Van Aert did what we all hoped he would do. He took the victory in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, he put it aside for a moment with smiles and toasts and he had his say on the war in Ukraine.
“I want to say one thing,” he exclaimed behind the podium. Bike racing is now a secondary issue compared to more important things that are happening in this worldIt's madness to even think that a war is still possible, and so close at hand. For what it's worth, I would like to express my support to all those affected by the war in Ukraine».
Damn wind
What a race guys! All the big shots of the group were in front, while Gaviria was rushing to the hospital with a broken collarboneVan Aert's story explains everything, while the ecstatic audience ate him up with their eyesGrateful for that action with 13 kilometers to go.
«There was a lot of wind against us – continued the winner – and as a result the race remained closed for a long timeI actually wanted to push the situation a little earlier, but there wasn't much to do. But we made some progress on the Berendries. Tiesj Benoot and the rest of the team did a fantastic job. I'm very happy with this victory."
Objective Roubaix
“I didn’t think I’d do so well so soon,” he added, “but I was well prepared. I'm in good condition and it's difficult to say now if I can maintain it until Roubaix.In terms of intensity, there's still something to add. I was good, but Tour of Flanders and Roubaix are even more important, so I hope to improve a bit. I plan to take this final step at Paris-Nice by helping Roglic, who goes there to win it."
Testand legs
It was clear that Colbrelli wasn't swimming in gold. But he was there, with those in front. He was moving his shoulders against the walls, but he didn't give up and for this reason for a while we hoped to tell another story.And Sonny would have succeeded too, if at the foot of the Bosberg Van Aert hadn't decided he'd had enough. The Belgian giant had more head and more legs on the same dayThe first was in giving Tiesj Benoot a free pass, forcing the others (including Colbrelli, Trentin, and Pasqualon) to use what little they had left. The second was in the attack on the final wall.
Trentin and the Muur
When there is an audience, Flanders is a fantastic placeLand of giants who press on the pedals and fans in whose veins flows the same foamy blood derived from hopsAfter the last two years with few people on the roads (because you can ban the Belgians, but you can never be sure that they won't accidentally pass by on the race roads), Seeing Grammont again with the rides, the people and the beer was even a moving imageAnd right in that passage of brown stones like leather, which in the past saw the actions of Bartoli and Ballan, Boonen and Cancellara, Trentin challenged Van Aert and worried him for a while.
Studied victory
Wout had prepared it. Yesterday he went to have a look at Haaghoek and Leberg and met and overtook Alexander Kristoff on the Berendries. He reached the Muur in Geraardsbergen.
"It was useful to do this reconnaissance," said sports director Maarten Wynants at the start this morning, "to test the material again and check the sensations on the rocks. Most of the guys have been on Teide for three weeks and have been cycling on perfect roads... ".
Colbrelli Fatigue
And it was also the first race for Colbrelli, he also came down from Teide last Sunday, as he had told us right from up there. The strong ones don't need much running-in, but it's strange that The first two places in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad were taken by two riders who were already brilliant as soon as they came down from the hill.
«Brilliant, in short… – smiles the Brescian – I suffered, I tell you the truthI was feeling pretty good, though… it worked! A nice second place in an early-season classic. We hope to do better in the next racesI hoped until the end, but I can't say anything. I saw that Van Aert was leaving, but I said to myself: “I'll stay here, because I'm already a bit at the limit”I still had two teammates, and I said to myself: let's try to close the gap. I knew it would be very difficult. Today Van Aert had another gear and it showed».
Regret Pasqualon
Who instead faced Van Aert's attack he didn't look the other way it was Andrea PasqualonA plaster on his right shin, a dusty beard, and a cough that keeps him from breathing.
«When I noticed he was starting on the Bosberg – he says – I tried to follow him. But when you give that guy 10 meters, you can't catch him anymoreWe knew he had something extra, he proved it and went very fast. After all, he's a champion! I... I tried it on the Bosberg. I tried to get back under him, but his leg was what it was.Unfortunately, a week ago I crashed and suffered a lot. I wasn't brilliant in the final either, I was full of cramps and it was clear even in the sprint that it wasn't really me.
«Under this plaster, I have two deep holes, which hurt and don't let me recover at nightIn these races, you need every bit of energy, but I'm happy with the result. All things considered, I didn't do badly. And tomorrow I'll recover because I want to aim for a good performance at Le Samyn, which suits me. No Kuurne tomorrow, I'll try to regain my strength».
