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

[manafana]

sky played that way better than belkin anyway OPQS played a fair card, GVA really does have some bad luck but Stannard deserves a win, my main choice eddie the boss was strong but didn't get in the right mov to win it in end.

 

[the asian]

IF they had had radios today then EBH would have won as Stannard would have been told to just sit on GVA's wheel for the last few km and the second group would have caught them allowing EBH to win the sprint. Thankfully that didn't happen.

If there were Race Radios EBH and Stannard wouldn't have attacked in the first place.

 

[Pricey_sky]

If there were Race Radios EBH and Stannard wouldn't have attacked in the first place.

Well if they followed Froome's example instead of Wiggins they would have!

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

If there were Race Radios EBH and Stannard wouldn't have attacked in the first place.

Maybe Stannard does best in bad weather because it interferes with the radio signal.

 

[saneguy]

All in all a good race! Stannard fought it out very well and deserved it. Feel bad for Boom. He indeed had a great chance to win this.

 

[theyoungest]

Sky won't win any monuments this year. They should be happy if they can get on the podium in one of the monuments.

MSR - EBH is probably their best chance, but I can't see him standing a chance against Sagan, Degenkolb, Boonen, etc. in a sprint.

RVV - No sky rider can match Canc, Boonen or Sagan in flanders.

P-R - Probably their best chance. With a strong team and some luck someone like Stannard could get away in the finsh, but not that likely.

LBL - Henao? Great rider but winning LBL, no way.

Lombardy - Dawg, Henao or Porte? Winning? Nah.

300 k is too long for EBH. Maybe Stannard can do something if the weather's crap. I think Henao in the Ardennes might be their best chance, actually.

 

[CraZyCaLL]

Good ride by Senechal. Just 20 years old and he ended the race in 19-th place

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Not a bad ride by Egoitz.

One place better than last year...

 

[TANK91]

Sky won't win any monuments this year. They should be happy if they can get on the podium in one of the monuments.

MSR - EBH is probably their best chance, but I can't see him standing a chance against Sagan, Degenkolb, Boonen, etc. in a sprint.

RVV - No sky rider can match Canc, Boonen or Sagan in flanders.

P-R - Probably their best chance. With a strong team and some luck someone like Stannard could get away in the finsh, but not that likely.

LBL - Henao? Great rider but winning LBL, no way.

Lombardy - Dawg, Henao or Porte? Winning? Nah.

Dude please predict my Lotto numbers what utter garbage, Henao made me laugh most after what he done last year in classics he shown with thing s being right he can win. Kreuziger won so im sure Henao could, Henao coulld win either way aswell he does not need to breakaway and EBH will always have a chance with his talent you could easily see him staying away in San Remo imo

 

[the asian]

Good ride by Senechal. Just 20 years old and he ended the race in 19-th place

Gong to be a cobbled classics beast ! That's sure.

I wonder why OPQS let him go.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

agree, Sep was one of the strongest. but I wouldn't cal it luck. Stannard rode a GREAT race, he never slowed down, GVA was already tired and feared EBH coming back. and got a nice gap when he started his sprint. that's a magnificent win for Stannard and finally a nice one-day race win for Sky.

A lot of people just automatically regard Vanmarcke as one of the strongest cobbles riders after he almost cracked the code last year. Yes, he is good, but today he wasn't the strongest. I believe Terpstra/Boom were. That said, I agree about Stannard. It wasn't luck. For the first time (Ever????), Sky actually succeeded with another tactics than the borg-style. Van Avermaet obviously failed his sprint, but he and Stannard were overall equally strong today, no doubt.

 

[RedheadDane]

One place better than last year...

So... by 2022 this should be his.

 

[scholar]

Van Avermaet obviously failed his sprint, but he and Stannard were overall equally strong today, no doubt.

We were even watching the same race? Stannard established the decisive break and did, what, 80% of the work in staying away? And when he went, from a long way out, Van Avermaet was hardly able to hold his wheel.

Van Avermaet obviously rode a good race, and did well to get so close. But I can't see how you can argue that he and Stannard were equally strong.

 

[TANK91]

Lol at looking back at these comments especially fanboy Maltiv, saying that for certain Stannard was not as strong as Vanmarke he is but hurt that EBH did not win. Stannard completely deseved this did way more work than GVA

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Good race, but definately not great.
For a few reasons:
-I don't like it when the decision falls after all hills and cobbles. Basically the strongest men in the race on the hardest sections were all caught (Boom, Vanmarcke, Hagen and Terpstra), three of them because of bad luck (if Boom hadn't flatted, he, Hagen and Terpstra would've battled for the win). And then two getaway on the flat, of which 1 pretty much says after the race he wasn't good at all today (Van Avermaet).
Leaves kind of a meh felling.
Though I do think it's nice Stannard wins because he's always up there the last few years, and most of the time he sacrificed himself for nothing (Hagen ).

But a more satisfying result would've been either one of Hagen/Boom/Terpstra/Vanmarcke winning imho.
Also disappointingly weak Boonen and Stybar.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

One place better than last year...

lol, couldn't remember him. Break action also last year?

Anyway, perhaps he will tank now for the rest of the cobbles season.

 

[Potomac]

I want to know what EBH is thinking.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Stannard was the strongest? He got lucky by slipping away just as the group got together.

Vanmarcke was BY FAR the strongest, followed by Terpstra and EBH.

Don't forget Boom. Easy to forget after flat tire.

 

[Poursuivant]

Where was Boonen?

 

[scholar]

I want to know what EBH is thinking.

I suspect mostly relief that Stannard was able to hold off GVA.

I'd be much more interested in what he was thinking if Sky had got 2-3 rather than 1-3.

 

[Potomac]

I suspect mostly relief that Stannard was able to hold off GVA.

I'd be much more interested in what he was thinking if Sky had got 2-3 rather than 1-3.

But what is the guidance to Stannard for " the next time that happens?"

 

[scholar]

But what is the guidance to Stannard for " the next time that happens?"

I imagine that depends on whether he's accompanied by a worse finisher than a potato again.

 

[LugHugger]

But what is the guidance to Stannard for " the next time that happens?"

Stannards Spring form in recent year's has been more consistent than EBH so I would suspect that Yogi is now Sky's protected rider for Spring 2014.

 

[will10]

Where was Boonen?

Shivering at the back of the group.

 

[ILovecycling]

Where was Boonen?

Looks like he and Stybar are off-form at this moment,maybe