La Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in other times it was the grand opening party of the Flemish seasonNext Saturday will still be the opening, but we are unlikely to see the big party, to the point that the route has not been published on the organizers' website and accredited journalists were not provided with the roadbook to prevent them from publishing it, despite their commitments. It will be delivered to the press room on Friday. Period.
After the war
The race It was born in 1945, organized by the newspaper Het Volk, who gave her the name. It was the answer to the Tour of Flanders, which was in turn organised by the competing newspaper Het Nieuwsblad and continued with this distinction until 2008, when Het Volk closed and rivals flocked to support, taking over the race and renaming it. From Omloop Het Volk to Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
Only samples
It's easy to understand that in Belgium where cycling is a true religion, a race like this quickly became a great classic, conquered by Merckx and De Vlaeminck, Maertens and Planckaert, Van Petegem and Museeuw, Vandenbroucke and Gilbert.
Incredibly, only four Italians managed to win it. It was Ballerini in the same 1995 in which he would win the Roubaix, then Bartoli in 2001, Pozzato in 2007 and, as we told you yesterday, Paolini in 2013. In fact, even a certain Fausto Coppi managed to win it in 1948, but was demoted to 2nd place for an irregular wheel changeThe defending winner is Jesper Stuyven (opening photo) who will return to defend his title once again wearing the jersey of Trek-Segafredo.
Moscon returns to the stones that brought him to light The world champion on the walls, thinking of Flanders Oss again "orphaned" by Sagan on the North Faces Pasqualon, the only Italian at Intermarché-Wanty Boaro (with shaved beard), Astana warrior Kristoff restarts the engines, towards Sanremo and towards the North Teuns, baby face, but already a great leg Troy is already in top form, the pavé excites him Colbrelli's great season begins on the cobblestones Gilbert is finding the right feelings again Pedersen finds his footing and looks for a feeling Vanmarcke is already going very strong in his new Israel jersey Van Avermaet, new motivations at AG2R Citroen Wellens has already won, but watch out for that position… Oldani is in a good mood: he's in a great team, he has reason to be. Politt is in the spotlight: he's already going very strong For Trentin, a new team and the usual responsibilities Ballero is already going strong. Everyone's noticed... After the cross-country world championships, Stybar has made a good comeback on the road Marcato already carries them all on his shoulders Great curiosity for Pidcock on a terrain congenial to him Felline born fighter, a good test
Moscon returns to the stones that brought him to light The world champion on the walls, thinking of Flanders Oss again "orphaned" by Sagan on the North Faces Pasqualon, the only Italian at Intermarché-Wanty Boaro (with shaved beard), Astana warrior Kristoff restarts the engines, towards Sanremo and towards the North Teuns, baby face, but already a great leg Troy is already in top form, the pavé excites him Colbrelli's great season begins on the cobblestones Gilbert is finding the right feelings again Pedersen finds his footing and looks for a feeling Vanmarcke is already going very strong in his new Israel jersey Van Avermaet, new motivations at AG2R Citroen Wellens has already won, but watch out for that position… Oldani is in a good mood: he's in a great team, he has reason to be. Politt is in the spotlight: he's already going very strong For Trentin, a new team and the usual responsibilities Ballero is already going strong. Everyone's noticed... After the cross-country world championships, Stybar has made a good comeback on the road Marcato already carries them all on his shoulders Great curiosity for Pidcock on a terrain congenial to him Felline born fighter, a good test
Without live broadcast
Due to the cancellations of the Spanish races, for many riders the Het Nieuwsblad, which has been included in the WorldTour since 2017, is the opening race, with the great curiosity (partly already satisfied by the 2020 Flanders) of what it will be like to run in the total absence of spectators.
To our readers, we can anticipate that, given the absence of live television, we will be up there to experience this silent event (of men and women) and tell about itSpring in cycling is taking its first steps.
