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

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Rabo f..... Fun! Saved by the Slovenian.

What? He's a German.

 

[Netserk]

Tratnik
Politt
Van Aert
Naesen
Laporte

 

[skippo12]

Politt could only really race for second or nothing

This. Tratnik had WVA and Laporte in the chasing group. Had no reason to take as many turns or push has hard.

 

[scribers]

This. Tratnik had WVA and Laporte in the chasing group. Had no reason to take as many turns or push has hard.

Scary thing is only real obstacle for Wout was so many strong attacking teammates.

 

[Faserr]

It was Tratnik or Van Aert at the end. Politt probably happy with second and a little chance for the win.

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

In all seriousness, I mean why would UAE want to give Visma a free ride to the win?

 

[postmanhat]

Decathlon looked to have a few in the top 15 from a fairly weak line-up. Has any team improved as much simply by changing bikes?

 

[DNP-Old]

In all seriousness, I mean why would UAE want to give Visma a free ride to the win?

UAE have an extreme obsession with the UCI Ranking. I honestly wouldn't exclude the thought that a DS said he should just ride for 2nd.

 

[postmanhat]

Nice to see Rex starting to fulfil his potential after a top ten in Roubaix a few years back.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Nils Politt being booked for crimes against cycling by riding for a podium instead of the win, there's a special place in hell reserved for him next to Mr A. Valverde.

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

UAE have an extreme obsession with the UCI Ranking. I honestly wouldn't exclude the thought that a DS said he should just ride for 2nd.

That’s what I thought but still found it odd. Then again, UAE is odd in general so it tracks.

 

[Didinho]

Skuijns attack made my race. And Politt was the first non-Jumbo so technically he won today, good tactic.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

 

[Netserk]

Good race for the team cohesion of Visma-LAB. Both Jorgenson and Tratnik being put in winning positions.

 

[scribers]

This was always wout’s race to dictate. The guy either wins or picks the winner (unless mvp is there)

 

[MartinGT]

Pidcock Top 10 lol

 

[Jumbo Visma Fan :)]

What is odd?

2nd is better than nothing. Plus if you just throw it away then VLAB can still win, and would have as proven by Van Aert's 3rd place

I guess it’s just my American train of thought kicking it, where you rarely see someone settle for 2nd instead of going for the win.

 

[QueenStagiaire]

Politt really needed a top result in a classic after not having had one basically since Roubaix ’19 but as a UAE rider he should be riding for the win.

 

[Netserk]

Nils Politt being booked for crimes against cycling by riding for a podium instead of the win, there's a special place in hell reserved for him next to Mr A. Valverde.

Valverde rides for 2nd by not pulling. Not the same.

 

[scribers]

I feel cheated out of coverage of the heroic chase by the peloton

 

[AmRacer]

Nils Politt being booked for crimes against cycling by riding for a podium instead of the win, there's a special place in hell reserved for him next to Mr A. Valverde.

There's no way he could win.

 

[Netserk]

Pidcock Top 10 lol

He also did a good sprint here last year. Remove the cobbles and he would thrive here.

 

[Penninepeddler]

What choice does Pollitt really have though... when coming up to a few km to go?

1. Do the work as Tratnik is obviously not going to... keep away from chasing group, likely come 2nd but hey, never know... maybe a ~5% chance of a win if something happens with Tratnik and probably a 90% chance of coming top 2.

2. Sit back and do nothing. He knows Tratnik won't take it up and they will both be absorbed into the chasers... probably come ~15th and be the highest UAE finisher and probably mean that it is a ~90% TVL win anyway with van Aert and Laporte strongest two guys in group.

1 is really the only choice. Both for self and for the team.

 

[theyoungest]

I think if Visma weren't in this race we would have had a bunch sprint with 50 guys. They made this entire race. Although it was really won on collective strength. Individually they were reasonably strong but if Skujins drops you on a hill then for sure Van der Poel will... okay okay, the Vismas did all the work which might have cost them a bit.

 

[Samamba]

Even Naesen is now doing good again. What's going on in that team. I mean they are also a bit lucky, they missed the first echelon, got bailed out a bit in de the end, but their results are really good (also on their way to a good result in France and ofcourse UAE).