Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

[TRDean]

According to the weather thing on my iphone, the lead up is as follows:

T - 6 degrees and raining;
W - 8 and raining;
Th - 9 and raining
F - 8 and raining
Sa - 8 and raining
Su -6 and raining.

So my money's on it raining.

Yea..Im with you...the smart money is on rain.

 

[taiwan]

Is Flecha just going to be working for Boasson Hagen all season? I would consider Boasson Hagen the more likely choice too, but surely this is Flecha's specialization. If he was going to get leadership at all, it would be for a race like this. Flecha to follow the big moves, keeping Boasson Hagen for the sprint, maybe?

Anyone agree that BMC have the most cards to play?

Also noone has mentioned Hushovd yet.

 

[flyor64]

Is Flecha just going to be working for Boasson Hagen all season? I would consider Boasson Hagen the more likely choice too, but surely this is Flecha's specialization. If he was going to get leadership at all, it would be for a race like this. Flecha to follow the big moves, keeping Boasson Hagen for the sprint, maybe?

Anyone agree that BMC have the most cards to play?

Also noone has mentioned Hushovd yet.

Dim speculated that given the flat finish vs last year's sloping uphill finish, that it may factor against him. Seems a pretty safe assessment given that he does shine better on an grad uphill finish as opposed to a flat out flat sprint...would never count him out though.

 

[Credive]

Also noone has mentioned Hushovd yet.

Because he has been ill and is not in very good shape. Everyone knows that EBH wins in bad weather. He would be my pick for the winner with Boonen 2nd

 

[taiwan]

Because he has been ill and is not in very good shape. Everyone knows that EBH wins in bad weather. He would be my pick for the winner with Boonen 2nd

Doesn't Haussler like the bad weather too? Also he's angry. I didn't want to pick him for the win because I figured I'd mention someone different. Didn't realise Hushovd was in bad shape. Not paying attention.

 

[Anonymous]

Dim speculated that given the flat finish vs last year's sloping uphill finish, that it may factor against him. Seems a pretty safe assessment given that he does shine better on an grad uphill finish as opposed to a flat out flat sprint...would never count him out though.

If you look in the first post of the thread theres a link to a hushovd interview where he says he is just doing it for training, and he thinks ebh could win.

 

[taiwan]

If you look in the first post of the thread theres a link to a hushovd interview where he says he is just doing it for training, and he thinks ebh could win.

K. What about Flecha?

Also the road captain role, not relevant here or will Sky be missing Arvesen?

 

[Mellow Velo]

Try linux, you dont even need to install it, just get a livecd that runs from the disc, then try streaming through that. You should find it a lot smoother. You can even install linux to a pendrive and just boot from that. But its much quicker for watching (and recording) live streams

Ta for that, will do.

 

[katkotom]

Peter Sagan

 

[L'arriviste]

Spectating Het and KBK at the roadside

Yea..Im with you...the smart money is on rain.

Long time reader, first time poster! Well, the rain's photogenic at least!

This year I'm planning to 'do' my first Classics season as a spectator at the roadside, starting with Het Whatever and K-B-K. I've checked out a lot of sources, but details are a bit thin on some of the big spectating questions.

I'm planning to see Het at the Muur van Geraardsbergen and K-B-K on the Oude Kwaremont.

Has anyone got experience of getting to the Muur on race-day as I've only visited G'bergen thus far in peacetime. What's the parking situation like in the town? Same question goes for the Kwaremont, which is of course a village location.

I've been studying photos and Google Earth. I figure it could be a nightmare (especially doing two stops in a single race, even with GPS) but any advice from those who know the ground situation would be gratefully appreciated.

I'll write down my experiences in detail on my website (link above) after each event for anyone else who might want the info.

 

[stefrees]

Long time reader, first time poster! Well, the rain's photogenic at least!

This year I'm planning to 'do' my first Classics season as a spectator at the roadside, starting with Het Whatever and K-B-K. I've checked out a lot of sources, but details are a bit thin on some of the big spectating questions.

I'm planning to see Het at the Muur and K-B-K on the Oude Kwaremont.

Has anyone got experience of getting to the Muur on race-day as I've only visited G'bergen thus far in peacetime. What's the parking situation like in the town? Same question goes for the Kwaremont, which is of course a village location.

I've been studying photos and Google Earth. I figure it could be a nightmare (especially doing a two stops in a race, even with GPS) but any advice from those who know the ground situation would be gratefully appreciated.

I'll write down my experiences in detail on my website after each event for anyone else who might the info.

Parking in geraardsburgen is fine, the station has loads of space, though if you can get a train then you can enjoy the fine beer! One an hour from Ghent takes 45 mins

 

[lucybears]

Hushovd, Haussler and Steegmans likely to miss Het Nieuwsblad

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/3...-Steegmans-likely-to-miss-Het-Nieuwsblad.aspx

 

[L'arriviste]

Trains = beer

Parking in geraardsburgen is fine, the station has loads of space, though if you can get a train then you can enjoy the fine beer! One an hour from Ghent takes 45 mins

The train is indeed a fantastic option: I was thinking of doing that for the Ronde! For information, there are also usually two per hour direct from Brussels Central: the journey takes just under an hour and at the time of writing a second class standard return costs €13.20!

 

[Anonymous]

K. What about Flecha?

Also the road captain role, not relevant here or will Sky be missing Arvesen?

Arveson out with collarbone, Downing in, who will be the bottle carrier extroadinaire he was in Australia. The unsung hero of skys season. From skys lineup, who knows, Michael Barry, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Juan Antonio Flecha, Mathew Hayman, Ian Stannard, Chris Sutton , may well be that Barry takes on the road captain role, outside of that its likely to be flecha and ebh going for it with hayman, sutton and downing doing the work for them.. Stannard is Sky's wild card.. I can see him being left to his own devices and getting top 20, maybe even higher.

 

[pmcg76]

Long time reader, first time poster! Well, the rain's photogenic at least!

This year I'm planning to 'do' my first Classics season as a spectator at the roadside, starting with Het Whatever and K-B-K. I've checked out a lot of sources, but details are a bit thin on some of the big spectating questions.

I'm planning to see Het at the Muur van Geraardsbergen and K-B-K on the Oude Kwaremont.

Has anyone got experience of getting to the Muur on race-day as I've only visited G'bergen thus far in peacetime. What's the parking situation like in the town? Same question goes for the Kwaremont, which is of course a village location.

I've been studying photos and Google Earth. I figure it could be a nightmare (especially doing two stops in a single race, even with GPS) but any advice from those who know the ground situation would be gratefully appreciated.

I'll write down my experiences in detail on my website (link above) after each event for anyone else who might want the info.

I went to watch the Tour of Flanders at Kwaermont a few years ago, people seem to park on the hard-shoulder of the dual carriage-way between Berchem-Ronse that runs almost parallel to the Kwaermont. I parked just of this dual-carriageway on the opposite side on a side road which a lot of other people done also.

It is a short walk to the Kwaermont but get there as early as possible to get a decent parking place. There is a huge TV screen in the farm halfway up the Kwaermont but dont know if it will be there for K-B-K. Doubt it but you never know with the Flemish.

If you need any other advice, let me know.

 

[Anonymous]

Hushovd, Haussler and Steegmans likely to miss Het Nieuwsblad

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/3...-Steegmans-likely-to-miss-Het-Nieuwsblad.aspx

I hope that doesnt take a bit of the gloss of for whoever wins..

 

[maltiv]

Hushovd, Haussler and Steegmans likely to miss Het Nieuwsblad

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/3...-Steegmans-likely-to-miss-Het-Nieuwsblad.aspx

Hushovd will be there, it's just that he isn't in great shape so he won't be able to fight for the win.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Looks like it is on TV2 Sport...which I don't get

Yup:
sport | lørdag, 27.februar 14:25 - 17:00

Direktesending fra Belgia og den 65. utgaven av sykkelrittet Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. Kommentatorer: Christian Paasche og Johan Kaggestad.

I used to have it, last year, until Canal Digital upgraded their Conax encryption.
Ah well, another reason to miss "free" RTBF Sat.

 

[lucybears]

Hushovd will be there, it's just that he isn't in great shape so he won't be able to fight for the win.

L'équipe Cervélo Test Team n'alignera pas ses deux leaders sur le Het Nieuwsblad. En effet, Thor Hushovd et Heinrich Haussler ont préféré renoncer à l'épreuve belge, laissant l'équipe suisse affaiblie pour le premier rendez-vous de la saison en vue des flandriennes.

23/02/2010 à 13h50
http://www.cyclismactu.net/news-het_nieuwsblad_cervelo_sans_ses_leaders-4941.html

 

[sublimit]

Im just hoping that the internet is working properly on saturday and sunday.. :/ too many races, too little tv coverage..

Personally, my main hope is that Russ Downing can finish both races. Great after all these years to see him get a chance, even if it was at Arversens expense

i'm fed up with Eurosport, they will probably be showing Pro bull-riding or womens table tennis or something. or some utterly pointless motorcyle formula.

Downing should do OK, this is sort of terrain where he can show his class but yes as a domestique, so Probably go for an EBH win. Fedrigo seems to be going well but dont know if he's riding.

 

[lucybears]

re Steegmans

"Woensdagavond beslissen we of Gert komend weekend de Omloop kan rijden", zegt RadioShack-ploegleider Dirk Demol.

 

[ImmaculateKadence]

Hushovd, Haussler and Steegmans likely to miss Het Nieuwsblad

http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/3...-Steegmans-likely-to-miss-Het-Nieuwsblad.aspx

Why is Haussler expected to miss it? He is one of my potential winners.

 

[L'arriviste]

I went to watch the Tour of Flanders at Kwaermont a few years ago, people seem to park on the hard-shoulder of the dual carriage-way between Berchem-Ronse that runs almost parallel to the Kwaermont. I parked just of this dual-carriageway on the opposite side on a side road which a lot of other people done also.

It is a short walk to the Kwaermont but get there as early as possible to get a decent parking place. There is a huge TV screen in the farm halfway up the Kwaermont but dont know if it will be there for K-B-K. Doubt it but you never know with the Flemish.

If you need any other advice, let me know.

Hi, pmcg76, that's exactly the sort of info I'm after, thanks! If I'm right about the specifics, then, the climb starts north of the village of Kwaremont and the village itself is at the top. Or is the village at the bottom of the climb? The various pins in maps make the issue a bit unclear, as do the contours.

 

[Anonymous]

i'm fed up with Eurosport, they will probably be showing Pro bull-riding or womens table tennis or something. or some utterly pointless motorcyle formula. .

Winter Olympics, QUALIFYING for the superbikes, HIGHLIGHTS of the GP2 series, a REVIEW of the australian supercross series, and the best crashes in the world ever.. (all of which are then repeated later)

Nothing that we really need..

People may not like murdoch but for us brits the sooner sky or itv4 step in and pick up a few races the better..

 

[sublimit]

but i dont think they will be will be showing the best Luge crashes ever.. i saw that poor guy..

hopefully there's going to be some sort of coverage for the race though online.