Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2022 - Preview

Belgian classics season starts tomorrow with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad - it is always a race that has some unpredictable results due to the lack of cobbled race days (and race days at all).

The race will gonna blow up in the last 60 kilometres, yet we have to mention that the route has changed slightly from last year. Molenberg was dropped (surprisingly, it was a challenging little climb), instead of it we have Biesestraat and Marlboroughstraat before we turn to Haaghoek, from where the route follows the one from last year. Kapelmuur is once again will be the TOP point of the race, while Bosberg is the last chance for attackers to avoid a potential sprint showdown.

Weather will be pretty nice, 7-9 celsius with sunshine, from Bosberg, it's gonna be 10-20 km/h sidewind, not enough for echelons. Sprint is gonna be a headwind one, so timing will be important, experienced sprinters are the favourites.

Race dynamics: Quick-Step and TJV to control, they will put emphasis on putting riders in front early on in the race. van Lerberghe and van der Sande will have crucial roles for their teams. Other teams also have great classics riders but as a team unity, they aren't as strong as these teams. In a sprint situation, lot of teams will be interested and favourite for winning, will write it here now.

One more stat to add: here are the racedays that were ridden before winning Omloop in the last 10 years:

2021 (Ballerini): 4

2020 (Stuyven): 8

2019 (Stybar): 5

2018 (Valgren): 13

2017 (van Avermaet): 11

2016 (van Avermaet): 11

2015 (Stannard): 13

2014 (Stannard): 12

2013 (Paolini): 11

2012 (Vanmarcke): 5

So with regard of all of these, my main favourite is Florian Senechal for this race. Could have named a lot of people from Quick-Step but Senechal is a good scenario for both an attack and a sprint. He has helped for Jakobsen and Cav as well this season, it is time to ride for himself.

No previews should miss Wout van Aert. The Belgian superstar won tons of cyclocross races this winter, had a great altitude camp and now he is back on the road. As he said: My goals are later in the spring, hence the conscious choice to build a really broad base. Hopefully, I'll have some extra explosiveness after the first races, so that I’m at my best for Milan-San Remo, then I want to extend that form to Paris-Roubaix. Still one of the biggest favourite here.

Alexander Kristoff. Form was building, had a small break before he would jump to the Classics season. He will hope for a sprint, as he has the best leadout train in this race with Bystrom, Petit and Pasqualon.

Jasper Stuyven. 2020 winner, San Remo title defender, professional cobbler. Trek is strong, although we don't know what to really expect from Hoole or Markus Hoelgaard but they have many options, Jasper will try to win another edition.

Sonny Colbrelli. Same as Wout. Will get in form later, this is a good test for where he is currently.

Tom Pidcock & Jhonatan Narvaez. Dark horses. Pidcock is always great in cobbled races, he would have loved a more technical course with some proper Belgian weather, Narvaez, on the other hand will love these conditions, one of them will be in the top 5 tomorrow.

Matteo Trentin: Hasn't shown much so far this year, but this can change in the upcoming weeks, starting with tomorrow.

Dark horse contenders: Stanislav Aniolkowski, Amaury Capiot, Lewis Askey, Michael Valgren, Ide Schelling, Alex Kirsch.

Have fun, everyone!