Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2013, 23 Feb, (198 km) 1.HC

[will10]

Finally, the season really starts. I'll go with Boom but Stybar could surprise.

(are we talking classics or CX here? )

 

[CraZyCaLL]

Phinney feels good in flat cobblestone sections but how he feels in short cobblestone hills?

 

[skafottet]

Looking at the stage profile the last meters are going up, anyone know much gradient?

 

[RHRH19861986]

Looking at the stage profile the last meters are going up, anyone know much gradient?

If they haven´t changed it, it´s rather flat.

Comparing the gradient of this sector at the finale to the ones of the Hellingen before, there might be 2-3% somewhere in the last few kilometers, nothing to worry about.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Greg van Avermaet ftw.

 

[RedheadDane]

Why this not on Eurosport?

 

[maltiv]

Last year we had pretty much every significant race on TV2 in Norway. This year they're not even showing Omloop, Kuurne, M-SR, G-W or the Giro. So disappointing to have to go back to watching streams...all this due to the Armstrong-case, which seemingly has reduced the cycling interest in Norway by massive amounts.

Instead they increase their coverage of skiing, which is surely the cleanest sport in the world

 

[theyoungest]

Last year we had pretty much every significant race on TV2 in Norway. This year they're not even showing Omloop, Kuurne, M-SR, G-W or the Giro. So disappointing to have to go back to watching streams...all this due to the Armstrong-case, which seemingly has reduced the cycling interest in Norway by massive amounts.

Instead they increase their coverage of skiing, which is surely the cleanest sport in the world

Same in every country, except Belgium, probably. No Omloop on tv in Holland.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Last year we had pretty much every significant race on TV2 in Norway. This year they're not even showing Omloop, Kuurne, M-SR, G-W or the Giro. So disappointing to have to go back to watching streams...all this due to the Armstrong-case, which seemingly has reduced the cycling interest in Norway by massive amounts.

Instead they increase their coverage of skiing, which is surely the cleanest sport in the world

sucks to live in a country where there is no cycling tradition and in reality nobody cares for it. succesfans

 

[theyoungest]

sucks to live in a country where there is no cycling tradition and in reality nobody cares for it. succesfans

Lol, by that token the Dutch are 'success fans' as well (which they probably are).

 

[Der Effe]

Lol, by that token the Dutch are 'success fans' as well (which they probably are).

NOS is the biggest joke ever amongst sports broadcasters.

 

[theyoungest]

NOS is the biggest joke ever amongst sports broadcasters.

Absolutely, Tyler Hamilton has gotten more airtime in recent months than during his entire professional career. Meanwhile actual racing is mostly ignored.

 

[Der Effe]

Absolutely, Tyler Hamilton has gotten more airtime in recent months than during his entire professional career. Meanwhile actual racing is mostly ignored.

Yep and ice skating gets more air time than anything else, apart from football. I don't care, because I like it, but cycling is way more popular. Almost everyone at NOS truly disgust me as they have no knowledge whatsoever. Dione de Graaf her face alone makes me want to bang my skull against my TV.

Anyway, I expect this race to be between Roelandts and Boom but there's lots of riders who can win, ofcourse.

 

[theyoungest]

Yep and ice skating gets more air time than anything else, apart from football. I don't care, because I like it, but cycling is way more popular. Almost everyone at NOS truly disgust me as they have no knowledge whatsoever. Dione de Graaf her face alone makes me want to bang my skull against my TV.

Anyway, I expect this race to be between Roelandts and Boom but there's lots of riders who can win, ofcourse.

Cycling more popular than speedskating? Nope, not even close. Just look at the viewing numbers.

 

[Der Effe]

Cycling more popular than speedskating? Nope, not even close. Just look at the viewing numbers.

Then it must be the people I talk to. I know almost no one who like ice skating but lots of people who are into cycling, but that ofcourse doesn't represent all people. The way NOS promotes ice skating compared to cycling is bound to keep it that way anyhow.

 

[Viking]

Given his forays into the classics so far, I would.

We don't really have a lot to go on. I don't remember which classics (if any) he rode last year. He placed 4th in the Olympics road race and he won the U23 Paris-Roubaix twice ('09 and '10). I think he has a bright future in the classics, but I don't know how well he'll handle the climbs in Omloop. I'd be less surprised to see him podium at PR than Omloop.

 

[the asian]

PR will be the classic most favourable to Phinney. Unless he improves his climbing it's hard to see him becoming a factor in the Belgian ones perhaps with thye exception of GW.

 

[theyoungest]

We don't really have a lot to go on. I don't remember which classics (if any) he rode last year. He placed 4th in the Olympics road race and he won the U23 Paris-Roubaix twice ('09 and '10). I think he has a bright future in the classics, but I don't know how well he'll handle the climbs in Omloop. I'd be less surprised to see him podium at PR than Omloop.

If you look at the past winners of Roubaix U23, it's hardly a predictor of future classics success. He did get a top-20 in Roubaix last year, that was pretty impressive. But like you say, what he's capable of in the (cobbled) hills remains to be seen. So a win in the Omloop would be quite surprising.

 

[El Pistolero]

If you look at the past winners of Roubaix U23, it's hardly a predictor of future classics success. He did get a top-20 in Roubaix last year, that was pretty impressive. But like you say, what he's capable of in the (cobbled) hills remains to be seen. So a win in the Omloop would be quite surprising.

Lange Munte remains the decisive part of the race. Of course you still need to survive the little bergs that come before that.

Omloop is like a mini hybrid of Roubaix and the Ronde.

 

[BillytheKid]

If you look at the past winners of Roubaix U23, it's hardly a predictor of future classics success. He did get a top-20 in Roubaix last year, that was pretty impressive. But like you say, what he's capable of in the (cobbled) hills remains to be seen. So a win in the Omloop would be quite surprising.

Phinney still has room and time to improve on hilly classics, maybe will see something of it here, but not the win. I assume he's riding it.

 

[BillytheKid]

Last year we had pretty much every significant race on TV2 in Norway. This year they're not even showing Omloop, Kuurne, M-SR, G-W or the Giro. So disappointing to have to go back to watching streams...all this due to the Armstrong-case, which seemingly has reduced the cycling interest in Norway by massive amounts.

Instead they increase their coverage of skiing, which is surely the cleanest sport in the world

I predicted such an outcome, but the sport will have to endure out of the limelight as it ever has.

 

[classicomano]

Really looking forward to watching some LIVE racing. Staring at livetickers all day and watching crappy french recaps on youtube is wearing me out.

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Lol, by that token the Dutch are 'success fans' as well (which they probably are).

netherlands nobody acres about doping. cycling/tour de france is a huge tradition in the netherlands. only in the media doping is a hype, but nobody cares

 

[theyoungest]

netherlands nobody acres about doping. cycling/tour de france is a huge tradition in the netherlands. only in the media doping is a hype, but nobody cares

Lol, have you spoken to any of the general public lately?

Cycling equals doping right now.

 

[El Pistolero]

Lol, have you spoken to any of the general public lately?

Cycling equals doping right now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DISCd4pgDxY

That's nothing new.