Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

[thwart]

Alright, Spring Classic season is starting... :banana:

Anyone have any predictions for the podium?

How about:

Boonen
Sagan
Gilbert

[retrofit]

I'll go with a couple of dark horses and a favorite:

Haussler
Gilbert
Flecha

[thwart]

Here's how the locals see it:

http://www.nieuwsblad.be/sportwereld/polls/index.aspx?pageName=report&surveyid=14223

[FlashUNC]

I hope Cancellara doesn't show his form too early as he did last year, and foul up his Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix goals.

[MattTuck]

Can I just predict the winner will be from BMC?

That team is stacked.

[Hartlin]

Flecha
Van Avermaet
Haussler

I REALLY wanted Offredo to do well in the classics this year, but he was just given a 1-year ban for missing tests. I'm going to miss his panache;

http://www.equipecyclistefdj.fr/data/actualite/578-het-nieuwsblad-yoann-offredo-a-produit-sa-course-reference.jpg

[echappist]

Flecha
Van Avermaet
Haussler

I REALLY wanted Offredo to do well in the classics this year, but he was just given a 1-year ban for missing tests. I'm going to miss his panache;

http://www.equipecyclistefdj.fr/data/actualite/578-het-nieuwsblad-yoann-offredo-a-produit-sa-course-reference.jpg

doping gives you wings...

i love this race. it means it's finally time for bike racing again.

Going with van Avermaet, though i'd love to see anyone you listed on the podium win. Flecha is a classy ( in the sense of etiquette, not skills, though he's talented) rider getting old. He can't sprint that well anymore, and a victory in a semi-classic will be huge.

Haussler needs something to revive his career, this would be good for that

[johnmdesigner]

Here's how the locals see it:

http://www.nieuwsblad.be/sportwereld/polls/index.aspx?pageName=report&surveyid=14223

This paper really has its priorities in order. Scroll to the bottom.

"Sinéad O'Connor wil poseren voor Playboy"

[FlashUNC]

doping gives you wings...

i love this race. it means it's finally time for bike racing again.

Going with van Avermaet, though i'd love to see anyone you listed on the podium


His suspension was for not communicating his whereabouts on three separate instances. One of those was due to a team miscommunication.

FDJ and Offredo have taken pretty firm and public anti-doping stances.

Let's not paint everyone in the peloton with the same brush.

[toaster]

:banana:

[torquer]

This paper really has its priorities in order. Scroll to the bottom.

"Sinéad O'Connor wil poseren voor Playboy"
And Cheryl Crowe (tenuous bike-related) doesn't look bad in a bikini for a 50-year old.

What I really want to know: what team does this guy "Iemand anders" ride for? ;)

[nooneline]

I hope Cancellara doesn't show his form too early as he did last year, and foul up his Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix goals.

Canc isn't racing. Neither is anybody from Radioshack-Nissan. Start list:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/omloop-het-nieuwsblad-elite-2012/start-list

Boonen typically uses Omloop for training - I don't think he'll really show his form until E3.

It'll be interesting to see if Gilbert uses Omloop as a test run for the Ronde, but mostly I doubt that the top guys will give Omloop a serious run. I'd look toward lieutenants instead - Niki Terpstra for OPQS, Burghardt and GVA from BMC... add a little bit of Matti Breschel and Heinrich Haussler trying to regain their winning ways, and JA Flecha, of course. And keep an eye on Sep Vanmarcke and Thomas de Gendt.

[rwsaunders]

His suspension was for not communicating his whereabouts on three separate instances. One of those was due to a team miscommunication.

FDJ and Offredo have taken pretty firm and public anti-doping stances.

Let's not paint everyone in the peloton with the same brush.

I see your point. But when you're a pro, supposedly know the rules, and you've seen other top cyclists punished for similar circumstances, from the outside, one can understand why it does start to look like the same color.

[Alan]

Always fun to watch the first spring races. Cyclingfans.com will have links at game time.

Alan

[RacerJRP]

My favorite time of the year! :beer:

[tv_vt]

Agree with GVA, JA Flecha, Haussler. Sky and BMC teams to watch, and maybe OP-Lotto.

Can't see any of the top names being ready to come to the front. Seems the races this weekend always highlight riders to watch in coming years, but rarely do they highlight the winners in the big April races.

I still miss the name Het Volk, but either way, this race says, 'spring is here!'

Bring it on!

[nooneline]

There is no OP-Lotto - there's Omega Pharma Quick Step, and there's Lotto-Belisol.

[BdaGhisallo]

I hope Cancellara doesn't show his form too early as he did last year, and foul up his Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix goals.

If he were to try and win, yet struggle, do you think any of his rivals would discount him come Ronde and Roubaix time? I think once you have established yourself as a BIG rider, you are according respect and watched carefully no matter what. Because, even in not so great form, most of the big riders are a greater threat than the second tier riders in their best form. That's why they're big riders.

So I would think that anyone who's in a position to win this weekend would go for it, unless they want to use the race to do a favor for a teammate or rival to be called in later this spring. That's the only way I could see one of the favorites tempering their desire.

[wallymann]

...it'll always be Het Volk or Gent-Gent to old-schoolers!!!

Agree with GVA, JA Flecha, Haussler. Sky and BMC teams to watch, and maybe OP-Lotto.

Can't see any of the top names being ready to come to the front. Seems the races this weekend always highlight riders to watch in coming years, but rarely do they highlight the winners in the big April races.

I still miss the name Het Volk, but either way, this race says, 'spring is here!'

Bring it on!

[thwart]

Waiting, waiting...

[retrofit]

PezCycling (http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/?pg=fullstory&id=10126) has posted an informative race preview.

BTW, Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne is on Sunday. Spring has sprung! :beer:

[jonnyBgood]

Can I just predict the winner will be from BMC?

That team is stacked.

That would be a good bet. With all the classics guys they have this year team tactics can really come into play

[thwart]

Pez: "Sort out the live stream, get the Leffes in the fridge and tell the kids the sofa is off limits on Saturday afternoon – season 2012 is about to commence."

Couldn't agree more, but remember it's AM rather than PM here...

[retrofit]

[We need a coffee smiley :cool: ]

Steephill (http://www.steephill.tv/semi-classics-live/) has posted provisional links to live streaming, with earliest video starting at 5AM Pacific time.


http://img.server86.nl/sport/wielrennen/editie/profiel/51_2011_.jpg

[67-59]

Pez: "Sort out the live stream, get the Leffes in the fridge and tell the kids the sofa is off limits on Saturday afternoon – season 2012 is about to commence."

Couldn't agree more, but remember it's AM rather than PM here...

Could you find out what time it's on here in the states? I searched and found lots of sites about the race, but couldn't find the start time for the life of me. I'm sure it's somewhere obvious and I just overlooked it. :crap:

Edit: Of course, just discovered that the post right before mine (which I naturally overlooked) answered that question. Moving on....

Also, does anyone know if the online links are only viewing options here in the States? I have DirecTV with SportsPack, but can't find a listing. If the stream is the only option, does anyone know if it works on an iPad (w/ no Flash player)?

[echappist]

Could you find out what time it's on here in the states? I searched and found lots of sites about the race, but couldn't find the start time for the life of me. I'm sure it's somewhere obvious and I just overlooked it. :crap:

Edit: Of course, just discovered that the post right before mine (which I naturally overlooked) answered that question. Moving on....

Also, does anyone know if the online links are only viewing options here in the States? I have DirecTV with SportsPack, but can't find a listing. If the stream is the only option, does anyone know if it works on an iPad (w/ no Flash player)?
steephill.tv is your friend :)

edit. despite the importance of this race and L'Eroica, eurosports is not broadcasting them. Instead, they are broadcasting races such as Volta Algarve...

[thwart]

Here:http://sports-livez.com/channel/ch-5.php

Boom vs Boonen... and Boonen takes him down. Great stuff.

[retrofit]

I'm surprised to see Hushovd is still hanging with the chase. Both he, Flecha and Boonan looking strong. Is the Garmin rider Haussler? (Can't tell)

on edit: Garmin rider is Van Marcke

[jeduardo]

You also check Here (http://www.sportlemon.tv/c-9.html)


OK 33K or so to go
TB looking "Belgian strong" today BUT so is the ironman TH

[jeduardo]

You also check Here (http://www.sportlemon.tv/c-9.html)


OK 33K or so to go
TB looking "Belgian strong" today BUT so is the ironman TH


20k 2 go
Breschel and Hushovd are losing seconds and their chase seems to be coming up short, TB lead group driving on

[retrofit]

3 man race now Boonan, Vanmarcke, Flecha. Vanmarcke really pressuring Boonan.

[thwart]

on edit: Garmin rider is Van Marcke
And a helluva move by him... certainly not intimidated.

[Elefantino]

Just got in, all sweaty. This is cool.

[leooooo]

Flecha needs to attack now!!!!!

[nooneline]

And keep an eye on Sep Vanmarcke

Just sayin'.

[Elefantino]

Vanmarcke is getting a nice tow...

[jeduardo]

Vanmarcke just let them mark each other out of a proper sprint

[thwart]

Just sayin'.
He earned it.

[Elefantino]

Boonen shook his hand rather than give him the finger, so I guess he didn't mind the wheelsucking!

[Vientomas]

Nice win.

[christian]

Exciting race.

[Elefantino]

23 years old, 6-foot-3 ... sort of like a baby Boonen.

[nooneline]

Boonen shook his hand rather than give him the finger, so I guess he didn't mind the wheelsucking!

If you're a 23yr old kid racing on pave against Boonen and Flecha, you get to mark them.

Besides, he put in huge effort on the Molenberg and made the attack that ditched Hayman and Dries Devenyns, so he's no slouch.

[retrofit]

He earned it.

Indeed. Great timing, nice win.

[Elefantino]

!

[bikerboy337]

Amazing finish for the young kid... beating boonen and flecha has to be amazing... i figured him for 3rd with about 10k to go... that kick was great.... and yes, he should be wheelsucking the two superstars.... no issues with that...

just need to find a source for Jupiler in the US to make this seasons classics perfect... from what i'm told, no luck... :crap:

[MattTuck]

Can I just predict the winner will be from BMC?

That team is stacked.


Well, I opened up the season with a real dog's breakfast of a prediction. :crap:


Great race, I'm going to start calling him Baby Boonen.

[echappist]

the young winners of this race have often done well later on. Gilbert and Pozzato comes to mind. Hopefully this would bode well for Vanmarcke

edit: even better, he forced the selection to make it a 3-man race toward the end. Brilliant move

[jpw]

Missed the race. Was Cancellara riding today?

[nooneline]

No, Radioshack-Nissan-Leopard-Schleck skipped the whole weekend.

[RacerJRP]

Always nice to see an (relatively) unknown beat out the big guns.

[FlashUNC]

Boonen really hosed that sprint. Was pretty gracious in defeat though.

[AgilisMerlin]

http://www.tdwsport.com/en/imagedesk/feature-details/repid/20123476/year/2012/month/2

gallery above:

http://www.tdwsport.com/get-pic.php?repID=20123476&picID=167079&t=small

[tiretrax]

http://www.tdwsport.com/en/imagedesk/feature-details/repid/20123476/year/2012/month/2

gallery above:

http://www.tdwsport.com/get-pic.php?repID=20123476&picID=167079&t=small
That's one crazy looking piece of hardware.

[Fixed]

guys that is the microphone ,where is the trophy ?
cheers