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

[Cult Classics]

He's still somewhat unproven on cobbled hills. When has he ever ridden with the big guys in a spring classic like that?

It wasn't spring, but he looked alright on the Muur in the ENECO last year. Dropped Contador and stayed with Ballan, and Ballan is no slouch on the bergs.

 

[Der Effe]

The biggest issue Boom has is that he often doesn't "keep going" ... he has a spectacular acceleration but then falls still. I think this year it's better though, considering he also won a longer time trial already. Thats something new

Nah, Boom's biggest problem is that he's been hyped up to the point he could win the Tour de France. Boom's been told for his entire career he's the best or he's special. Combine that with unreal expectations at that point and an engine that wasn't big enough to compete with the big boys and you have Boom's story so far. He has the ability, but there's so many others.

 

[BillytheKid]

Phinney still has to prove himself.
No doubt the team will work for Hushovd in P-R. Phinney may just be freed of duties if opportunity arises.
That's how I see the things.

Hopefully BMC sees it that way too. Phinney should be given a shot here. Is Phinney free of contract at year's end?

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Hopefully BMC sees it that way too. Phinney should be given a shot here. Is Phinney free of contract at year's end?

Rhis will not let go of Phinney. Plenty of others to dump before that happens.

 

[Afrank]

Rhis will not let go of Phinney. Plenty of others to dump before that happens.

Nor should he. BMC has been a great team for him. They have a strong classics squad that can fully support him, Hushovd can't keep going forever. And when Hushovd can't compete with the top guys anymore, Phinney will be primed and ready to take his place as BMC's main guy for Roubaix and other cobbled races.

 

[jaylew]

I just posted the link to the timetable 4 posts above yours. Don't know what time coverage will begin though. For these March races there is usually a stream going by between 5:00-5:30 pacific time/1400-1430 CET. I'm usually not willing to wake before that on a weekend so I don't know if there will be coverage even earlier.

Damn, I'm going to miss this. How is it that so many of my races are going on at the same time as pro races in Europe?

Maybe I'll see if it's up on cyclingtorrents when I get back. Not sure if I'll have the willpower not to check the result though.

http://www.rtbf.be/sport/cyclisme

Also, if you click on the Omloop news on the page I've linked, the article includes short video highlights of all the races back to 2007 and few going as far back as the 1980s.

Just watched those. Hoste, always complaining.

 

[wheelie1977]

good morning cycling fans. I'll have my picks up on the wheeliebets website at 5.30 GMT if anyone is looking

I am like a kid on Christmas Eve, why do I never get tired of this, I'm a 35 year old man!

Love this race, dry and windy conditions expected. Boonen to blow the race apart on the Taainberg again but the damage will be done by the cross winds on Paddestraat and Lange Munte. 24 kmph winds in around Gent for tomorrow afternoon

Honestly would love to quit the day job and just become a full time tifosi. the freten and beer are cheap as chips

 

[serfla]

Hopefully BMC sees it that way too. Phinney should be given a shot here. Is Phinney free of contract at year's end?

I don't know if his contract expires at the end of the year. Four years was maximum length mentioned when he was signing and two years minimum.
It probably turned out to be four, since this is third season and makes no sense for BMC to extend it just for a year, if it was a three year contract.
He shouldn't leave though, even if it ends at the end of the year.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

http://www.rtbf.be/sport/cyclisme

Also, if you click on the Omloop news on the page I've linked, the article includes short video highlights of all the races back to 2007 and few going as far back as the 1980s.

Hard going in 1985

 

[belvedere86]

good morning cycling fans. I'll have my picks up on the wheeliebets website at 5.30 GMT if anyone is looking

I am like a kid on Christmas Eve, why do I never get tired of this, I'm a 35 year old man!

Love this race, dry and windy conditions expected. Boonen to blow the race apart on the Taainberg again but the damage will be done by the cross winds on Paddestraat and Lange Munte. 24 kmph winds in around Gent for tomorrow afternoon

Honestly would love to quit the day job and just become a full time tifosi. the freten and beer are cheap as chips

Best bet imo is Roelandts top 3 (got it at 3.75 unibet). which bookies do you use?

very small bets are stybar and gatto to win/top3.


For Kuurne i like Greipel to win and Hutarovich/Kristoff top 3

 

[Netserk]

Best bet imo is Roelandts top 3 (got it at 3.75 unibet). which bookies do you use?

very small bets are stybar and gatto to win/top3.


For Kuurne i like Greipel to win and Hutarovich/Kristoff top 3

And Here is the betting thread

 

[iZnoGouD]

Well, Boonen is riding with one arm and Cancellara is sitting at home eating some concoction of melted cheese so yes, there will be bigger players at P-R. Still I would not discount the "youngsters" here.

I wonder why is everyone downplaying Cancellaras chances

 

[BlenJones2]

I wonder why is everyone downplaying Cancellaras chances

Maybe because he isn't riding?

 

[Parrulo]

because it's hard to win a race you won't be riding. . . . i guess that's why

 

[RHRH19861986]

Thanks, Netserk.

Hope Oman and Het Nieuwsblad is enough, and that they don´t start this sh.t in every race thread throughout the season now...

 

[belvedere86]

didnt know that there was a betting thread so shhhh

 

[Netserk]

didnt know that there was a betting thread so shhhh

Shit happens. As long as you will use that thread from now on, no problem

 

[manafana]

for me betting helps me follow so i will always mention a bit the odds, i think it can be part of a race thread in moderation.

OPQS are bound have big say in the race, their just a big threat well managed and while they might say they have cards to play i think their effort is going behind terpstra.

 

[Netserk]

for me betting helps me follow so i will always mention a bit the odds, i think it can be part of a race thread in moderation.

OPQS are bound have big say in the race, their just a big threat well managed and while they might say they have cards to play i think their effort is going behind terpstra.

I think it can be a part of the betting thread

... And not the road racing thread.

 

[theyoungest]

Nah, Boom's biggest problem is that he's been hyped up to the point he could win the Tour de France. Boom's been told for his entire career he's the best or he's special. Combine that with unreal expectations at that point and an engine that wasn't big enough to compete with the big boys and you have Boom's story so far. He has the ability, but there's so many others.

That was some moron at the Volkskrant who wrote that, about the Tour, when Boom finished 50th on some mountain stage in the Vuelta and he apparently didn't look tired.

The Volkskrant don't know anything about cycling, just doping.

 

[Miburo]

That was some moron at the Volkskrant who wrote that, about the Tour, when Boom finished 50th on some mountain stage in the Vuelta and he apparently didn't look tired.

The Volkskrant don't know anything about cycling, just doping.

I haven't read many newspapers which shows a decent knowledge of cycling.

There's on one old dude who has a weekly column and he always writes about doping. But i prefer that actually cause if he writes about actual cycling it's quite, well...

Worst of all he was the chief of the cycling department for that newspaper for many years, forgot his name, luckely

 

[manafana]

Belgiums do cycling best thou, think we see a dutch or belgium winner here. Still think PHinney could do something here and spring surprise of the bmc riders.

 

[trevim]

I would be happy if Boonen fills one of the biggest gaps of his record. And then nailing La Primavera too, to get the perfect record. Oh well, let's just hope he's there on the Taaienberg.
Other than Boonen, I would also be glad if Roelandts, Keirsbulck, Offredo, Pozzato, Degenkolb or Hagen wins and Hushovd performs in some hope-inspiring way.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

sorry, what?

sorry. I worded it wrong, I know he is decent on cobbles, but I'm not sure if he could have achieved more with a different mindset. Anyway hopefully he lifts another level this year.

 

[jens_attacks]

it's christmaaaas.!!!

how much we waited for this...not many hours left and we're see a hell of a race

sporza official stream free for all?