Omloop Het (Volk) Nieuwsblad - Feb 26th 2011

[Anonymous]

First real race of the season! This is the most fun on these here forums. I love watching on one computer and doing the group play by play here. Spring classics season is like Christmas and getting laid for the first time all rolled into one!!

 

[auscyclefan94]

First real race of the season! This is the most fun on these here forums. I love watching on one computer and doing the group play by play here. Spring classics season is like Christmas and getting laid for the first time all rolled into one!!

I wouldn't go that far but it is pretty good!

 

[auscyclefan94]

Weather forecast for Gent is for constant light rain during today, tommorow and on Sunday! We are going to have some wet cobbled races!

 

[Sylvester]

At the moment, it's not raining in Gent. Grey weather, lots of clouds, but no rain.

It's not too cold either.

 

[will10]

Didn't you hear? CQranking is now the official international governing body of cycling.

I think the CQ game has polluted my view of cycling - I don't really care if it's not "official", as long as they dish out CQ points for the result!

 

[boomcie]

Saturday:

Sunday:

 

[movingtarget]

I like Greg Van Avermaet who has good early season form or Flecha to win again. I think Gilbert will be targeting the later classics. Matt Goss ? Not sure if he is riding. Milan San Remo should suit him better.

 

[boomcie]

The thing with Gilbert and Boonen not targeting the Omloop is that they are still better than the vast majority of the peloton, even though they won't be on top of their game yet.

Also someone who wins the Omloop must have great potential, so expect a big name (or big name in the making, like Gilbert was a few years ago) to win on Saturday.

 

[joy118118]

The forcast said it will be HEAVY RAIN in Ghent on Saturday.

 

[ingsve]

If it's raining then I like hte chances for EBH even more. Hushovd is another one that likes the rain a lot. Or rather while others get discouraged by rain he doesn't mind it. Who else likes the rain a lot?

 

[boomcie]

If it's raining then I like hte chances for EBH even more. Hushovd is another one that likes the rain a lot. Or rather while others get discouraged by rain he doesn't mind it. Who else likes the rain a lot?

-Gilbert. E.g. last year's Lombardia.
-Haussler. E.g. Colmar. (I know he does not ride the Omloop).

 

[SpannerBender]

I think some of the bigger names won't race hard if the weather is bad. Priorities are later and the chances of an injury and a scuppered season have got to come into play. Shame.

 

[boomcie]

I think some of the bigger names won't race hard if the weather is bad. Priorities are later and the chances of an injury and a scuppered season have got to come into play. Shame.

Depends on how bad the weather will actually be.

 

[SpannerBender]

Depends on how bad the weather will actually be.

Agreed. One mans 'bad is another........

I'm going for Flecha if it's proper bad. Individually less to lose than the other names and Skys team ain't too bad!

 

[jens_attacks]

The forcast said it will be HEAVY RAIN in Ghent on Saturday.

i don't want so much rain here.god please keep something of that for roubaix please!

 

[Havetts]

god please keep something of that for roubaix please!

+1.10chars

 

[Publicus]

Does anyone know what time the livestreams start? CET time is fine.

 

[Cobblestoned]

Does anyone know what time the livestreams start? CET time is fine.

myPtwoP says 14:00 CET

Normaly you can count on that.

 

[Connor Pass]

For me Eddie Bos and Greg Van Avermaet look to have good chances - both are on form and I think they'd both like to add this to their list of wins while the likes of Boonen and Gilbert will have other races in mind.

 

[Big Mig]

First outing for the Garmin-Cervelo classiscs dream team not bad, however i think i,d rather have the Quickstep lineup myself. Chavanel or Boonen FTW.
Gilbert should not be at the level he was when he was winning this race as he will be racing hard until Liege wheras most guys he is racing against tommorrow will get a rest after Roubaix.

 

[Buffalo Soldier]

I really can't wait.
For me (like most belgians i think), this is the REAL start of the season.

Crossed the htc team on my way home in Ghent today BTW. In black jerseys, i liked them!

 

[rrj1170]

Me too! Even in Arizona, this is exciting. I love the Spring races!They represent cycling at its best! If the weather is relatively bad on Saturday, I don't see the big names taking too many chances. I like Hagan and Avermaet both days. Devolder could take one also.

 

[boomcie]

I really can't wait.
For me (like most belgians i think), this is the REAL start of the season.

Crossed the htc team on my way home in Ghent today BTW. In black jerseys, i liked them!

Make that the real start of the YEAR. Seriously.

 

[theyoungest]

I really can't wait.
For me (like most belgians i think), this is the REAL start of the season.

Crossed the htc team on my way home in Ghent today BTW. In black jerseys, i liked them!

Do Belgians never tire to point this out? I don't know how many times I've read this. It's almost like you guys feel your season start threatened.

 

[thirteen]

I really can't wait.
Crossed the htc team on my way home in Ghent today BTW. In black jerseys, i liked them!

Will you be at the start?

Right by the train station, yeah?