Visma | Lease a Bike dominated the ‘opening weekend’, profitable the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. Very like final yr, the Dutch ‘Tremendous-Staff’ was principally in management in each races and took the victories in each races, once more. One a shock and the opposite as anticipated. So, who’s in prime type and who ‘may do higher’? What does the opening weekend inform us for the approaching Classics?
Jan Tratnik – Shock, however a properly deserved win
# Learn the PEZ Race Studies with photographs and video right here: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. #
Wout van Aert – De Ronde and Roubaix subsequent?
Visma | Lease a Bike are Too Dominant
In 2023 Jumbo-Visma gained the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne with Dylan van Baarle and Tiesj Benoot. Quick-forward to 2024 and it was Visma | Lease a Bike with Jan Tratnik and Wout van Aert repeating the success. The Dutch workforce accountable for the races at each second. On the Berendries within the Omloop, Toms Skujins practically escaped Van Aert, nevertheless it didn’t ruffle the feathers of the Belgian. In Kuurne, Van Aert was within the profitable break for nearly 90 kilometres. He closed down all of the assault makes an attempt by his fellow escapees Oier Lazkano and Tim Wellens within the closing with out a lot issue and he was omnipotent within the dash. For the ‘opening weekend’, Van Aert had the strongest workforce round him, all of whom may take the win for themselves. Within the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Visma | Lease a Bike had six leaders, with solely Edoardo Affini in a domestique position. The workforce imposed their energy on the peloton and of the 23 riders within the entrance group of favourites, 5 have been Visma | Lease a Bike males. Then there was the promising younger American Matteo Jorgenson. His assault on the Bosberg within the Omloop on Saturday failed because of the headwind. Then on Sunday he attacked from the chase group after Van Aert fashioned the profitable break. Jorgenson had Matej Mohorič with him they usually picked up a dropped Laurence Pithie, however they have been pulled in with 3 kilometres to go. In Jorgenson, the yellow workforce have a Classics man of the long run.
Matteo Jorgenson – A person for the long run
The Motion Comes from the Gun
Each races actually lit the fireworks early, however this has been a vogue for some time, however extra apparent in recent times. On this yr’s opening weekend, Visma | Lease a Bike began the battle within the Omloop 140 kilometres from the finish-line. In Kuurne, Van Aert began to type the profitable transfer from 90 kilometres out, then the Belgian break up the group of favourites right down to the profitable break. The highest males need to be within the motion early within the race, groups sending a lesser rider ‘up the street’ appears to not be an choice anymore. Will we see the highest favourites on the assault early within the Monuments and Classics?
Younger Arnaud De Lie had a powerful Lotto Dstny workforce behind him
Extra Groups Wish to be Within the Combine
Visma | Lease a Bike have been clearly essentially the most dominant workforce, however in comparison with earlier years there have been many different groups ready within the wings. UAE Staff Emirates had Nils Politt prepared within the finale within the Omloop, he misplaced the dash, however the workforce have been overlaying each transfer. Tim Wellens was robust on the Muur van Geraardsbergen on Saturday after which within the profitable break on Sunday in Kuurne. Wellens was expecting a transfer from Van Aert to complete second. Politt and Wellens confirmed that UAE Staff Emirates can produce the outcomes with out their chief, Tadej Pogačar.
There was additionally Lotto Dstny: Within the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Arnaud De Lie was on the assault all day and deep into the finale, there have been nonetheless many Lotto Dstny riders within the chase group they usually have been the one workforce that had energy to do something. The peloton didn’t catch the break, however they have been there to work for De Lie if the race had come again collectively. Lidl-Trek had Tom Skujins within the battle. The Latvian was within the main group within the Omloop and appeared very robust. When he was caught with the others within the break, Lidl-Trek additionally had Jasper Stuyven within the group and he completed within the top-10 in each the Omloop and Kuurne. Mads Pedersen may also be within the Lidl-Trek Classics roster, making the American based mostly workforce an influence that Visma | Lease a Bike should recon with.
Skujins appeared very robust
The Younger-Weapons Hit the Highway Operating
The ‘new boys on the block’ have been very noticeable on the weekend. Within the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Arnaud De Lie confirmed that he’s not only a sprinter, however a budding Classics man. The 21 year-old was on the entrance of the race for over 100 kilometres and together with Tom Skujins, they have been the boys that Visma | Lease a Bike needed to control. De Lie was finally caught with the others of his break. On the end he nonetheless managed to dash to tenth place after his onerous day. The 20 year-old António Morgadohe was the second youngest rider within the Omloop peloton. The Portuguese rider of UAE Staff Emirates was all the time in the correct place and was nonetheless there within the closing, spectacular for his first look. Frenchman Pierre Gautherat of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale climbed the Muur van Geraardsbergen with energy after which held his personal within the chase group for eleventh place. He was there once more on Sunday in Kuurne, he was within the first chasing group for a very long time, however was finally caught. Laurence Pithie, one other 21 year-old, was a part of the profitable break with Wout van Aert, Tim Wellens and Oier Lazkano, however needed to let go. After that he labored with Matteo Jorgenson and Matej Mohorič, who tried to catch the leaders. Then there was Luke Lamperti, the American Soudal Fast-Step rider, he sprinted to seventh place in Kuurne.
Younger New Zealander, Laurence Pithie Laurence was spectacular
Alpecin-Deceuninck Invisible With out Mathieu van der Poel
Alpecin-Deceuninck have been no the place to be seen within the ‘opening weekend’. Eighteenth place for Gianni Vermeersch within the Omloop and 92nd place for Jasper Philipsen in Kuurne have been their greatest outcomes. On Saturday, Philipsen was within the first echelon with Michael Gogl, however the fast-finisher didn’t but have the legs and couldn’t maintain on when the race began to leap. In Kuurne Philipsen was invisible and was slowed by a crash earlier than the ultimate dash. The workforce’s plan to point out they’ve depth with out Mathieu van der Poel failed. The World champion won’t be seen till Milano-Sanremo, on this type, there can be ‘slim pickings’ for the Belgian workforce as much as La Classicissima di primavera.
In the long run the ‘opening weekend’ was all for Visma | Lease a Bike
# Due to WielerFlits and ProCyclingStats for information and inspiration. #
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