Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2014, 1 March, 198km, 1.HC

[Flamin]

The REAL start of the season!

STARTLIST

ROADMAP

TIMETABLE

somehow I don't seem to find a profile

2013

1 Luca Paolini (ITA) Team Katusha 4h 52' 15"
2 Stijn Vandenbergh (BEL) Omega Pharma-Quick Step s.t.
3 Sven Vandousselaere (BEL) Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise + 1' 13"
4 Geraint Thomas (GBR) Team Sky + 1' 13"
5 Greg Van Avermaet (BEL) BMC Racing Team + 1' 13"
6 Marco Bandiera (ITA) IAM Cycling + 1' 13"
7 Sylvain Chavanel (FRA) Omega Pharma-Quick Step + 1' 13"
8 Jurgen Roelandts (BEL) Lotto-Belisol + 1' 13"
9 Maarten Wynants (BEL) Blanco Pro Cycling + 1' 13"
10 Egoitz García (ESP) Cofidis + 1' 13"

2014

Cloudy, about 10 degrees, mostly dry (only a small chance for local, light showers), no (significant) wind.

The Muur (not the Kapelmuur) is back, although after only 80k of racing. Furthermore, no significant changes except that there's two 'hellingen' less than last year but three extra cobble sections. Final 40k is exactly the same.

I guess Boonen is the overwhelming favourite to fill this empty gap on his palmares. Other notable contenders: Paolini, Roelandts, Stybar, Terpstra, Vandenbergh, Boom, Vanmarcke, Hushovd, Van Avermaet, Langeveld, Boasson Hagen, Stannard, Chavanel, Leukemans,...

Bring on the real stuff!!

10 hellingen:

1. Leberg (700m - 5,6%): 59.2km
2. Hostellerie (1270m - 4,6%): 64km
3. Muur van Geraardsbergen (1000m - 6,8%): 81.1km
4. Valkenberg (880m - 6%): 99.3km
5. Kruisberg (1800m - 4,8%): 126.9km
6. Taaienberg (800m - 6%): 136.5km
7. Eikenberg (1170m - 5,6%): 141.8km
8. Wolvenberg (800m - 6,3%): 144.9km
9. Leberg (700m - 5,6%): 155.3km
10. Molenberg (500m - 9,8%): 160.8km

cobbles:

1. Haaghoek (2000m): 56.2km
2. Haaghoek (2000m): 108.1km
3. Donderij (800m): 131.6km
4. Ruiterstraat (800m): 145km
5. Karel Martelstraat (1300m): 146.3km
6. Holleweg (350m): 147.7km
7. Haaghoek (2000m): 152.3km
8. Paddestraat (2300m): 166.9km
9. Lippenhovestraat (1300m): 169.5km
10. Lange Munte (2500m): 176.4km

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Probably my favorite one day after P-R.

Weather too warm and good to back my favorite hardman, Stannard.

Instead this man will upset the Belgians:

Solid sprint and ag2r seems to be in good form.

 

[straightjacker]

I think I've seen somewhere that Trek will participate here, but it happens it was just someone's wishful thinking.
Steppers look like an inevitable choice after the Arabic campaign.
Equally good multiple options in several teams, nevertheless.
Can't wait.

 

[Peccio89]

Too bad Trek and Cannondale won't start, we really need the Omloop to become world tour

 

[notrolfsorensen]

It's a shame really that Androni and CCC gets to ride this while Trek, Cannondale and Tinkoff sits it out.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Too bad Trek and Cannondale won't start, we really need the Omloop to become world tour

Maybe. Sometimes WT races gets tactical and suffocated. SB and Omloop are pretty open.

 

[PunchingRouleur]

I love this race, the unique greatly balanced course, how hard its raced every year...3rd cobbled monument for me.

I would love to see this race to get WT status instead of boring Gent - Wevelgem or poor Ronde - E3 Prijs.

Anybody know why Eurosport ignore this classic?, year after year.

 

[LaFlorecita]

OPQS boys Tommeke and Styby will do well... I hope

 

[DirtyWorks]

I love this race, the unique greatly balanced course, how hard its raced every year...3rd cobbled monument for me.

I would love to see this race to get WT status instead of boring Gent - Wevelgem or poor Ronde - E3 Prijs.

Anybody know why Eurosport ignore this classic?, year after year.

I believe, the promoter is part of the Flanders Classics cooperative.

If the promoter owns the broadcast royalties, then there are probably terms that prevent the sale, like too high a price, or ASO encouraging eurosport not to carry the race. Too many maybes for me to know with any confidence.

The UCI's elite racing schedule is supposed to get much smaller, so we'll see if that brings Eurosport around and elevates it to an appropriate category. http://inrng.com/2013/10/pro-cycling-calendar-uci-reform-2015-2020/

 

[eagleofditchling]

Season starts now! Terpstra to win

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Stybar! I hope

 

[Netserk]

The start of the best time of the year!

I hope the race will be as good as in 2012, although with a slightly different result.

 

[Parrulo]

The real start of the season

Unbeatable war machines to unleash hell!!!

 

[trevim]

The real races begin at last! My pick would be Van Keirsbulck but I guess the only safe bet is that Boonen will not win (I'll be glad to be proved wrong) and probably will be outsprinted by a non-sprinter

 

[mewmewmew13]

Yay the classics!!

 

[Afrank]

Finally...the classics begin!

Stybar, Terpstra, Chavanel, or Roelandts my picks for the win. Would be like to see GVA win it too.

Dillier, Le Bon, and Van Keirsbulck my wildcard picks.

 

[thehook]

Would really like to see Terpsta take it. Stybar is going to be making some noise at Roubaix. GVM would be cool seeing him take a win this Classic season.

 

[Jspear]

I'm going for Stybar! He's real strong right now. It would be great though if anyone from OPQS won.

 

[Roude Leiw]

Anybody know why Eurosport ignore this classic?, year after year.

It will be live on RTBF and I suppose on Sporza too, now they both know what they talk about when it comes to cobbles

 

[Hugo Koblet]

Finally!

Gaudin to take his first win of the season. Going to be difficult with Terpstra so strong.

 

[Marco Pantani]

90% OPQS

10% Vanmarcke


Wheres the poll?

 

[argyllflyer]

It will be live on RTBF and I suppose on Sporza too, now they both know what they talk about when it comes to cobbles

Sadly my linguistic skills are on a par with Sir Wiggo's wet descending ones.

For any British viewers, it's on Sky Sports 2 at 11.30pm on Saturday night. They have highlights of all the Flanders Classics races.

 

[search]

whether you speak the language or not, you will still get more useful information than on Eurosport

 

[will10]

Het Volk, the real start of the season. Gives me the Styby jeebies.

 

[jens_attacks]

Bmc might be fun to watch. van avermaet ftw. i'd also like boonen to finally win this.