Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2019 – Zdeněk Štybar Solos In

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HomeDiariesOmloop Het Nieuwsblad 2019 - Zdeněk Štybar Solos In

Let’s start with a bit of culture; it’s famous Flandrian ‘luminist’ painter Emile Claus who keeps an eye on proceedings as the 2019 Gent-Gent comes to life on a chill, grey but not too savage morning.

Photo©Ed Hood
Photo©Ed Hood

The race begins with a presentation in the big exhibition hall adjacent to the Kuipke Velodrome; we liked it better when the buses lined up in the street across from the track – but with the race now part of ‘Flanders Classics’ package there has to be glitz.

Photo©Ed Hood

It is pretty cool to watch the team wagons roll in, very military – but the diesel fumes aren’t so much fun.

The teams do their best to keep saddos like us away from the bikes with those tapes they use outside night clubs – no creds for us for this race, we’re just fans – so you have to make do with the ‘B’ bikes on the team car roofs for.

Photo©Ed Hood

This neat rear suspension on the Direct Energie Wiliers caught our eye though.

Photo©Ed Hood

It was nice to meet up with our old friend, former Belgian Time Trial Champion and now the face of Shimano at all the big races; Bert Roesems, seen here speaking to UAE DS and former pro, Alan Peiper. 

How do they keep so skinny?

Photo©Ed Hood

From old pros to neo pro; 24 year-old Englishman Harry Tanfield started his World Tour career nicely with the best young rider jersey in the opening time trial of the Valenciana – he was also silver medallist in the Commonwealth Games TT last year – but the Opening Weekend has scant regard for chrono palmarès and our Harry had a bit of torrid time.

But he’s a versatile, talented lad and will have learned a lot over the weekend. 

Photo©Ed Hood

Meanwhile the UCI guys go about their business of checking for hidden motors…

Photo©Ed Hood

Swiss TT star, Stefan Küng took time out to meet his fan club – it’s a fair trail from Switzerland to Flanders…

Let’s dash, we don’t want to get stuck in the road closures and traffic jams.

Photo©Ed Hood

‘Break of the day’ at Oombergen some 16 K in, working sweetly; Alex Howes (EF), Roy Jans (Correndon), Tom Wirtgen (Wallonie) and Tom Devriendt (Wanty – it’s not a proper break without a Wanty guy.

Photo©Ed Hood

The slowest moving peloton we’ve ever seen in Het Nieuwsblad followed a couple of minutes later with the ‘start of term’ chat audible from way down the road.

Photo©Ed Hood

Eventually winner, ‘Styby’ was back among cars with no sign of anxiety.

Photo©Ed Hood

Time to move, the top of the Leberg and the break had built such a lead – it would top out at 14 minutes – that we missed them.

But we did catch the bunch; there was no chat in that peloton this time with Iljo Keisse doing what he gets paid for – hammering away at the front with another four of the windows and floors men in line astern behind him.

Photo©Ed Hood

Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain) was looking as cool as ever but it wasn’t his day – or weekend.

Photo©Ed Hood

Over the cobbles at Mater the break was still looking tidy but behind the pressure was telling with gaps in the peloton and discomfort etched on most faces.

Photo©Ed Hood

Small wonder, that beast of a man Tim (The Tractor) De Clerq (QuickStep) had the pain dialled up to 11 as the QuickStep purge continued.

Photo©Ed Hood

Some 30 minutes later we were among the big bucks poseurs at the junction at the top of the Valkenberg; no Decathlon ‘sports’ bikes for these dudes.

Photo©Ed Hood

The break was still just clear and beginning to look scrappy – dead men walking.

Photo©Ed Hood

It was still a big bunch with eventual winner Styby looking sharp and top performers next day at Kuurne, Magnus Cort Nielsen (Astana) – with beard – and Owain Doull (Sky) – with gel – all at the right end of affairs.

Photo©Ed Hood

Not so pre-race fave ‘Big Sep’ – who would later put his below par performance down simply to a ‘bad day.’

Photo©Ed Hood

Our final view point was at the end of the cobbled, roller coaster Haaghoek; but before we even got there the DNF’s were passing us.

Photo©Ed Hood

Near the junction at the foot of the Leberg we spotted the ‘Stuy Van’ – do you see what they’ve done there?

Photo©Ed Hood

The break of the day was history by now and the last man to be caught from a counter move which had gone after the Howes break was caught, Baptiste Planckaert (Wallonie) was just being absorbed as he banked left into the foot of the Leberg.

Photo©Ed Hood

Podium finisher Wellens lead the charge just behind him looking mean.

Photo©Ed Hood

Next day’s winner Bob Jungels was close behind Wellens and like most everyone else showing the strain a little.

Photo©Ed Hood

Big Lars Boom (Roompot) was on the limit but it would be wrong to think he’s past ‘sell by’ – he was well to the fore in Tuesday’s Samyn. 

Photo©Ed Hood

Even tractors run out of gas and big De Clerq was quite a-ways back.

Photo©Ed Hood

It was time for us to retire to our trusted haunt ‘t Gaaike to view the finale, it wasn’t too busy and we all had good seats from which to sip our Jupilers.

It distilled down to five in the finale; GVA, Wellens, Lutsenko (Astana), Dylan Teuns (Bahrain) and Styby.

The first four all have wins this year and if it came to a sprint it was going to be GVA’s – but the Olympic champion had grafted hard to keep them clear and had burned maybe a few matches too many in his efforts to please his home fans and the rabid Belgian cycling media.

But the Czech former World ‘cross Champion’s timing was impeccable, just as GVA snuffed a Wellens move he attacked hard, inching away as the rest looked at each other.

At the red kite he had 10 seconds and it was Commodore Lefevere’s 11th win of the year.

Photo©Ed Hood

And as the cocky soccer player who’s just scored the winner are prone tell the hapless goal keeper; ‘you’ll be able to read about it in the paper tomorrow, pal.’

Photo©Ed Hood

Surprisingly, QuickStep’s first win here since 2005 when Nick Nuyens did the needful.

Time to head back to digs, a pizza, a beer or two and discuss tomorrow’s game plan…

Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed's been involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he's been a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He's also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months was often working in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed remains a massive fan of the sport and couples his extensive contacts with an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the minutiae and the history of our sport. In February 2023 however, our dear friend and beloved colleague Ed suffered a devastating stroke and faces an uncertain future; Ed has lost his ability to speak, to read, and has lost movement on the right side of his body. He's working with speech and physical therapists on rehabilitation, but all strokes are different and each patient responds differently, so unfortunately recovery is one day at a time. Ed ran his own business installing windows, and will probably not be able to work again. Please consider joining us to make a contribution to Ed's GoFundMe page to help stabilise and secure his future.

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