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Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Discussion
seancoll
Omloop Het Nieuwsbald
199.4km


pcmdaily.com/images/mg/2023/Profiles/c0_omloophetnieuws.jpg


It’s the true opening of the cobble season as our PCT teams meander the streets of Gent in Belgium. JEWA TIROL and Tafjord Kraft will be holding up the fort for the CT teams as the only representatives of the division. We count 24 separate cobble sectors, many of which are grouped together to create longer periods of tough racing. With many steep cobble kickers in the middle of the race, there will certainly be opportunities for separation on both the climbs and the descents. Expect many of the biggest moves to be made between 50km and 20km to go on the final cobble sectors. There’s about 18km to the finish without any stones, so those who attempt to get away must hold the gap and likely attempt a tiny reduced group sprint.


History


Omloop Het Nieuwsblad has been a been a staple of the calendar since 2008 with just one year as a Omloop Het Volk tour in 2015. The last two years have been won by Joeri Stallaert for Bralirwa-Stevens as he took down groups of 6 and 4 in a final sprint. Maxime Daniel is also the back-to-back runner-up. Of course, both are returning with Stallaert hoping to become the 3-time consecutive winner. Bewley currently holds the crown for most wins at 3, but his streak was broken in 2017 by Kris Boeckmans. The other champion to hit the startline is Danny Summerhill. Summerhill is the most recent solo victor of Omloop, taking the 2020 title in commanding fashion 2:42 ahead of 2nd. Daniel was also 4th that year as he continues to rack up top 5 slots.



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The top cobblers will be the major favorites for this race as is always true. If you can’t make it over the major sections in the top group, there is simply no way for a proper result.


NameFLHISTRSCBSPACFG
pcmdaily.com/images/mg/2023/Micros/ubt.png Spengler7467747383627067
pcmdaily.com/images/mg/2023/Micros/lph.png Zepuntke7269797282726566
pcmdaily.com/images/mg/2023/Micros/brs.png Stallaert7767766881797667
pcmdaily.com/images/mg/2023/Micros/fas.png Van Hooydonck7371757481617264
pcmdaily.com/images/mg/2023/Micros/trg.png Summerhill7671736981687079
pcmdaily.com/images/mg/2023/Micros/jur.png Theuns7274767380777664
pcmdaily.com/images/mg/2023/Micros/lmp.png Daniel7369767680767269



Most of our top favorites have appeared in Gent before, so let’s take a quick look at their previous results. Spengler is the best cobbler and that shows by his 4th place finish in 2021. In that instance, Spengler finished last of the front group which is certainly a risk as his sprint falls below the other favorites.

Zepuntke has two finishes in 10th from 2019 and 2020 before struggling to 20th in 2021. His stamina and comparatively decent hill rating should also allow him into the top group, but again his sprint could let him down if he tries to take others to the line.

Stallaert has to be the clear favorite as the 2-time defending champion. He is by far the best sprinter with over 75 cobble and he’s shown why you can’t go to the line with him. He’s a beast on the pure flat too, so gapping him between sectors is a problem as well. The best chance for someone to get away is to punch a climb as hard as possible and hope it makes separation. Still, Stallaert is the man to beat, but we’ll see if others collaborate to put him behind.

Van Hooydonck does not arrive with major history at this race. He’s one of the better hill riders in this grouping, but he’ll need to join a group attack to get away as he probably can’t hold up on the flat alone. That’s equally troublesome as his sprint is the worst of all favorites, so he may be the person to reserve energy and bank on a major result without looking for the win.

Summerhill is back on a slight decline at 34, but his cobble skill is still unmatchable from the peloton. He should be looking to repeat his 2020 assault and break away from the favorite. This time, a later attack might be the best move after the last cobble sector and hope that the remaining favorites look at each other to close the gap. Summerhill’s success here does extend beyond 2020 though as he won a stage of the 2015 Omloop Het Volk (and points jersey) as well as a duo 2nd place behind Bewley in 2018. While not the favorite, Summerhill’s moves will probably make the race.

Theuns is my personal 2nd favorite of this group, as the second best sprinter. He won the group sprint in 2019 when Bewley gapped the field for the victory, so Theuns knows what it takes to win the final group sprint here. If this comes down to a group sprint like the last two years, I expect both Stallaert and Theuns to be in the group. Positioning, fatigue, and tactics could make the difference.

Daniel might be one of the most consistent riders in the history of this race with two 2nds and a 4th in the last three years. He’s the best of the rest behind the two legitimate sprinters of the favorites. He’s also one of the strongest with the ability to hold on for as long as possible. We’ll see what support he gets and whether someone else’s move triggers Daniel into a strong 2 or 3 man group to the line.


Ready to Surprise Preview


NameFLHISTRSCBSPACFGAge
pcmdaily.com/images/mg/2023/Micros/coc.png Blythe736371667973686934
pcmdaily.com/images/mg/2023/Micros/kmm.png Zubov686370697961696732
pcmdaily.com/images/mg/2023/Micros/lpu.png Gamper776677777963717226
pcmdaily.com/images/mg/2023/Micros/ghn.png Fenn716073697869677133
pcmdaily.com/images/mg/2023/Micros/lmp.png Van Keirsbulck727175737870687132
pcmdaily.com/images/mg/2023/Micros/sfi.png Ringheim726775717873756632
pcmdaily.com/images/mg/2023/Micros/tlt.png Moulingui747171717865686428
pcmdaily.com/images/mg/2023/Micros/sfi.png Kuroeda746372737774786328
pcmdaily.com/images/mg/2023/Micros/taf.png Kulppi736773697765706332
pcmdaily.com/images/mg/2023/Micros/p4e.png Manamalage815971647757566431
pcmdaily.com/images/mg/2023/Micros/ubt.png Bohli746879757774686629
pcmdaily.com/images/mg/2023/Micros/tlt.png Kolev756273717762677129


Everyone in this grouping will need to find a way to survive to the top grouping on the cobbles for a strong result, but the path to a top podium slot differs.
Van Keirsbulck will be working alongside Daniel to try to play team tactics. Blythe will be relying on his past success to keep him calm and composed as others make their moves.

A standout here may be Manamalage who could make the difference on the flat after the final sector if and only if he hasn’t lost too much energy. Saya Kuroeda is another one who should make the best of his skills. He’s a high quality sprinter for the group that may come in together for 6th or 7th. Teammate Shiki Kuroeda could do the same thing having just missed this list.

We won’t go into the riders we expect to see in the breakaway, because the likelihood of those riders making it to the end will be unlikely. Still, expect to see a JEWA TIROL jersey amongst those in the early stages. Sauber Petronas and Indosat Ooredoo will also likely attempt to make the early break.

Full Startlist:
Last nameFirst name2023 Team
StallaertJoeriBralirwa - Stevens
OkbamariamTesfomBralirwa - Stevens
YoungDarrenBralirwa - Stevens
TeggartMatthewBralirwa - Stevens
HabimanaJean EricBralirwa - Stevens
BerheWelay HagosBralirwa - Stevens
Van EetveltLennertBralirwa - Stevens
WillemsJagoBralirwa - Stevens
BlytheAdamColombini Cycling
De BondtDriesColombini Cycling
BonelloDanielColombini Cycling
MartinoStanColombini Cycling
SprengerFelixColombini Cycling
AquilaniAndreaColombini Cycling
BorgLukeColombini Cycling
JeleKwaneleColombini Cycling
RäimMihkelDK Zalgiris
HalvorsenKristofferDK Zalgiris
HagenCarl FredrikDK Zalgiris
RodriguezBrandonDK Zalgiris
PronskiyVadimDK Zalgiris
BereznyakAleksandrDK Zalgiris
LaasMartinDK Zalgiris
SossaJuanDK Zalgiris
VahtraNormanDuckDuckGo - Everesting
KulikovskiyAlexandrDuckDuckGo - Everesting
PetitAdrienDuckDuckGo - Everesting
MontenegroSantiagoDuckDuckGo - Everesting
QuaadeRasmusDuckDuckGo - Everesting
SiposZoltanDuckDuckGo - Everesting
Van HooydonckNathanFastned
Van der HoornTacoFastned
RobeetLudovicFastned
BovenhuisJasperFastned
DuricDordeFastned
RenardAlexisFastned
PluimersRickFastned
van SintmaartensdijkRoelFastned
YechezkelAvivGenii Hyundai N Cycling
PaprstkaTomasGenii Hyundai N Cycling
FennAndrewGenii Hyundai N Cycling
JarcAljazGenii Hyundai N Cycling
SelimovicHuseinGenii Hyundai N Cycling
BechkovAleksGenii Hyundai N Cycling
KiskonenSiimGenii Hyundai N Cycling
BergerHakon FrengstadGenii Hyundai N Cycling
DunneConorGlanbia
EatonDanielGlanbia
BennettSamGlanbia
McCambridgeKevinGlanbia
RyanArchieGlanbia
WadeAaronGlanbia
HealyBenGlanbia
OramJamesGlanbia
VenturiniClementIndosat Ooredoo
FirdausPrasetyoIndosat Ooredoo
WolfJustinIndosat Ooredoo
WibisonoRachmad NokaIndosat Ooredoo
AhmadFirdausIndosat Ooredoo
SetiawaAndreas Odie PurnamaIndosat Ooredoo
DegenkolbJohnJEWA TIROL
KabasMaximilianJEWA TIROL
SeligRüdigerJEWA TIROL
BoudatThomasJEWA TIROL
RabitschStephanJEWA TIROL
MaloriAdrianJEWA TIROL
KoepThomasJEWA TIROL
TheunsEdwardJura GIANTS
StehliFelixJura GIANTS
DaviesScottJura GIANTS
SzarkaGergelyJura GIANTS
StockerManuelJura GIANTS
JanssenChristophJura GIANTS
ZubovMatveyKraftwerk Man Machine
ZhupaEugertKraftwerk Man Machine
De BuystJasperKraftwerk Man Machine
ColomboFilippoKraftwerk Man Machine
SommerJanKraftwerk Man Machine
UhligHenriKraftwerk Man Machine
TheorpanousStavrosKraftwerk Man Machine
MathisMarcoKraftwerk Man Machine
DanielMaximeLampre - Pinarello
Van KeirsbulckGuillaumeLampre - Pinarello
KumaraAmith UdayaLampre - Pinarello
ThwaitesScottLampre - Pinarello
RoweLukeLampre - Pinarello
KooijOlavLampre - Pinarello
GamperPatrickLierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam
VerwilstAaronLierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam
BiermansJentheLierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam
SiddikovDilmurdjonLierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam
Van AertWoutLierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam
CalzoniWalterLierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam
PiccoloAndreaLierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam
SajnokSzymonLierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam
ZepuntkeRubenLos Pollos Hermanos
NareklishviliBekaLos Pollos Hermanos
HollmannJuriLos Pollos Hermanos
AbolajiFatiuLos Pollos Hermanos
MoutsiosMartinosLos Pollos Hermanos
Aguilar MendezJose PabloLos Pollos Hermanos
NaudPatrickMcCormick Pro Cycling
SimmonsQuinnMcCormick Pro Cycling
MohammadFikri AzkaMcCormick Pro Cycling
QuinnSeanMcCormick Pro Cycling
MostovZekeMcCormick Pro Cycling
MatteCharlesMcCormick Pro Cycling
LiphongyuNawutiSauber Petronas Racing
GhaniMuhammad SuhaimiSauber Petronas Racing
EinhornItamarSauber Petronas Racing
Van GarderenTejaySauber Petronas Racing
EislersSandisSauber Petronas Racing
CamperoPiterSauber Petronas Racing
PomoshnikovSergeiSauber Petronas Racing
ForcelliniLucaSauber Petronas Racing
RingheimJo KogstadSony - Force India
KuroedaSayaSony - Force India
KuroedaShikiSony - Force India
HavikPiotrSony - Force India
KooistraMartenSony - Force India
AlbenEsowSony - Force India
Ahmad ZamriMuhamma AfifSony - Force India
KulppiOlliTafjord Kraft
KaislavuoJesseTafjord Kraft
ErikssonLucasTafjord Kraft
WaerstedSyverTafjord Kraft
EislersIngusTafjord Kraft
AsgreenKasperTafjord Kraft
ManamalageNipuna ShiraTeam Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska
HorvatZigaTeam Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska
VargaPeterTeam Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska
PluchkinAleksandrTeam Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska
KachurDmytroTeam Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska
BilyiMaksymTeam Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska
DzhusVolodymyrTeam Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska
OrlovAndriyTeam Popo4Ever p/b Morshynska
GrandArnaudTeam UBS - Tissot
BalmerAlexandreTeam UBS - Tissot
SpenglerLukasTeam UBS - Tissot
BohliTomTeam UBS - Tissot
Van AsbroeckTomTeam UBS - Tissot
ReichenbachSebastienTeam UBS - Tissot
MoulinguiClenne MorvanTrans Looney Tunes
KolevIliyanTrans Looney Tunes
CentroneIvanTrans Looney Tunes
Lecourt De BillotOlivierTrans Looney Tunes
PengYuan TanTrans Looney Tunes
SobreroMatteoTrans Looney Tunes
MurnBostjanTrans Looney Tunes
TulettBenTrans Looney Tunes
SummerhillDannyTryg - Gobik
Blume LevyWilliamTryg - Gobik
KumpMarkoTryg - Gobik
HonoreMikkelTryg - Gobik
KaloniatisGeorgiosTryg - Gobik
FrisonFrederikTryg - Gobik
PedreroAntonioTryg - Gobik
CurrieLoganTryg - Gobik
Van WilderIlanXero Racing
VermeerschFlorianXero Racing
NovardiantoJamalidinXero Racing
RamirezJhon StivenXero Racing
StrongCorbinXero Racing
SchomberNilsXero Racing
WallsMatthewZwift Pro Cycling
CarrSimonZwift Pro Cycling
WeltenBramZwift Pro Cycling
SilvaNihalZwift Pro Cycling
PickrellRileyZwift Pro Cycling
JussaumeTristanZwift Pro Cycling

Edited by seancoll on 15-10-2023 18:36
 
seancoll
Big oops!

Original startlist posted identifies riders racing Le Samyn (BRB let me save this as the Le Samyn preview with some updates).

updated startlist and preview coming shortly.
MG Manager - SEE Turtles
 
seancoll
Preview and Startlist are now corrected.
MG Manager - SEE Turtles
 
Ollfardh
Not much love for Gamper in the preview, still hoping for a top 5 with those backup stats.
Changed my sig, this was getting absurd.
 
Fabianski
Not Theuns' first race for us, as he already has an anonymous TDU in his legs - but his first cobbles appearance. And hopes are obviously high, very high even. The mix of hills and flat finish should definitely suit his skills, and I sure hope he'll do justice to his favorite status here.
Beating Stallaert would only be possible if Eddie can tire him enough over the hills or even drop him (very unlikely), but if we get a podium I'm more than happy.
The biggest risk here should come from the complete lack of support, as both other capable cobblers are in Portugal... I sure hope Theuns doesn't need to fetch bottles when there's a split in the pack, but that's indeed a scenario that could crush our hopes here.

Thanks for the preview, and good luck to everyone!
 
whitejersey
Hoping for big things here as this is our win goal! Thanks for the preview Sean!
 
Nemolito
Six Mexican-ish gladiators ready to take on the Belgian cobbles! Definitely not Zepuntke's favourite race, but hopefully he manages to finish inside the top-10. Not the best domestiques available sadly, with Viana at the same day. Thanks for the preview Sean, and good luck to everyone!
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Gustavovskiy
Not looking for much here. Being in the Volta + Viana meant we couldnt get another leader. Looking at the field I think we took a good decision but if the result doesnt come in Viana theres always going to bring some questions from the board. We'll see. Good luck everyone!
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KaiserAdler
Just going for depth points here. IF Blythe can score any that is. Here for the vibes mostly Pfft good luck everyone
 
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MacC
At some point of pre season Glanbia's plan involved building a cobbles team. Instead, we sold our only cobbles rider so no, we don't hold out much hope here!

Lovely preview all the same.
 
Eden95
Here for the scenery. I have a feeling that Van Hooydonck might run away with this Smile

Thanks for the preview!
Indosat - ANZ HQ

"This Schleck sandwich is going to cause serious indigestion for Evans" - Phil Liggett
 
roturn
Looking forward to this race to see how Van Hooydonck can do this year. A top5 obviously wanted, as you say, the flat and sprint are not to his favour, hopefully the better hill stat helps him to safe a bit more energy than others so that it balances out.

@Eden: Not having the feeling myself, but I wouldn`t mind obviously.
 
AbhishekLFC
Three-way or the highway for us! Hope that doesn't sound too vulgar Pfft

Looking for decent depth points in this race, as will be the case for all flat cobbles classics this season. Let's see how it goes.

Thanks for the sean Smile
 
cunego59
Not super sure what to expect. I want to see if Joeri's low resistance is a bigger burden on him in PCM22. If it isn't, then nothing less than the win can be the goal (and it actually is a win goal). If it is, then who knows. First matchup against Theuns is interesting.

Thanks for the preview, looking forward to the report!
 
redordead
Should be fun to see how the first cobbled race of the season shakes out.

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"I am a cyclist, I may not be the best, but that is what I strive to be. I may never get there, but I will never quit trying." - Tadej Pogačar
 
Bushwackers
Theuns is always going to win the sprint from that group of 3 :lol:
Spengler is lucky to have finished in the leading group here as he would have been toast in the sprint from the chasing group. 3rd is good enough. Thanks for the race seancoll and congrats Fab!
 
Ulrich Ulriksen
Congrats to Fab on a great win, Theuns riding perfectly. A nice day here and in Portugal for Jura.

Big news for McCormick was Simmons performance in the breakaway. Temptation to develop him as a cobbler is definitely there.

Thanks to Sean for the report.
Man Game: McCormick Pro Cycling
 
Fabianski
Banana Banana Banana


Wow, what a way to start the cobbles season! There was only one option to definitely beat Stallaert here - and Eddie played his card perfectly well! Summerhill and Stallaert both tried a little too early, but Theuns' move was really well timed and left unanswered by the other fast sprinters.
So we can now - finally - say that we've won at least one race (stage or classic) on every terrain - flat, mountain, hilly, ITT, prologue, and now cobbles. That's definitely a big milestone achieved here - and the confirmation that signing Theuns wasn't a bad idea for us Smile

I almost feel guilty about having crushed one of cunego's win goals here - while it obviously feels great to win, it's also a bit unlucky to beat a manager you appreciate. Stallaert's turn(s) will surley come, though Smile
Speaking about the race in general, I think it was another cool cobbled race, with all the big names ending up in the front group. Good to see that those who punctured - even pretty late in the race - all made it back, would've been a shame for them otherwise!
Was a bit surprised to see Spengler joining the winning move and not one of the better hills riders, but I guess having the top cobbles stat helped him to save enough energy. Great cobbles day for the Swiss teams, really Smile

Thanks for the congrats, and thanks for an entertaining and comprehensive report, seancoll!
 
jandal7
Don't know what we are thinking if we're not going to attack at any point, no chance of points by playing it straight as shown by Vermeersch only getting 38th.
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant."

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Laurens147
Congrats Fabi! Smile
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