Omloop Het Nieuwsblad - Sat 27th Feb **SPOILERS**
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad - the 71st (or is that 68th) instalment is almost upon us; the 200km flanders Classic is on Saturday 27th with a roll past the official start planned for 1145 lt
I cannot find a decent map - the one provided by the website is dreadful

I will upload a decent profile when I get one - and hopefully update the map with something readable
The Roadbook is here
The weather is not looking too bad - with forecasts giving 7 deg and no rain and little wind. Perfect.
The start list on the website is a bad scan made into a PDF - in line with rest of site really - here is a much nicer version
ProCycling Stats
It seems that Ian Stannard isn't riding (sorry if this has already been chewed over elsewhere - been away from everything apart from work for a while) - a win would have been historic as no one has ever won three on the spin and he would be the first non-belge to win three (admittedly he is the first non-belge to win two)

There is the sad news that Giant won't be there either
BTW - if you want pictures of beer, cheese, goats, horses feel free to post them yourselves :-)
And this is the first PTP of the season unless I have gotten confused
I cannot find a decent map - the one provided by the website is dreadful

I will upload a decent profile when I get one - and hopefully update the map with something readable
The Roadbook is here
The weather is not looking too bad - with forecasts giving 7 deg and no rain and little wind. Perfect.
The start list on the website is a bad scan made into a PDF - in line with rest of site really - here is a much nicer version
ProCycling Stats
It seems that Ian Stannard isn't riding (sorry if this has already been chewed over elsewhere - been away from everything apart from work for a while) - a win would have been historic as no one has ever won three on the spin and he would be the first non-belge to win three (admittedly he is the first non-belge to win two)

There is the sad news that Giant won't be there either
Team Giant-Alpecin will not participating in this year’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, held on February 27, 2016. At the end of January six riders of the German team were involved in an accident in Spain. John Degenkolb and five teammates were hurt, which has disorganized their spring season
BTW - if you want pictures of beer, cheese, goats, horses feel free to post them yourselves :-)
And this is the first PTP of the season unless I have gotten confused
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Grrr...
As inrng says in his blog- there are others that come along very quickly; even so to miss the first of the season - "greater love hath no man..."
- @ddraver
Full route is here (minus the Molenberg and the slightly altered start/finish this year) and yeah, I made and rode that for fun
https://www.strava.com/routes/464884
@gietvangent
MTB
NEW Cross
Track/Grass Track/Winter bike
MTB
NEW Cross
Track/Grass Track/Winter bike
I think you might be my hero.
I call it the Ian Stannard Appreciation ride and have done it on a weekday in August for the last 2 years. This years was run in appalling weather and saw me pack with 35km left after 3 punctures and a closed bike shop. Vanmarcke-esque.
@gietvangent
- @ddraver
Heaved a sigh of relief that I can watch it on the big screen. ?
"My Man" not riding this year and I hope he takes after another "My Man" Peter Van Petegem who went on to Flanders and Roubaix successes.
In 1998 when the selection had been made I asked the guy next to me if Peter had made the group as I told him he won it last year and I hoped he might win again. He did.
The guy said "so do I, He's my son" and invited me to follow him to Lockeren on the motorways, where he got me into the VIP tent with Mr Museeuw senior. I had followed their two Mercedes at speed through a thunderstorm and lashing rain but what a day.
Awesome, I've met PVP a couple of times. Once on the bike where he graciously let me take my turns before killing me into a headwind and once when he was watching his nephew in a junior race. He's a good bloke.
@gietvangent
Booo, It ll get me away from my sisters birthday party preparations nicely so I may claim you re in town anyway...
- @ddraver
Cannot be a cyclist to let that happen and in my case the future wife was well trained on Sunday schedules of meeting at 4am for marshaling or feeding duties in the club 100 or looking after me as I changed by the roadside bushes.
Saturday evening was OK, instead of going dancing or the Flicks. :roll:
Cracking anecdote, deejay!
My blog and pod...
Beers of Belgium Cycling Club UK
Frenchie should be around.
Drop him a PM.
Woohoo! (Although it's not showing on their website)
Now just to not get too drunk on Friday night so I can go and ride some cobbles beforehand.
...well played
- @ddraver
Tinkov still around?
Cav still not really that fast?
.. and has Fabian complained about something yet?!
Did Lars win 4 og 5 of the first calender races? He's being humble, isn't he? It's 4.
Finally the cycling season is about to start! Shame it's over come mid April..
Lars impressed the purists on the CX circuit but I have nt seen him on the road yet..
- @ddraver
Would be nice to see The Dude on the podium (or one of the other stalwarts of the British racing scene) but I don't think it's going to happen.
Yeah. I think that's pushing into fantasy territory
@gietvangent
*goes away and looks at procyclingstats*
Well, Pip picked up a win in Murcia, so he's looking lively. But balance that with the fact he'll have to take a back seat to GVA the Bridesmaid...
Who is The Dude?
Is reachable from here.
Believe in miracles
And cures and healing wells