiling is for Belgian classics. Some great performances but fairly infrequently. I think I can say more confidently that if Jorgenson were a team leader he'd be fighting for podiums.

But my comparison was less with Narvaez/Morgado because I do think they could well have a similar (or better) ceiling than Jorgenson, I just don't think we know at this point, if you get me. With Wellens/Vermeersch/Bjerg, it's clearly a huge stretch to say they're on par with Jorgenson.

 

[yaNzKEWL]

Jorgenson with a sprint would be exceptionnal. If he develops this, that would be a huge addition for him, because he has all the other qualities needed (solid TT, very good climber, great descender, smart and enduring...). Some great climbers/TT worked their sprint (Remco) so why not him.

 

[Wvv]

Jorgenson with a sprint would be exceptionnal. If he develops this, that would be a huge addition for him, because he has all the other qualities needed (solid TT, very good climber, great descender, smart and enduring...). Some great climbers/TT worked their sprint (Remco) so why not him.

You need the natural aptitude too. You can train a bit on fast twitch muscle fibers, but without that certain ability you'll never be really fast.

 

[yaNzKEWL]

You need the natural aptitude too. You can train a bit on fast twitch muscle fibers, but without that certain ability you'll never be really fast.

True!

 

[Peyroteo94]

I miss the Muur in RVV. Most iconic climb in Belgium.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

Campernaerts' first Visma victory

Would be a rare moment where I cheer for a visma rentabike rider.

 

[E_F_]

I miss the Muur in RVV. Most iconic climb in Belgium.

Of course the route wasn't perfect back then - even if the last edition with it was a banger - but they didn't have to have such a massive gap in cobbles before the Muur... But no, it had to be a circuit. And then Omloop got a complete makeover as well... I'm honestly not too keen on Flanders Classics.

 

[search]

Narváez was very good in E3 last year, possibly the best after Mathieu and Wout.

last year Narvaez also had to skip the preperation races due to the birth of his son, so there's likely more potential to unlock.

 

[Berniece]

Of course the route wasn't perfect back then - even if the last edition with it was a banger - but they didn't have to have such a massive gap in cobbles before the Muur... But no, it had to be a circuit. And then Omloop got a complete makeover as well... I'm honestly not too keen on Flanders Classics.

What's wrong with the current profile of De Ronde? It has given us much more exciting races than the old one

 

[E_F_]

What's wrong with the current profile of De Ronde? It has given us much more exciting races than the old one

Did you not read my comment? I don't like the circuits, I also agree with @Peyroteo94 about missing the Muur. And I literally mentioned how the old route wasn't all that great either - but that the finale with the Muur and Bosberg wasn't to blame for this, but rather the long stretch with no cobbles leading up to it.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Remco makes an appearance on the team's recon ride, oh yeah

 

[Berniece]

Did you not read my comment? I don't like the circuits, I also agree with @Peyroteo94 about missing the Muur. And I literally mentioned how the old route wasn't all that great either - but that the finale with the Muur and Bosberg wasn't to blame for this, but rather the long stretch with no cobbles leading up to it.

I expected more explanation besides “it’s a circuit”, since they only 1 hill 2 times and another 3 times. All the rest is unique.

 

[Netserk]

but that the finale with the Muur and Bosberg wasn't to blame for this, but rather the long stretch with no cobbles leading up to it.

Which cobbled climb did you wish they had used as the last one before the Muur?

 

[E_F_]

Which cobbled climb did you wish they had used as the last one before the Muur?

I would do Koppenberg, Steenbeekdries, Taaienberg, Berg Ten Houte. That would cut off about 10 km compared to Molenberg, and about 5 km compared to Haaghoek perthe 2010 route.

 

[Netserk]

I would do Koppenberg, Steenbeekdries, Taaienberg, Berg Ten Houte. That would cut off about 10 km compared to Molenberg, and about 5 km compared to Haaghoek perthe 2010 route.

Berg Ten Houte wasn't cobbled back then.

 

[E_F_]

Berg Ten Houte wasn't cobbled back then.

Oh yeah, that's right. I can't hold that against them..! However that is only a difference of 2.5 km. I would also argue that Koppenberg to Taaienberg is more intense than Eikenberg to Molenberg, and that it would bring Oude Kwaremont and Koppenberg closer to the finish.

 

[Netserk]

Oh yeah, that's right. I can't hold that against them..! However that is only a difference of 2.5 km. I would also argue that Koppenberg to Taaienberg is more intense than Eikenberg to Molenberg, and that it would bring Oude Kwaremont and Koppenberg closer to the finish.

By the roads used in any of the cobbled classics, there are 6 km from the top of Taaienberg to the top of Ten Houte [My bad, you're right with 2.5 km]. So the last cobbled climb wouldn't really be much closer to the Muur than back then, and thus it was in fact the finale with the Muur that was to blame for the long stretch without cobbled climbs before it.

 

[E_F_]

By the roads used in any of the cobbled classics, there are 6 km from the top of Taaienberg to the top of Ten Houte. So the last cobbled climb wouldn't really be much closer to the Muur than back then, and thus it was in fact the finale with the Muur that was to blame for the long stretch without cobbled climbs before it.

I do think you are probably correct about me being wrong - that the isolation of the Muur and Bosberg really is to blame.

Just to be completely anal retentive about it though; forgoing Berg Ten Houte would bring the top of Taaienberg to at most 23 km from the railway bridge in Geraardsbergen, compared to the 22 km of Haaghoek in 2010. But still closer than the 27 km of Molenberg. Of course my other (post hoc, I know) adjustments to my claim do still stand,

 

[Didinho]

When you only saw 1 pro rider (AG2R) today on the recon and now seeing a lot of teams were there. Missed them all.

The Muur - Bosberg combo was even harder today with a half deflated back tyre. Felt like i was big chaining it like De Lie.

It was dryer already than I expected after some rain the last days. Wont be a problem this weekend with the light rain now.

 

[Didinho]

Remco makes an appearance on the team's recon ride, oh yeah

Didn’t expect him to do these rides already. Looks like he’s on schedule. Maybe better.

 

[Ilmaestro99]

When you only saw 1 pro rider (AG2R) today on the recon and now seeing a lot of teams were there. Missed them all.

That ag2r guy is gonna win the omlopp