Hello and Welcome to this year's Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. The weather conditions are perfect for a day of racing. There is a slight crosswind at the start line as the riders take their positions.
Let's get down to the racing...
Almost immediately, there is an attempt at a break by ten riders. The peloton does not let them get away, probably worried about the strength of the group. Eight from the group are reeled back, but Richardson and Lovassy keep their distance. They are soon joined by Stoltz, and eventually also by de Troyer and Peeters. This is the break of the day.
With 150 km to go, the break have just over 5 minutes to the peloton. There is a small increase in speed as Insausti, Olereich, Contreras and Agnoli take up the pace-making.
The lower speed of the peloton allows the break to stretch their legs even further. The maximum lead they build up is around 6 and a half minutes. They safely negotiate the first cobbled section in this period.
Meanwhile, there is a crash in the peloton involving Gebrezgabihier (Project: Africa) and Thauta. They are sadly distanced from the pack and never make it back.
Fast forward to 105 km left. Orue suffers the first puncture of the day as Orange, Pendelton's and Ayubowan! take up the pace making. The Aegon rider did make it back to the peloton eventually.
It is Hivert setting the pace now with 90 km to go. The peloton increases in length as the pace picks up. Evonik just showing themselves now but not helping much with Stoltz still out in front. Him and the break have 4'25" to the pack.
The next riders affected by punctures are Braico and Ostergaard. The UBS rider never makes it back to the peloton but the latter is able to make it back.
With 50 km to go, the chase is well and truly hotting up. The break's advantage is down to just under 2 and a half minutes. Pendelton's, Evonik and Lierse now doing the pace-making.
In the next 5 km, a total of 50 riders are dropped, including Hoog, who tries to bring back the second group behind the peloton back. However, there have been no big name casualties so far.
With 40 km to go the break's lead is down to a mere 45 seconds.
Almost immediately, Richardson takes up the pace-making in the break and pulls out the lead to 1'15".
With 33 km to go, the first attack comes from the peloton and it is Baugnies. Almost simultaneously, Richardson and Peeters get distanced, as Lavassy, Stoltz and de Troyer accelerate.
(Baugnies and the peloton are visible in the background)
With 28 km to go, the break is back together. Baugnies is the next rider on the road, 30 seconds behind. The peloton is a further 15 seconds back.
With 26 km to go, four riders are caught by the peloton. de Troyer now leads the peloton by 23 seconds with Stoltz 8 seconds behind him.
With 24 km to go, the break is finally caught. The peloton now holds 42 riders. The most recent riders to be dropped include Vangenechten, Velits and Boonen.
Just under 20 km to, and a sudden accelration breaks up the pack. In the front group are Senechal, Baugnies and Vanbilsen. Van Avermaet and Kamyshev try to chase them down over the cobbles.
With 15 km to go, Van Avermaet distances Kamyshev and catches up with the front group. Behind them, it's Maes and Zepuntke are leading
the peloton onwards.
At the 12 km mark, the third group on the road has 16 riders, who are still chasing Kamyshev and the four man lead group. The riders in this group are: Nolf, de Maar (both Carlsberg), Teunissen (Generali), Kluge, Maes, Olereich (all Iberia), Vermote, Vanbilsen (Novatek), Stallaert (Spotify), Altur (Newton), Zepuntke (Weisenhof), Langeveld, Boeckmans (Strava), Chaturanga (Ayubowan!), Jacobs (Festina) and Taubel (Evonik). It is Iberia and Stallaert doing most of the chasing for now.
Kamyshev is caught just as the front group crosses the 10 km to go mark. Their lead is now 35 seconds.
The next 5 km sees the peloton slowly eat away at the leaders gap. With 5 km to go, it down to 26 seconds.
The catch is made with 2.5 km to go. The lead group now has 16 riders. They have 56 seconds to Chaturanga, who is alone on the road.
Further back is the third group of four riders, another 54 seconds behind. The fourth group is 3'30" in arrears and has de Troyer (Euskaltel), Theuns
(Generali), Okbamaniam (Eritel), Madushanka (Ayubowan!), Lee (Carlsberg), Tsatevich (Newton), Abraha and Fenn (Pendelton's).
There's 1.3 km to go, and we're back to the front group. Kamyshev is tired, his shoulders are drooping and it looks unlikely that he will be able to sprint for the win.
With 1.1 km to go, it is Boeckmans (Strava), Altur (Newton) and Senechal (Pendelton's) the first to sprint. But everyone is out of the saddle by the time 0.8 km are left. Boeckmans still out ahead and with a small gap.
With 0.4 km to go, it is Boeckmans, followed by Van Avermaet, Senechal, Baugnies and Altur.
With 0.2 km to go, Altur fades while Stallaert comes through strong. However, the gap to the first four is still maintained. Boeckmans almost has this wrapped up.
And the Belgian holds on for a wonderful win! He led out early and held on. Van Avermaet takes 2nd with Senechal 3rd. Baugnies and Stallaert complete the top 5.
Vanbilsen, Zepuntke, Altur, Kluge and Maes complete the top 10.
Chaturanga comes in to finish a lonely 17th.
Langeveld, Vermote and de Maar round up the top 20. Jacobs just misses out.
Spoiler
Sorry I could not take further screenshots in the final kilometer. I kept pressing play instead of taking the screenshots after setting the cameras and stuff!
