Omloop Het Nieuwsblad - This Saturday

MattTuck · #1 02-20-2017, 08:08 AM

And so begins the 2017 spring classics season.

KBK Sunday, and then Strade Bianche next weekend too...

merckx · #2 02-20-2017, 08:23 AM

I lament the missed opportunity to utter the words, Het Volk! It always put a bounce in my step on a cold February Saturday morning. A pity that it was changed.

guido · #3 02-20-2017, 08:25 AM

Very excited! Can't wait. It will be fascinating to see how the torch is passed.

thwart · #4 02-20-2017, 08:51 AM

Don't follow pro racing like I used to, but the beginning of the Spring Classics is certainly something to look forward to...

teleguy57 · #5 02-20-2017, 09:18 AM

Pumped! It was 57 degrees here yesterday (!) and lots of folks on the road. In honor of the start of the season I wore my best flandrien jersey w/ther requisite warmers, my LOF helmet and my LOF socks. Almost too nice to be Classics weather

Bring on the cobbles, mud, trippels and frites!

echappist · #6 02-20-2017, 10:48 AM

About time!!!

livingminimal · #7 02-20-2017, 06:36 PM

Best time of the year. January and February are the worst months on the calendar.
Cold. (yeah I am in SoCal, we've been crushed with rain)
Dark.
Cross season coming to a close.
Holidays hangover.
****ty road racing.

This weekend is a very welcome arrival.

gemship · #8 02-20-2017, 06:43 PM

Spring classics, very good to know. I hope I'm not working during Paris Roubaix so maybe I could watch a bit of it. I'm not much a bike race enthusiast but since it's Boonen's last time of it. I'm curious.

doomridesout · #9 02-20-2017, 07:40 PM

Who's everybody tipping? It seems like Boonen is hungry for this one but might be past his prime, speed-wise.

MattTuck · #10 02-20-2017, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doomridesout

Who's everybody tipping? It seems like Boonen is hungry for this one but might be past his prime, speed-wise.

Hard to say. Boonen is hungry, but I can't see him being at peak fitness more than 40 days ahead of his retirement at PR.

My guess is that Trek Segafredo and Cannondale are going to be feel a lot of pressure to get a result this year in the classics, for different reasons. Trek, to turn the page and show they can win without Cancellara. Cannondale said good bye to Sagan a few years back and haven't had much to show in the classics. Bringing in Vanmarcke (previous winner) and Phinney, to join Van Baarle and Langeveld (previous winner also), is pretty much them doubling down that the spring classics are important.

I think with each week, that pressure will grow. And so they might feel like it is worth it to try to control the race on Saturday to make something happen. Looking back at the past 5 years, it is rare to see the dominant riders of Flanders and Roubaix winning Omloop in the same year. Degenkolb isn't even on the start list for Trek Segafredo, so they are either racing for Theuns, or probably Stuyven. Who had a good weekend last year. In fact, it may be the only chance this year that either of those riders has the freedom to ride for the win.

All that being said, Sagan, is quite possibly strong enough to win, even if he is planning to peak for Flanders. GVA also.

My pick is Demare. With rights reserved to change my pick later in the week.

echappist · #11 02-20-2017, 09:06 PM

Top three would be Vanmarcke, Boonen, and Sagan

Outsiders GvA and Moscon

MattTuck · #12 02-20-2017, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by echappist

Top three would be Vanmarcke, Boonen, and Sagan

Outsiders GvA and Moscon

Of course its going to be Vanmarcke, Boonen and Sagan! It's no fun to pick them though

Though, I am actually hoping for another bad season from QS, as I think their desperation made the racing exciting last year, even if it is was sort of negative tactics.

With the exception that I hope Brambilla wins Strade Bianche. He deserves it.

livingminimal · #13 02-20-2017, 09:40 PM

Boonen for Het Volk
Kristoff for KBK.

Aside from those two, no classics man looks better thus far than Tiesj Benoot. It's early though. Who the hell knows what's going to happen.

KJMUNC · #14 02-20-2017, 10:21 PM

It's the best time of the year.....like Xmas in spring!

I am riding my Mapei C40 all week to kick things off and get into the mood. Even put on new Pave 27s yesterday for the occasion!

echappist · #15 02-20-2017, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJMUNC

It's the best time of the year.....like Xmas in spring!

I am riding my Mapei C40 all week to kick things off and get into the mood. Even put on new Pave 27s yesterday for the occasion!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattTuck

Of course its going to be Vanmarcke, Boonen and Sagan! It's no fun to pick them though

Though, I am actually hoping for another bad season from QS, as I think their desperation made the racing exciting last year, even if it is was sort of negative tactics.

With the exception that I hope Brambilla wins Strade Bianche. He deserves it.

well, Sep hasn't had a big win since he last bested Boonen in 2012, so i think i should be given a pass

GvA doesn't seem to be at his sharpest just yet. Benoot would be a good pick, as is Luke Rowe. Still trying to figure it all out