Belgian Bonanza '26: 21st Omloop + Omloop Hageland + 15th Le Samyn (Feb 28 + March 1st and 2nd)

[Samu Cuenca]

Unless they're actively watching they're just basing it on an expected average speed.

 

[Didinho]

It’s always hard to organize a chase on these laps. Trek doing a good job now but the timing doesn’t go down enough.

My ride this morning was close to the parcours. A lot of wind today again. So they have to manage their efforts, also for the Trek riders.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

They aren't far away from being caught, but the expected bit moto of pacing isn't making it easier for the peloton.

 

[Didinho]

They don’t want to catch them too early. Other strong riders could attack then and it would be harder to catch.

The cobbled climb will be the deciding factor. With 5km to go.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Balsamo's out of contention.

 

[Didinho]

Puncture probably and crashes with it.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/F1i-zKC9lok

 

[Didinho]

Kool.
Gillespie.
Bossuyt.

 

[yaco]

Good fightback from Kool who was awful at the UAE Tour.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Visma didn't get much out of all their work. They should have tried to bridge across to the group, but that's 100% hindsight.

It's nice to see Kool being up to speed again, but this is of course the exact kind of race where she should always be up there.

 

[Dani HR]

Eline Jansen 5th!

Also Florien Bolks 11th, just missing the top 10, in her first race as a professional cyclist.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Le Samyn will conclude the opening of the Belgian season. It's previously been raced on the same day as the men's edition, but this time it gets a day all for itself, which means it'll finish at a more reasonable time. The local laps have been lengthened slightly which has resulted in an additional 11 km being added to the distance.

We'll see some of the riders we've seen in action this weekend, but also some fresh faces. SD Works are not taking part so we know Wiebes won't be winning again. Kool has the opportunity to take two victories in a row, but her best result in this race is 7th, and the hill in Dour could once again prove to be tricky for her. Zanetti, Gillespie and Verhulst-Wild were the best of the rest last year and are expected to take part once again.

I guess there's still a chance that it could be the first elite race where all four Knaven sisters face each other, but it seems more likely that only two or three them will be there.