OMLOOP HET NIEUWSBLAD - Castelli Cycling

THE BEST START OF THE YEAR?

I'm in love with the start of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. It has the first day of school vibes that everyone, no matter how much you liked or disliked school, can relate to. It's beautiful, it's fun, it's full of the promise of the new year.

The Omloop Het Nieuwsblad did its customary job as a thrilling, wonderful introduction to the Classics season. Two of the titans of the men's and women's peloton, Annemiek van Vleuten and Wout van Aert, came out victorious, and the start of the season proved just as many had envisioned. There were nervous riders, harsh crashes, and ambitious attacks. Boisterous fans were in attendance for the first time since the 2020 Omloop - which ran just days before the world shut down. The sun shone on the two competitions that showed us how fun even the "normal" races can be.

THE BEAUTY OF 'T KUIPKE.

The short, steep-banked track of t' Kuipke provides the backdrop for one of the better sign-ons of the year as well. The people of Gent are no strangers to bringing the vibe to this track - and they're a welcome return to this perfect beginning.

SAYING GOOD-BYE

Two riders got massive tributes on the Kuipke stage: Philippe Gilbert and Gent's prodigal, much-loved son, Iljo Keisse. They played Le lacs du Connemara for Gilbert - the absolutely classic ode to special moments. The phone flashlights went on, the caps came off, and everyone waved them around to the great, Philippe Gilbert.

A few minutes later, it was Iljo Keisse's turn. This is Keisse's final season, and while it won't be his last time at the Kuipke track (that's reserved for this fall's Gent Six), it was his last one as a professional road cyclist. The tributes were heart-warming and served as a reminder of the passing of time. This writer remembers when these two riders were up and comers with the whole world in front of them.

QUICK-STEP: UP NEXT.

It would be a day to forget for the Belgian super team, as the team was besought with bad luck and never quite there...but, like so many times in the past, they'd make up for it in fine fashion just a day later.

SAME SPOT.

It's a funny thing when we shoot more or less the same route - sometimes, we end up in the same spot - with slightly different light the only real evidence that it's a different race (at first glance).

RUBEN APERS.

And here, we have my hero of the day, 23-year-old, Ruben Apers. The Flemish rider jumped into the early break, then spent the rest of the day working hard to keep the break alive - while also simultaneously enjoying every, single, tiny second of it. I saw him multiple times throughout the day waving at fans and friends - then saw pictorial evidence from other photographers of even more acknowledgement from support along the side of the road.

I love this. More of this, please.

TRAINS!

We don't normally shoot train tracks. I don't know why, but it just doesn't happen. Somehow, we both ended up shooting the same train tracks, approximately ninety minutes apart on Saturday. I love that.

WINDMILL TIME.

Two windmills in one day. What a nice surprise. The Huisepontweg is a wonderful section of cobbles just outside of Oudenaarde. My heart always sings a happy little tune when I see that they'll be included on the route. Conversely, I was a little sad about the exclusion of the Molenberg this year - but we still got its windmill, so that's a plus.

RIDERS ON THE HORIZON.

With the collective fields of Europe still lying fallow, there's not much to hide the riders from the horizon.

ROADSIDE I.

CRASH.

As with any Classic, and pretty much every race in general, crashes are a part of life. This year's edition of the Omloop was no exception.

RETURN OF THE FANS!

New bikes, groupsets, kits, and tactics debuted at Opening Weekend. But, the most exciting addition were the spectators that were banned the last two years because of the pandemic. Their return was rousing, rallying the riders over the steep cobbled climbs and over the finish line in the cold sunshine.

OUDENAARDE.

To and fro they go. Another happy coincidence when Ash and I shot in the exact same spot.

ROADSIDE II.

THE RACE.

While the world has been disrupted by a global pandemic and the recent, horrifying invasion in Ukraine, the elements that win bike races hasn't changed. Grit, power, and teamwork was abundant among the peloton, but only two riders could use the right combination to triumph.

SCENES FROM THE WOMEN'S RACE.

IT'S MUUR TIME!

BETTER THAN EVER.

The crowd on the Muur was like the glory days of old. The roar for Tiesj Benoot as he rounded the turn on to those final steep meters before the church gave me goosebumps. Kasper Asgreen commented later that he could hear the roar of the crowd in the distance as he was making his way up the lower part of the Muur after an extremely unfortunate mechanical. Just writing this makes me smile. I have no complaints about the last editions of the Belgian races and their zero fan policy - I respect that - but it doesn't mean I can't wholeheartedly celebrate their return! Welcome back.

THE WOMEN ON THE MUUR.

THE FUTURE?

THE WINNERS.

Two favorites pulled found the first wins of Opening Weekend. Annemiek van Vleuten bested Demi Vollering in a mad dash for the line after the two accelerated away from a select group on the final climb, the Bosberg. Wout van Aert broke away from the bunch just before the Bosberg and held off the chasers to cross the line solo.