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

[yaco]

Liv Alula Jayco stuffed up the last 2kms. They had to attack and hope the other riders would look for Gillespie to bring back the attack. A major fail!

 

[Didinho]

In the end it’s the legs deciding. Gillespie was easily following some attacks while the duo’s were suffering. They just couldn’t attack anymore in the last km.

 

[yaco]

In the end it’s the legs deciding. Gillespie was easily following some attacks while the duo’s were suffering. They just couldn’t attack anymore in the last km.

If you don't attack, you can't win in that final, even though Gillespie is strong.

 

[Didinho]

If you don't attack, you can't win in that final, even though Gillespie is strong.

There were some moments they could’ve attacked from behind with a 1-2 punch but they had to recover themselves. With Backstedt’s pacing it was even harder because they never stopped riding completely so the attacks didn’t get 20m immediately. Gillespie was just too strong for these slower attacks.

 

[RedheadDane]

Well done to Marthe for getting on the podium.

 

[pastronef]

super sprint by Gillespie. very strong

 

[yaco]

There were some moments they could’ve attacked from behind with a 1-2 punch but they had to recover themselves. With Backstedt’s pacing it was even harder because they never stopped riding completely so the attacks didn’t get 20m immediately. Gillespie was just too strong for these slower attacks.

At 2kms to go there was no Backstedt which was the time to attack. Then you make Gillespie work. There is no point rolling for the last 2kms and looking at each other.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

In the end it’s the legs deciding. Gillespie was easily following some attacks while the duo’s were suffering. They just couldn’t attack anymore in the last km.

She could do that easily because the other riders had already spent their energy closing each other down. There were also many times where they could easily have let the wheel go to a teammate or someone else and forced Gillespie to work a lot more. She could very well have won anyway, but they didn't maximise their own chances. The top 4 was pretty much what I expected it to be if there hadn't been any attacks at all, although I couldn't be sure of the exact order from 2-4.

 

[Didinho]

At 2kms to go there was no Backstedt which was the time to attack. Then you make Gillespie work. There is no point rolling for the last 2kms and looking at each other.

Yeah that was the only good point to attack again but they were just dead. If the legs give up, you can’t attack. Gillespie was controlling it in front untill Backstedt came back.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

The damage had already been done before Gillespie got to the finish.

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