Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2024, February 24, one-day classic (men's)

[Lequack]

Annual proposal not to have the men's and women's editions of a race in the same thread.

By popular request, I created a separate women's race thread:

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2024, February 24, one-day classic (women's)

Notable mentions: Vollering, Kopecky, Reussser, Wiebes, Ludwig, Niewiadoma, Persico, Consonni, Balsamo, Longho Borghini https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/omloop-het-nieuwsblad-we/2024 https://www.omloophetnieuwsblad.be/nl/wedstrijd/elite-vrouwen/wedstrijdinfo Live video stream available...

forum.cyclingnews.com

 

[Netserk]

Nice. Can't wait for the season to start.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Omloop is losing quality riders over the years. 20 years ago, all top cobbled riders were here.

 

[SafeBet]

Official startlist is not out yet, but the difference in talent between Visma and every other team will likely be gigantic.
Can QS turn back the clock and save us from total domination?

 

[Strawberry_Jams]

who's going to do the work with Affini? I suppose Tratnik is in such good form, he'd ride for 100km on his own.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

who's going to do the work with Affini? I suppose Tratnik is in such good form, he'd ride for 100km on his own.

And then Jumbo swap Affini for Hagenes in Kuurne. They literally have too many potential leaders to fit into a classic.

 

[Netserk]

I think Affini managed just fine to do all the donkey work on his own last year, and as you note he won't have to do the same the next day. But I'm sure some of the others will try to join the break or work if there's crosswinds.

 

[Potomac]

Finally, the season starts.

 

[Didinho]

Curious about Julian, Asgreen, Lampaert and Moscon against this Visma team. Pedersen would’ve been the top favorite.

 

[yaco]

And then Jumbo swap Affini for Hagenes in Kuurne. They literally have too many potential leaders to fit into a classic.

Exactly - From the gun teams should be placing their 3rd or 4th or 5th string riders in the break, and therefore making Jumbo control - You do this well enough and then Jumbo may only have two riders for the final.

 

[tobydawq]

A bit annoying that Van der Poel and Mads Pedersen skip the race as well as Ineos seem to go easy on it with no Sheffield or Ganna, and then Visma send all their top names....

Even more annoying that I won't be able to watch live.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

If it's time for the Omloop thread, it's time for you to get your teams together for the Spring Classics CQ game, because when that race starts, entries for the game close.

 

[search]

A bit annoying that Van der Poel and Mads Pedersen skip the race as well as Ineos seem to go easy on it with no Sheffield or Ganna, and then Visma send all their top names....

going by the interview during Algarve, I wouldn't be too sure Ganna will take part in any of the cobbled classics.

 

[Netserk]

It'd be a shame if he doesn't race Roubaix. Skipping the Flemish races is fine.

 

[tobydawq]

going by the interview during Algarve, I wouldn't be too sure Ganna will take part in any of the cobbled classics.

Right. I also meant to mention Narváez on the missing from Ineos list.

 

[DNP-Old]

Right. I also meant to mention Narváez on the missing from Ineos list.

Still in Ecuador following the birth of his son.

 

[search]

No idea if this will really have an impact on the race, but there is a bit of a change in regards to support on the climbs:

"With the 2024 racing season coming up, the Flanders Classics Race Direction has recently made a significant decision to introduce a new rule regarding a number of climbs in the various FLCS races. Effective from 24 February 2024 and starting with the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad elite women's and men's races, this new regulation aims to reduce the impact caused by team staff adopting random spots on climbs to provide riders with feeding or technical assistance. In doing so, team staff members tend to park their vehicles in unauthorized areas or on the course, which has been observed by the organization and reported to us by the local authorities. The new regulation introduced is also intended to improve safety for all concerned. Consequently, the decision has been made to prohibit the following climbs from being accessed by Team Support Staff, either for providing feeding or technical assistance or for parking purposes."

 

[Samu Cuenca]

No idea if this will really have an impact on the race, but there is a bit of a change in regards to support on the climbs:

"With the 2024 racing season coming up, the Flanders Classics Race Direction has recently made a significant decision to introduce a new rule regarding a number of climbs in the various FLCS races. Effective from 24 February 2024 and starting with the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad elite women's and men's races, this new regulation aims to reduce the impact caused by team staff adopting random spots on climbs to provide riders with feeding or technical assistance. In doing so, team staff members tend to park their vehicles in unauthorized areas or on the course, which has been observed by the organization and reported to us by the local authorities. The new regulation introduced is also intended to improve safety for all concerned. Consequently, the decision has been made to prohibit the following climbs from being accessed by Team Support Staff, either for providing feeding or technical assistance or for parking purposes."

I can understand why they don't want cars to be parked all over the place, but it will be bad if a race is decided by a rider not being able to get assistance at a crucial moment, although that will obviously happen at times no matter what.

 

[Salvarani]

I can understand why they don't want cars to be parked all over the place, but it will be bad if a race is decided by a rider not being able to get assistance at a crucial moment, although that will obviously happen at times no matter what.

Should still be neutral service around.

Cliché to say... but the game is the game also. Mechanicals at crucial moments has always decided races.

You cant erase all margins for error, especially at the richer teams.

They will have to live with it.

I think this was actually pretty great by the organization.

 

[RedheadDane]

What if teams could bring the equipment onto the climb without having a car parked there?
There are probably gonna be half a million people on the climbs anyway, what difference would it make if some of them are mechanics with toolboxes and a few spare wheels?

 

[Samu Cuenca]

What if teams could bring the equipment onto the climb without having a car parked there?
There are probably gonna be half a million people on the climbs anyway, what difference would it make if some of them are mechanics with toolboxes and a few spare wheels?

According to the info on the map, they won't be allowed to do that on the red sections.

 

[proffate]

I can understand why they don't want cars to be parked all over the place, but it will be bad if a race is decided by a rider not being able to get assistance at a crucial moment, although that will obviously happen at times no matter what.

Most mishaps are not an act of God. The fact that there are crucial pinch points and the fact that skills matter add to the racing.

 

[Samu Cuenca]

Most mishaps are not an act of God. The fact that there are crucial pinch points and the fact that skills matter add to the racing.

Teams and riders can of course be responsible for their own mishaps, but it's still not the way I prefer to see races getting decided.

 

[Kwaremonster]

Here hoping for a alaphillipe win followed by a rant for the ages in the interview after the race. Not likely though, I know..

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Biniam ftw.