Classics season starts off with a Classic. The weather was perfect, if you like wet and cold. You know it's cold when you see the Belgian hardmen wearing kneewarmers. I love watching the Classics when it is a race of man-vs-man-vs-nature and the hardmen of the sport truly showcase their unique talents. Talents that include being able to slide, bounce, and slip out of control but yet survive hours in the saddle cold wet and battered. There is a reason that 53 previous winners have come from Belgium. Riding and racing in Belgium is not only about being able to ride nasty roads, but in weather that would make most people run for cover in a storm shelter.
This edition of the Omloop was, for lack of a better word ---Classic. Rough roads, punchy power climbs, cobbles, mud, wind, and of course Northern European cold. Just your typical race in Belgium. Who better to win a Classic than a Dutchman? Sebastian Langeveld of Rabobank made a risky move to string out the peloton, but instead his attack put him in the driver's seat of a calculated 50k solo. Maybe the peloton is like you and me and thought who is this guy? We can pull him in no problem. One of the things the Dutch do on a bike well -is ride in the wind. Apparently Langeveld got the memo. Flecha (Sky) was the only rider able to match the attack and joined Langeveld. Flecha won last year and seeing him in the break the smart money would have been on him, plus he was a pre-race favorite. The youngster held onto Flecha and when the finish came he was able to match the acceleration throw the bike and gain the 2cm need to finish first.
1 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 5:18:03
2 Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky Procycling
3 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Sky Procycling 0:01:01
4 Yoann Offredo (Fra) FDJ 0:01:04
5 Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha Team 0:01:21
6 Niki Terpstra (Ned) Quickstep Cycling Team 0:01:24
7 Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:01:30
8 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing Team
9 Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
10 Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
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