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Omloop Het Niewsblad Discussion
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| the_hoyle |
Posted on 03-08-2016 20:44
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Grand Tour Champion
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Joined: 28-05-2009
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 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
ProTour Race
Back to its status as a one-day classic, the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is the first PT cobbled race of the season. The PT teams are here, as well as many PCT hoping to upset the applecart in Ghent. The route takes in the short, cobbled climbs of the Kapelmuur, the Valkenberg and the Kruisberg, and it is sure to test even the strongest in the peleton.
The Favourites
As expected, all the big guns are here.  Sam Bewley, former winner  Marcus Burghardt and  Greg van Avermaet, from newly promoted Evonik team, will be almost certain to be contesting for the victory at the end, whilst  Danny Summerhill, a stage winner from Omloop Het Volk last season, will be leading the charge for the PCT wildcard team, along with  Kenneth Vanbilsen.
So who else do we have present on the startline that could take either a shock victory and at least should be aiming for a Top 10 finish...  Arman Kamyshev,  Florian Senechel and  Adam Blythe certain fit that bill, with  Sep Vanmarcke and  Pieter Vanspeybrouck, here to defend his Omloop title, both expected to a rider who will be near the front.
And in addition to those? Well there is  Stijn Vandenburgh,  Alexander Kristoff,  Matteo Trentin and  Frederiek Nolf!
Very clear to see, it is a very strong line-up on the start line in Ghent.
The Start List
Former Winners
| 2014** | Pieter Vanspeybrouck | TeamBpost | | 2013 |  Fabien Cancellara | Simply Red Bull | | 2012 | Stijn Joseph | Pearl Adidas | | 2011 |  Marcus Burghardt | Wikipedia | | 2010 | Tom Boonen | Warner Brothers | | 2009 |  Roger Hammond | Procycling-BBC | | 2008 | Roger Hammond | Letua Cycling Team |
** As the Omloop Het Volk
.: Manager of :.
.: My Awards :.
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| roturn |
Posted on 03-08-2016 20:46
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Team Manager
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Wow. Bewley never won here. No chance he will fail again. This year an obvious win for him. Can`t see any other winner. Not even Van Avermaet or Blythe.
I cheer for Vanmarcke as former rider as I can`t expect anything from Nooytens or Boom. A top30 would be nice already.
So instead I better hope for a breakaway appearance by Bovenhuis/Sbaragli. |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 03-08-2016 20:49
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World Champion
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#cobblestrain
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 03-08-2016 20:54
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 16429
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Ranneries getting into a big show already! Not sure how much he'll help on the cobbles but I hope he is a faithful domestique nevertheless.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| dev4ever |
Posted on 03-08-2016 20:58
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2282
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Going for GVA here. The hill-advantage might not be that crucial here, but he is still a great rider allround and dont need it to win either me thinks.
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| Roman |
Posted on 03-08-2016 21:01
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Don't disappoint me Sam, please! 
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-11-2024 14:17
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| viking90 |
Posted on 03-08-2016 21:05
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Guess I'm not the only one betting on Bewley here...  |
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| Smowz |
Posted on 03-08-2016 21:05
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Team Leader
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Will be interesting to see how the cobbles classics play out. Bewley is big favourite due to having pretty much everything going for him. That said plenty of other riders on a good day can challenge.
Interesting name on startlist is Kristoff, I did consider Cav who will be racing in KBK so this will be acid test of sprinter who can cobble type.
Betted on Bewley.
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| knockout |
Posted on 03-08-2016 21:25
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Grand Tour Champion
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Bew-who? Of course, Greg will win this race. No doubt.
Seriously, so excited too see Van Avermaet racing for the first time. I guess he should be 2nd best cobbler this season due to having the best Hi & SP & AC amongst Bewley's challengers.
Not too happy about my support but everyone is around 69-74CB or 75-76 without all backup stats. Wasnt too big an issue the last seasons for the top cobblers though...
A Big Thank You To All MG Reporters! |
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| ember |
Posted on 03-08-2016 21:54
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This really is Bewley's race to loose. Though, it could be interesting if cobbles prove slightly more unpredictable than before considering the top guns, but there shouldn't be any changes to that from PCM 14 to PCM 15?
Hoping for a top 10 here, with Kristoff being our best card to play. Fingers crossed Bewley, GVA and a couple of other guys are superior, and then the rest race rather passively behind, making it a sprint for the top 10 placings. Thinking of our team, that is probably the best scenario. Also excited to see Breen and Ringheim in action on the cobbles for the first time ever after they was maxed. But hoping for some kind of mid-race attack should be overoptimistic  |
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| tastasol |
Posted on 03-08-2016 22:29
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Agree with the others, Bewley is the clear favourite here. Exvited to see what Trentin, Wisniowski and Rowe can do. Would of course love to see them following the attacks, but best bet is probably a sprint with Trentin and Rowe for some lower top 10s.
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| matt17br |
Posted on 03-08-2016 22:49
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Directeur Sportif
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Yeah Bewley will have a harder time trying to lose this than trying to win it. Not sure how he could possibly not win here but look - it has happened.
Totally expecting a 1-2 of him and GVA. Nice preview hoyle!
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| CountArach |
Posted on 03-08-2016 22:51
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Grand Tour Champion
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While I remain pissed off that GVA was just suddenly given these incredible stats in the DB update, it should be a good race. I suspect that he will win it here.
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| Ollfardh |
Posted on 03-08-2016 23:09
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World Champion
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Stijn Joseph won this race? I had no idea 
Looking forward to our World Tour debut!
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
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| tsmoha |
Posted on 04-08-2016 06:39
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Directeur Sportif
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Not too optimistic after our start into the season..
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| Margh Norway |
Posted on 04-08-2016 06:57
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Sprinter
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Will be nice to see Grands development on his feelgood terrain. Expect to see him stay with the best for a very long time.
Another reason to cheer for Evonik is Olli Kulppi. Back in 2013 Olli was our, by far, best cobbler for Zoegas. Unforgotten his legendary ride at Tour of Rutland where only a crash could stop him.
Anyway, happy these still young guys made it to Pro Tour racing. Hope they'll be valuable support for Greg van Avermaet.
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 04-08-2016 08:01
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World Champion
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Cool to see the cobbled season kicking off, the competition got stronger from last year, so we will be happy with late top10 for Nolf, hopefully he can be somewhere around the 10th spot.
Bewley and suddenly one of the best riders in the database GVA  should be the favourites.
Good luck to all and thanks for the preview.
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| Smowz |
Posted on 04-08-2016 08:33
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Team Leader
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Sorry to Avin and Count - I disagree about the GvA negativity. I find it welcome that we have another cobbler to challenge the top table and he certainly was not gifted to Evonik, they had to pay top dollar for him.
I do understand the continuity thing but sometimes the MG database seems too static with long term managers hoarding better riders and everyone predicting the top table for the next 5 years.
I still think 1 mill was too much for GvA - he will need to podium/win a few of these cobbled races to pay his worth and in a couple of years he becomes less useful.
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| beagle |
Posted on 04-08-2016 08:39
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Grand Tour Specialist
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Rooting for mid-race attack with Kluge/Insausti included
Bewley and GVA looks like clear favorites here, but I smell Summerhill couldsurprose everyone here!
Thanks for nice preview t_h, looking forward to exciting report.
Manager of Polar in Man-Game
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 04-08-2016 08:52
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Grand Tour Champion
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Looking forward to this, time to see what Senechal can do now he's maxed, although I doubt that will include beating Bewley. Thanks hoyle.
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