Omloop het Nieuwsblad 2012

[Potomac]

I'm concerned about these copyright protections bills in US congress in regards to cycling coverage in the US. There really is now way to watch races like Het Volk in the states without dubious internet sites.

 

[red_flanders]

I'm concerned about these copyright protections bills in US congress in regards to cycling coverage in the US. There really is now way to watch races like Het Volk in the states without dubious internet sites.

Steephill.tv will save us.

 

[Moondance]

Probable Gilbert win is probable. Or else Boom

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Damn, this will be awesome then.

this awesome regardless of gilbert.
*facepalm*

 

[El Pistolero]

this awesome regardless of gilbert.
*facepalm*

The race is much better when the big guys compete for the victory though. Last year was kinda meh in that department, but I can understand, it's a bit too early to be in winning shape already in a big race.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

The race is much better when the big guys compete for the victory though. Last year was kinda meh in that department, but I can understand, it's a bit too early to be in winning shape already in a big race.

There will still be some big names, regardless of gilbert.

 

[El Pistolero]

There will still be some big names, regardless of gilbert.

No Cancellara, no Nuyens. Last year both Phil and Boonen were non-factors in this race and chances are pretty high that will remain unchanged this year. It's definitely not a probable Phil victory as Moondance seems to suggest.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Gilbert is riding Qatar, Tour du Haut-Var and then Het Volk. The last I head, he wasn't sure about riding Kuurne.
In March he's riding Strade Bianche, Tirreno and then San Remo.

Yeah, Lelangue said that it is a 'see how he feels' for KBK.

Alessandro ballan ftw

 

[Ryaguas]

Boom or Terpstra for me

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

No Cancellara, no Nuyens. Last year both Phil and Boonen were non-factors in this race and chances are pretty high that will remain unchanged this year. It's definitely not a probable Phil victory as Moondance seems to suggest.

doesn't matter, the race is always animated.

canc hasn't come for a few years. Point is the race will still be good, always is.

andd ohh nooo, no nuyens?? sucks hard.

 

[AussieGoddess]

No Cancellara, no Nuyens. Last year both Phil and Boonen were non-factors in this race and chances are pretty high that will remain unchanged this year. It's definitely not a probable Phil victory as Moondance seems to suggest.

Dunno - Phil wants to be in shape earlier this year to go for a MSR win ....

and Boonen has a pretty high incentive to do better than last year, so after having so much time off is getting into it a bit earlier this year too.

Will be great anyway, but I would love to see those two slug it out for the win

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Dunno - Phil wants to be in shape earlier this year to go for a MSR win ....

and Boonen has a pretty high incentive to do better than last year, so after having so much time off is getting into it a bit earlier this year too.

Will be great anyway, but I would love to see those two slug it out for the win

ya, plus boonen is already racing so his form should be closer.

More like we'll see the vintage boonen move at het volk tho

 

[El Pistolero]

doesn't matter, the race is always animated.

canc hasn't come for a few years. Point is the race will still be good, always is.

andd ohh nooo, no nuyens?? sucks hard.

Of course it will, but it's always more fun to see some of the big cobbled contenders active in this race and not a single one was last year except Flecha(and I'm being kind here).

I also hope the race won't be decided too soon, a dozen or more cyclists contending for the victory in the last 20km would be ideal.

And Nuyens can definitely make these smaller races more interesting by just being in the right place and right time

I also don't think Hushovd will ride here, did he ride last year?

 

[Nicosix]

Provisional Startlist :

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

 

[ingsve]

Provisional Startlist :

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Now this looks like a classics team...

BMC Racing Team
Alessandro Ballan
Marcus Burghardt
Philippe Gilbert
Thor Hushovd
Taylor Phinney
Manuel Quinziato
Michael Schär
Greg Van Avermaet

 

[El Pistolero]

Now this looks like a classics team...

BMC Racing Team
Alessandro Ballan
Marcus Burghardt
Philippe Gilbert
Thor Hushovd
Taylor Phinney
Manuel Quinziato
Michael Schär
Greg Van Avermaet

Their classics team is so amazing, if they don't win classics you can give them hell

 

[Kwibus]

The race is much better when the big guys compete for the victory though. Last year was kinda meh in that department, but I can understand, it's a bit too early to be in winning shape already in a big race.

The big names were there, but they simply let Langeveld get too much time. Boonen and Gilbert were only looking at others instead of trying something for themselves. That's their own fault.

 

[Reuell]

Their classics team is so amazing, if they don't win classics you can give them hell

They'll probably win a few with Gilbert.
He's the big chief in their classics department.
In the classics he won't win, I really wonder whether there are just too many chiefs overall within the BMC squad, and too few indians.
I mean, didn't we all expect Garmin to win a few classics last year?

 

[El Pistolero]

They'll probably win a few with Gilbert.
He's the big chief in their classics department.
In the classics he won't win, I really wonder whether there are just too many chiefs overall within the BMC squad, and too few indians.
I mean, didn't we all expect Garmin to win a few classics last year?

Who of Garmin had won classics before?

Haussler? Nope
Farrar? Nope
Hushovd? WC and G-W
Sep Vanmarcke? Nope
Ryder Hesjedal? Nope
Daniel Martin? Nope
Johan Vansummeren? Nope, but he won the big one this year

---

Gilbert? 3 Monuments, 6 classics
Ballan? 1 Monument and WC
Evans? FW and WC
Hushovd? WC and G-W
GVA? P-T

I predicted a fail for Garmin right from the beginning, so no I didn't think they'd own the classics.

 

[theyoungest]

They'll probably win a few with Gilbert.
He's the big chief in their classics department.
In the classics he won't win, I really wonder whether there are just too many chiefs overall within the BMC squad, and too few indians.
I mean, didn't we all expect Garmin to win a few classics last year?

Alessandro Ballan - semi-chief
Marcus Burghardt - Indian
Philippe Gilbert - chief
Thor Hushovd - chief
Taylor Phinney - Indian
Manuel Quinziato - Indian
Michael Schär - Indian
Greg Van Avermaet - chief

Works for me. Yes, super teams usually disappoint, and last year it wasn't any different with Garmin, but super teams also tend to be overrated to the point of myth. Haussler, Hushovd, Farrar are good, but not dominatingly good.

 

[Kwibus]

Now this looks like a classics team...

BMC Racing Team
Alessandro Ballan
Marcus Burghardt
Philippe Gilbert
Thor Hushovd
Taylor Phinney
Manuel Quinziato
Michael Schär
Greg Van Avermaet

If they really send this team.. wow..

 

[Kwibus]

◦Clinton Avery
◦Joris Boillat
◦William Clarke
◦Gang Xu
◦Gorik Gardeyn
◦Kun Jiang
◦Biao Liu
◦Pengda Jiao

I'm curious how the chinese riders will do. They will probably bounce off the road and DNF? Or cause some serious crashes and take out some of the big names for the spring season.

 

[El Pistolero]

◦Clinton Avery
◦Joris Boillat
◦William Clarke
◦Gang Xu
◦Gorik Gardeyn
◦Kun Jiang
◦Biao Liu
◦Pengda Jiao

I'm curious how the chinese riders will do. They will probably bounce off the road and DNF? Or cause some serious crashes and take out some of the big names for the spring season.

Chinese have some great balancing skills

 

[theyoungest]

◦Clinton Avery
◦Joris Boillat
◦William Clarke
◦Gang Xu
◦Gorik Gardeyn
◦Kun Jiang
◦Biao Liu
◦Pengda Jiao

I'm curious how the chinese riders will do. They will probably bounce off the road and DNF? Or cause some serious crashes and take out some of the big names for the spring season.

What a crap team... no other teams wanted to race?

 

[auscyclefan94]

That lniked startlist is incomplete, right?