2019 Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne: Ed Hood takes us to the Flemish ‘Opening Weekend’, the primary of the Spring Classics in Belgium. We glance again at his journey to Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne in 2019. The best way to do the Flemish weekend like a professional.
“I’m by no means happier than after I’m writing.”
~ Ed Hood, as spoken to Martin Williamson from the passenger seat, driving alongside a stage route on the Tour de France.
Expensive Readers – Our beloved colleague and pal Ed Hood suffered a severe stroke in February. We don’t anticipate Ed will make it again into our bunch, so we’ve began a GoFundMe web page to assist Ed together with his future. Learn the total put up right here – and please think about donating.
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We’ll be posting a number of Ed’s work from the previous 16 years, as a result of nice story-telling by no means will get previous.
Ed and his gang visited the EF Schooling First crew and the ‘Koers’ cycle racing museum on day 1 of their annual Flemish journey.
2019 Het Nieuwsblad
The Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is the primary of the early Spring Classics and the place the riders need to strike the primary blow. Ed on the ‘kinderkopje’:
Let’s begin with a little bit of tradition; it’s well-known Flandrian ‘luminist’ painter Emile Claus who retains an eye fixed on proceedings because the 2019 Gent-Gent involves life on a chill, gray however not too savage morning.
The race begins with a presentation within the large exhibition corridor adjoining to the Kuipke Velodrome; we appreciated it higher when the buses lined up on the street throughout from the observe – however with the race now a part of ‘Flanders Classics’ bundle there needs to be glitz.
It’s fairly cool to look at the crew wagons roll in, very navy – however the diesel fumes aren’t a lot enjoyable. The groups do their finest to maintain saddos like us away from the bikes with these tapes they use outdoors night time golf equipment – no creds for us for this race, we’re simply followers – so you need to make do with the ‘B’ bikes on the crew automobile roofs.
This neat rear suspension on the Direct Energie Wiliers caught our eye although.
It was good to satisfy up with our previous pal, former Belgian Time Trial Champion and now the face of Shimano in any respect the large races; Bert Roosems, seen right here chatting with UAE DS and former professional, Alan Peiper. How do they preserve so skinny?
From previous professionals to neo professional; 24 year-old Englishman Harry Tanfield began his World Tour profession properly with the most effective younger rider jersey within the opening time trial of the Valenciana – he was additionally silver medallist within the Commonwealth Video games TT final 12 months – however the Opening Weekend has scant regard for chrono palmarès and our Harry had a little bit of torrid time. However he’s a flexible, gifted lad and could have discovered rather a lot over the weekend.
In the meantime the UCi guys go about their enterprise of checking for hidden motors. . .
Swiss TT star, Stefan Kung took outing to satisfy his fan membership – it’s a good path from Switzerland to Flanders. . . Let’s sprint, we don’t need to get caught within the highway closures and site visitors jams.
‘Break of the day’ at Oombergen some 16K in, working sweetly; Alex Howes (EF), Roy Jans (Correndon), Tom Wirtgen (Wallonie) and Tom Devriendt (Wanty) – it’s not a correct break and not using a Wanty man.
The slowest shifting peloton we’ve ever seen in Het Nieuwsblad adopted a few minutes later with the ‘begin of time period’ chat audible from means down the highway.
Finally winner, ‘Styby’ was again amongst vehicles with no signal of hysteria.
Time to maneuver, the highest of the Leberg and the break had constructed such a lead – it could prime out at 14 minutes – that we missed them. However we did catch the bunch; there was no chat in that peloton this time with Iljo Keisse doing what he will get paid for – hammering away on the entrance with one other 4 of the home windows and flooring males in line astern behind him.
Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain-Merida) was wanting as cool as ever however it wasn’t his day – or weekend.
Over the cobbles at Mater the break was nonetheless wanting tidy however behind the stress was telling with gaps within the peloton and discomfort etched on most faces.
Small surprise, that beast of a person Tim (The Tractor) De Clerq (Deceuninck – Fast-Step) had the ache dialled as much as 11 because the Fast-Step purge continued.
Some half-hour later we have been among the many large bucks poseurs on the junction on the prime of the Valkenberg; no Decathlon ‘sports activities’ bikes for these dudes.
The break was nonetheless simply clear and starting to look scrappy – useless males strolling.
It was nonetheless a giant bunch with eventual winner Styby wanting sharp and prime performers subsequent day at Kuurne, Magnus Cort Nielsen (Astana) – with beard – and Owain Doull (Sky) – with gel – all on the proper finish of affairs.
Not so pre-race fave ‘Large Sep’ – who would later put his beneath par efficiency down merely to a ‘dangerous day.’
Our last view level was on the finish of the cobbled, curler coaster Haaghoek; however earlier than we even bought there the DNF’s have been passing us.
Close to the junction on the foot of the Leberg we noticed the ‘Stuy Van’ – do you see what they’ve completed there?
The break of the day was historical past by now and the final man to be caught from a counter transfer which had gone after the Howes break was caught, Baptiste Planckaert (Wallonie) was simply being absorbed as he banked left into the foot of the Leberg.
Podium finisher Wellens lead the cost simply behind him wanting imply.
Subsequent day’s winner Bob Jungels was shut behind Wellens and like most everybody else displaying the pressure a bit of.
Large Lars Growth (Roompot) was on the restrict however it could be mistaken to assume he’s previous ‘promote by’ – he was properly to the fore in Tuesday’s Samyn.
Even tractors run out of fuel and massive De Clerq was fairly a methods again.
It was time for us to retire to our trusted hang-out ‘t Gaaike to view the finale, it wasn’t too busy and all of us had good seats from which to sip our Jupilers. It distilled down to 5 within the finale; GVA, Wellens, Lutsenko (Astana), Dylan Teuns (Bahrain-Merida) and Styby. The primary 4 all have wins this 12 months and if it got here to a dash it was going to be GVA’s – however the Olympic champion had grafted onerous to maintain them clear and had burned perhaps a number of matches too many in his efforts to please his house followers and the rabid Belgian biking media. However the Czech former World ‘cross Champion’s timing was impeccable, simply as GVA snuffed a Wellens transfer he attacked onerous, inching away as the remainder checked out one another. On the crimson kite he had 10 seconds and it was Commodore Lefevere’s eleventh win of the 12 months.
And because the cocky soccer participant who’s simply scored the winner are inclined inform the hapless purpose keeper; ‘you’ll be capable of examine it within the paper tomorrow, pal.’
Surprisingly, Fast-Step’s first win right here since 2005 when Nick Nuyens did the needful. Time to move again to digs, a pizza, a beer or two and focus on tomorrow’s sport plan. . .
2019 Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne:
Ed and the gang topped off their busy weekend with the cobbles and frites of Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne on Sunday – typical Flemish fare for a ‘race chase’. All of the enjoyable of a motorbike race: Bike spying, mechanic stalking, star recognizing and the donkeys, however no glitzy presentation. Correct Flanders.
Sunday’s Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne UCi 1.1 HC is the bridesmaid to Het Nieuwsblad’s UCi WT bride however it’s a race with an extended historical past courting again to 1946 and has some attention-grabbing winners together with Roger De Vlaeminck, Patrick Sercu, Johan Museeuw, George Hincapie, Cav – and a sure Patrick Lefevere in 1978. Curiously, it’s one of many only a few cobbled races Eddy Merckx didn’t win.
And while Styby’s Saturday success in Het Nieuwsblad was Patrick’s crew’s first success since 2005, the Deceuninck – Fast-Step boys have typically gained revenge on the Sunday with Tom Boonen – thrice to make him ‘recordman’ – Nick Nuyens, Steven de Jongh and Mark Cavendish all taking house the donkey trophy.
Kuurne residents are referred to as ‘donkeys’ however not in disparaging phrases, a tribute to their work ethic and stubbornness.
KBK is far much less glam than the Omloop with no glitzy displays, the groups roll up, park the busses in the principle avenue and pedal off to the signal on, via the gang.
Stalking the mechanics is not any downside, albeit we stored away from the Bahrain dude with the evil eye; standing prepared with the handheld compressor as his buddy smothered the chain with lube on what seemed prefer it was going to be a moist day.
And if you happen to thought the only ring dies with Aqua Blue – not so, Trek are experimenting with it.
And while you’ll be able to’t get close to the Deceuninck – Fast-Step or Lotto Soudal bus, Movistar’s Canyon’s sit unhappy and lonely – Spanish cobble guys? Nee, nee, nee – not since Flecha anyway.
And the jury is out on large Conor Dunne’s paint job over at Israel Biking Academy.
The temper initially is kinda chilled with Roompot DS Erik Breukink chewing the fats with previous associates.
And ‘Le Gorille’ simply hops on his bike proper beside you to pedal as much as the signal on.
Lithuanians Bagdonas (AG2R-La Mondiale) – present nationwide champion – and former champ, Konovalovas (Groupama-FDJ) have been all smiles regardless of the rain.
Why, even that child confronted Dutch hitman Niki (Direct Energie) had a smile.
And there’s at all times the loopy band initially.
Our first sighting of the race was simply 12K in on the prime of the cobbled Volkegemberg – undoubtedly no smiles and the harm properly on.
We needed to watch our toes as riders kamikaze dived for the sleek concrete gutter and transient respite from the horror of the Kasseien.
We waited to see the juniors via, an enormous discipline with an eventual Dutch winner, 4 Brits within the prime 10 and the most effective house boy eleventh – questions might be requested.
Out within the open nation and also you come throughout little shrines – it could good to listen to the story behind every one.
The primary junior ‘hors de combats’ have been quickly filling the entrance windscreen as Dave navigated us via the community of tiny roads.
It was half distance earlier than we caught the race once more – it’s a tough race to see various occasions as a result of nature of the parcours which describe a giant, flattened eastward loop. Former Dutch Elite Champion and 6 day man, Pim Ligthart (Direct Energie) was probably the most outstanding identify within the seven man break topping Hotard a few minutes clear, an extended drag moderately than a ‘berg.’
Silvan Dillier (AG2R-La Mondiale) and Thomas Boudat (Direct Energie) led the chase on behalf of Jurgen Roelandts and Niki respectively.
Our subsequent sighting was up on the ridge highway the place bearded Magnus Cort Nielsen (Astana) led the break via at warp velocity.
However with Iljo and one other couple of Deceuninck – Fast-Steps main the screaming bunch you already know the breakaways reside on borrowed time.
We simply made it to the highest of the notorious Oude Kwaremont in time to catch the break with the large Dane Nielsen nonetheless on level.
Behind, it was Belgian Champion Yves Lampaert heading the Deceuninck – Fast-Step frenzy.
We had European Champion Matteo Trentin (Mitchelton-Scott) down as certainly one of our faves for the win however he was not having fun with the Kwaremont and would ultimately pack with one lap of the ending circuit to experience following a tough chase again after a spill.
KBK is a ‘sprinters race’ – nevertheless within the final decade there have been solo winners in Bobby Traksel 2010 and Jasper Stuyven 2016 – however the pure sprinters need to undergo to recover from the Kwaremont with German Champion Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) and ex-French Champion Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) deep within the crimson on the prime.
‘Smiler’ Bagdonas was carrying a really completely different expression from his completely satisfied Kuurne visage.
And all we may to assist GB crew pursuit and TT star Harry Tanfield (Katusha-Alpecin) was to present him a superb shout – he was hurting dangerous.
Time for our KBK finale haunt of a number of years, bar L’Escale in Ronse, throughout from the station with a giant TV, cool Jupiler and an understanding proprietor – not a lot else a person can ask for. With a bit of over an hour to go Bob Jungels (Deceuninck – Fast-Step), Oliver Naesen (AG2R-La Mondiale), Sebastian Langeveld (EF Schooling First), Davide Ballerini and Magnus Cort (each Astana) have been clear and dealing easily with Deceuninck – Fast-Step doing their finest to maintain the hole for Large Bob. Unsurprisingly, Cort was first to pop, he’d been away for a lot of the day and simply when it seemed like the opposite 4 have been going to get caught, Jungels attacked with 17K to go.
He’d experience these pan flat kilometres across the end circuit like a practice holding off the chasers to attain a gorgeous solo victory with younger GB SKY man taking a wonderful second place behind him, Niki was third and final 12 months’s winner, Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo-Visma) better of the pure sprinters in fourth spot and Le Gorille eighth. Let’s not neglect that that is the primary time in 35 years (Panasonic with Planckaert and Lammertink) that the identical crew has received each races.
Time for handshakes all spherical and to move off looking for frites – that didn’t take lengthy – then the drive again to Gent on low adrenalin.
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