‘Opening weekend’: Six things we learned from the first classics races
The four races that make up the men's and women's opening classics delivered plenty of action and provided lots of talking points.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (previously known as Omloop Het Volk) is held in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The race traditionally starts and finishes in Ghent and includes several short steep climbs and cobbled sections. It shares some roads with the Tour of Flanders classic and is held the day before the Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.
Allan Peiper’s ‘opening weekend’ analysis
The former classics specialist watched ‘opening weekend’ and shared his exclusive thoughts on the dominance of Jumbo-Visma and the tough questions facing Quick-Step.
‘Magnus Sheffield is an incredible talent’ says Van Haesebrouck
VeloNews speaks to Sheffield's friend and mentor Franky Van Haesebrouck about the American's first races in Europe.
Hammond hails Ineos Grenadiers at ‘opening weekend’: ‘If they ride like this they’re going to win’
'I feel really pleased with the guys and how quickly that they’ve come together' says sports director.
Brandon McNulty, Sepp Kuss storm Americans into spotlight at Ardèche Classic
McNulty and Kuss go one-three in France to stamp status as leaders of pack of rising U.S. talent.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl comes up short in cobblestone opener
'A race I’d like to forget quickly.' Patrick Lefevere's 'Wolfpack' undone by poor positioning and subpar performances.
Victor Campenaerts personifies Lotto-Soudal’s ‘Wolfpack’ at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
The Belgian comes back from a crash and mechanicals to finish fifth.
Annemiek van Vleuten: It has been a ‘dream start’ to 2022
The Movistar rider adds victory at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad to her win at the Setmana Ciclista Volta Comunitat Valenciana last week.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: Wout van Aert and Jumbo-Visma ignite classics with faultless performance
'Celebrating the win with wild gestures wouldn’t have been appropriate' Belgian says as he shows support for Ukraine
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: Magnus Sheffield goes on the attack in WorldTour classics debut
The 19-year-old American is ready for more after a solid start to his classics campaign as he builds up to Paris-Roubaix.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: Van Avermaet uses his experience to net surprise podium
'I’m surprised about the result as well because I didn’t have high expectations coming into this race' says veteran rider.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: Tom Pidcock apprehensive when Wout van Aert made winning attack
'I was late to the start and didn’t feel prepared or relaxed enough but I feel more comfortable on the cobbled climbs' Ineos rider says after first cobbles race of the season.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: Wout van Aert makes sizzling solo move for cobblestone triumph
Van Aert attacks over Bosberg before holding off 19-rider chase.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: It feels like ‘the first day of school’ as fans return to the classics
For the first time in two years, spectators have been allowed to watch the team presentation at 't Kuipke and watch at the roadside at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: Here’s what Sagan, Pidcock and other cobbles contenders said at the start
VeloNews is on the ground at the 'opening weekend' – we caught up with some of the biggest stars on the Omloop startline Saturday.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: Tim Wellens, Sep Vanmarcke out due to illness
Opening cobblestone classic of 2022 loses two top riders after Wellens and Vanmarcke come down sick overnight.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: Tom Pidcock plays down his chances ahead of classics opener
'It doesn’t really work if you have one leader for these races,' says teammate Ethan Hayter.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: Yves Lampaert looks for luck on eve of classics campaign
'At this team, we’re just all normal guys. There’s not too many egos,' says Belgian classics specialist.
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: Jasper Stuyven says he’s saving ‘top level’ for Flanders and Roubaix
The Trek-Segafredo racer has been training at altitude in February ahead of his season debut at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
Why Omloop and Kuurne are the most important races some riders don’t mind losing
The 'opening weekend' double-header delivers huge kudos and a prize place on the palmarès – but beware, the road to Roubaix is long.