For people like me, Tour Down Under and stuff is fun, but the real cycling season starts this saturday with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (1.HC). It's the first of the cobbled classics, so expect most experts to be at the start line. Cancellara, Sagan and Degenkolb seem to be the biggest names missing, but we still have Boonen, Stybar and Terpstra, Vanmarcke, Van Avermaet and Gilbert, Wiggins and Stannard, Demare, Kristoff, Roelandts and many more.
Since the top riders are not at their best yet (or don't want to show themselves too early), this race usualy goes to an outsider, like last year, when Ian Stannard defeated Greg Van Avermaet in a sprint. But if you look at the winners list, there are no small riders on it: Luca Paolini (2013), Sep Vanmarcke (2012), Sebastian Langeveld (2011), Juan Antonio Flecha (2010), Thor Hushovd (2009) Philippe Gilbert (2008) and if we go back in time there's Van Petegem (3 times), Museeuw (twice), Bartoli, Vandenbroucke, Steels and Ballerini. The biggest name missing on the list is of course Tom Boonen, one of the only Flemish classics he never managed to win.
The next day it's Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne (1.1). The first thing to notice is that the Clásica de AlmerÃa was moved to an earlier date on the calendar this year. Where sprinters often prefered the Spanish sun over the cold and dark roads of Flanders, they have no excuse this year with the race overlap disappearing. The race had less hills and cobble sections compared to Omloop, so it should be a sprinters race, but the right group can stay away, like last year where Tom Boonen defeated Moreno Hofland and Sep Vanmarcke in a sprint with a small group.
The weather forcasts give us typical Flemish weather, bit of rain, bit of wind, not too warm. As PCM puts it: "The weather plays an important part in any race, but when there's a cobbled section involved, its contribution can be vital."
Ending with my predictions, Omloop goes to Vanmarcke in a sprint with Van Avermaet and Wiggins. Kuurne is for Kristoff in a mass sprint.
Always love watching these races, Omloop goes to Van Avermaet for me, followed by Kristoff and Demare (or Cancellara, Degenkolb, or whoevers racing)
Always thought that Kuurne Brussels Kuurne was more suited to the cobbled sprinters though, so going to say Kristoff, Demare and another sprinter, maybe Degenkolb if he is racing, although I'm expecting a break to make it.
Should be good to watch either way. Edited by trekbmc on 25-02-2015 08:54
That would need some serious superpowers from Sagan to finish on podium in both races, where he is not starting (as stated in first post). Edited by Avin Wargunnson on 23-02-2015 09:51
Shonak wrote:
Yay Omloop, should be a goodie again this year. One of the finest races usually.
Vanmarcke or Van Avermaet on top in Omloop would be nice. Kristoff or Boonen at Kuurne.
Yeah, I love Omloop - marks a new phase of the season and always seems to be great racing, despite being a relatively minor event compared with what's to come.
Perhaps it's because everyone is fresh and raring to go or that one of my favs, Stannard, won it last year but either way I'm really looking forward to this.
For people like me, Tour Down Under and stuff is fun, but the real cycling season starts this saturday with...
Harder and harder to justify that statement these days. Many of the classics specialists already showing their form in Dubai/Qatar/Oman. GT contenders already having a showdown in Andalucia. WT teams sending top class squads to the TDU.
Foolish Belgians thinking all cycling is classics and that classics is all that cycling is
Over to the races. Kristoff and Degenkolb look to be the best of the early season runners and KBK should be very winnable for both if they take Omloop a bit easy. Sagan hasn't won a race since last June and honestly i don't think he will this weekend. Can't count out those other cobblers like Vanmarcke who've been taking it easy thus far.
My eyes would be on Geraint Thomas but he's not slated to start. Even so Sky usually do well here, so Stannard and Wiggins must be watched. Then i'll be hoping GVA can show something really good.
For people like me, Tour Down Under and stuff is fun, but the real cycling season starts this saturday with...
Harder and harder to justify that statement these days. Many of the classics specialists already showing their form in Dubai/Qatar/Oman. GT contenders already having a showdown in Andalucia. WT teams sending top class squads to the TDU.
Foolish Belgians thinking all cycling is classics and that classics is all that cycling is
Yeah, but the other side of that is they really overdo it now, there used to be a time when Marseille was the only early season race and even to me, an Aussie, I actually agree with Ollfardh's statement.
Who cares about training races in deserts where (even when GC riders go full retard in these days), belgian weekend is real opener of cycling season. Edited by Avin Wargunnson on 23-02-2015 11:31
For people like me, Tour Down Under and stuff is fun, but the real cycling season starts this saturday with...
Harder and harder to justify that statement these days. Many of the classics specialists already showing their form in Dubai/Qatar/Oman. GT contenders already having a showdown in Andalucia. WT teams sending top class squads to the TDU.
Foolish Belgians thinking all cycling is classics and that classics is all that cycling is
Definitely not, Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico will be followed as with great interest as well, but Omloop comes first. I don't like the desert races personally, and I wouldn't call TDU world class. Yes, the Australians show up, but none of the other top riders are interested, despite this race giving normal WT points. No offence to Rohan Dennis, but I'm running out of fingers to count the guys who should do better then him but did not start. With Beijing gone, TDU will probably be the weakest race in the WT.
For people like me, Tour Down Under and stuff is fun, but the real cycling season starts this saturday with...
Harder and harder to justify that statement these days. Many of the classics specialists already showing their form in Dubai/Qatar/Oman. GT contenders already having a showdown in Andalucia. WT teams sending top class squads to the TDU.
Foolish Belgians thinking all cycling is classics and that classics is all that cycling is
Definitely not, Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico will be followed as with great interest as well, but Omloop comes first. I don't like the desert races personally, and I wouldn't call TDU world class. Yes, the Australians show up, but none of the other top riders are interested, despite this race giving normal WT points. No offence to Rohan Dennis, but I'm running out of fingers to count the guys who should do better then him but did not start. With Beijing gone, TDU will probably be the weakest race in the WT.
The early races in non-traditional cycling countries just doesn't feel like the real start of the season for me. More like pre-season friendlies in football.
Belgian opening weekend, followed by P-N and T-A is when it really starts.
Edited by Wilier on 23-02-2015 13:04
Also don't forget people that the Womens Omloop is also on the 28th. A great chance to see who's carrying good early form as a lot more of the names really kick ahead being only 3 weeks from the opening World Cup race
Looking forward to this a lot as well. Omloop will be the first race of the year I watch live. The cobbled classics are my favorite races of the year, and I purposefully don't have a favorite...favorite, so that I can just enjoy the races.
Although I do want Boonen to win his fifth this year, since De Vlaeminck is such an asshole.
Basically fancying anyone from Etixx except Boonen for the win thanks to great team work and Boonen's trademark racing in Omloop, but just to have the cobbles back is huge. Excited!
Edited by ember on 23-02-2015 14:43
Am going to miss Omloop and Kuurne...(just like most years)...so hopefully find a long replay to rewatch.
For me the season starts with the Tour Down Under btw.
Due to the weird peloton and Aussies in better shape, the racing itself is often more interesting as in several other races. Best race on the calendar.
Ollfardh wrote:
For people like me, Tour Down Under and stuff is fun, but the real cycling season starts this saturday with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (1.HC).
seems there are three kinds of people on this forum, the "normal cycling" fans (roturn, etc) that get exited the season is starting. the "Belgians" (Avin, etc) were the season starts with the classics and the "assholes" (SSJ2Luigi and ... I can't think of anybody) that doesn't care about anything besides the Giro, first week of the Tour, The Vuelta and San Sebastian.
though I probably will end up watching it even though I couldn't care less about it.
Ollfardh wrote:
For people like me, Tour Down Under and stuff is fun, but the real cycling season starts this saturday with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (1.HC).
That's the damn truth .
As a huge fan of cobbled classics I can't freaking wait for this.
Ollfardh wrote:
For people like me, Tour Down Under and stuff is fun, but the real cycling season starts this saturday with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (1.HC).
seems there are three kinds of people on this forum, the "normal cycling" fans (roturn, etc) that get exited the season is starting. the "Belgians" (Avin, etc) were the season starts with the classics and the "assholes" (SSJ2Luigi and ... I can't think of anybody) that doesn't care about anything besides the Giro, first week of the Tour, The Vuelta and San Sebastian.
though I probably will end up watching it even though I couldn't care less about it.
This is actually a pretty normal division around the cycling community. Those who are excited all year round, those who think things start at the start of March and more casual fans who only have a handful of races (usually just the TDF and something like Roubaix) that they like.
Ollfardh wrote:
For people like me, Tour Down Under and stuff is fun, but the real cycling season starts this saturday with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (1.HC).
seems there are three kinds of people on this forum, the "normal cycling" fans (roturn, etc) that get exited the season is starting. the "Belgians" (Avin, etc) were the season starts with the classics and the "assholes" (SSJ2Luigi and ... I can't think of anybody) that doesn't care about anything besides the Giro, first week of the Tour, The Vuelta and San Sebastian.
though I probably will end up watching it even though I couldn't care less about it.
This is actually a pretty normal division around the cycling community. Those who are excited all year round, those who think things start at the start of March and more casual fans who only have a handful of races (usually just the TDF and something like Roubaix) that they like.
Yeah, that division is very common. When I first got into cycling, I would watch as much as a could. Of course this was hard as many races weren't even in english or televised. Recently, I've only really watched the major races, although there has been a lot more on TV in Canada which is nice. I try to fully tune in for the Giro and Tour since those are on TV here and at a time of year where I can follow the entire race, unlike the Vuelta, where part of it is the first weeks of the new school year.
I think part of the reason my interest has gone down slightly is that to watch cycling here is such a sacrifice. I have to wake up early, watch some 240p stream with audio that isn't synced to the video. As you get older you have way less time to do things like that.
