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60th Omloop Het Volk - 1.HC
Belgium, February 26, 2005
Main Page Results Race Details Live report
Beautiful solo for Nuyens
By Jeff Jones
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24 year-old Nick Nuyens (Quick.Step) has continued where he left off at the end of last season, winning his most important race to date: the 60th Omloop Het Volk. Nuyens rode a superb race, firstly as a helper for Boonen in bringing back a dangerous break, and finally as a leader when he attacked on the Vogelzangstraat cobbles with 15 km to go, holding off the entire peloton on the run in to Lokeren. Nuyens gained 30 seconds despite Rabobank and Lotto trying to chase him down, and certainly deserved the victory. To complete Quick.Step's triumph, a strong Tom Boonen won the bunch sprint for second ahead of Steven de Jongh (Rabobank).
"I went after Coenen and Dierckxsens in order to take the pressure off Boonen," Nuyens explained afterwards. "When the two had to let go on the Vogelzangstraat, the other teams had to ride and that suited us well. They didn't even come back. It was the longest 15 kilometres of my life. I was never in doubt, because I knew I was strong. The other guys in my team, who slowed things down, may ask everything of me now."
Tom Boonen, who rode an excellent finale despite looking shaky early on, was delighted with his teammate's success, especially as he'd tipped him as one of the strongest in the team. "It's as if I'd won myself - that's how happy I am for Nick," said Boonen. "I was also very content that he was there, because it meant that I wasn't going to get it all on my neck. With all the Discovery riders around me I had difficulty. The win is a boost for the team. If you can win a race like the Omloop Het Volk, then you are strong."
Rabobank's Steven de Jongh salvaged some pride for the orange team by taking third place, having ridden a strong race all day. "We have had a fantastic Omloop Het Volk," said De Jongh post-race. "Today we had complete confidence in Karsten Kroon, but it wasn't possible. The season is still long.
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"Sunday we want to have another go in Kuurne. We are riding the race with the same guys and actually, Kuurne always suits us a bit better," said the winner of last year's Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.
Despite the result, Quick.Step certainly didn't have it all their way. They were partly caught out on the Leberg when Stijn Devolder (Discovery) and Karsten Kroon (Rabobank) attacked, but fortunately Bram Tankink was able to be there for Quick.Step and did not contribute to the work. When a group with Hincapie, Ekimov, Van Petegem, Gardeyn and Gilbert joined the leaders after the Molenberg, there were three Discovery riders in front with the peloton floundering at 50 seconds. But Quick.Step marshaled its forces and recaptured the leaders with 37 km to go, putting them back in the race and allowing Nuyens to make the decisive move with 15 km left. The rest was up to Nuyens, and he did not let the team down.
How it unfolded
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The predicted cold weather greeted the riders at the start, with temperatures hovering at around 2 degrees and the lightest of snowflakes falling. But for most of the race, the conditions stayed dry until the last 50 km. Eelke van der Wal (Shimano) launched the first attack from kilometre zero, but it was Jakob Piil (CSC), Kristof Trouvé (MrBookmaker.com) and Benoît Vaugrenard (Francaise des Jeux) who made the successful move at km 15, establishing the early break.
The three weren't allowed too much room though, and Quick.Step in particular kept the gap to a maximum of 4'39 at Brakel (km 72) before starting to ride harder to bring them back. In the meantime, a crash claimed CSC's classics man Tristan Hoffman, who broke his left leg and will miss the rest of the classics.
The pace was picking up as the peloton reached the Eikenberg with 93 km to go, having the leaders pegged at just 2 minutes. Stijn Devolder (Discovery) started to ride at the front of the peloton, stretching it out on the Holleweg and Haaghoek cobbles before attacking on the Leberg with 80 km to go. Karsten Kroon (Rabobank) and Bram Tankink (Quick.Step) were able to latch onto the bare-legged Discovery man, while Boonen, then Dierckxsens tried and failed to get across the gap.
The three quickly got a 25 second advantage as they drove over the Berendries, catching and passing the early break, and then down towards the Molenberg. But a concerted effort by Davitamon-Lotto brought them back to within striking distance at the foot of the feared climb, allowing Peter Van Petegem to get across. They were joined by Slava Ekimov and George Hincapie (Discovery), Philippe Gilbert (Francaise des Jeux) and Gorik Gardeyn (MrBookmaker.com). With 65 km to go, Discovery suddenly had all the cards in front with three men in the break of eight that quickly established a 45 second gap.
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Quick.Step had missed it, although having Tankink sitting on the break allowed them some leverage. T-Mobile and CSC were also not represented, but it seemed as though all the responsibility to chase fell on Quick.Step's shoulders. Firstly it was Knaven and Hulsmans working with Boonen, then Nuyens, Lotz and Cretskens joined in (along with Aldag from T-Mobile) and Boonen could relax a little. As the rain started to fall, the well oiled Quick.Step machine gradually brought back the eight leaders and the break was history with 37 km to go, despite a prolongation by Gilbert, Tankink and Van Bon.
The peloton was still 70 men strong at this point, and now the counter-attacking began for the finale. The next 20 km contained five narrow, slippery cobbled sections, culminating with the 1300m Vogelzangstraat with 15 km to go. All the favourites had their turns attacking: Hincapie, Van Heeswijk, Devolder (Discovery), Van Bon (Davitamon-Lotto), Sentjens, Den Bakker, Kroon (Rabobank), O'Grady (Cofidis), Boonen (Quick.Step), Gilbert (FDJ), Kirsipuu (Credit Agricole) and Dierckxsens (Landbouwkrediet). The latter, after being caught with 18 km to go, went again almost immediately with Johan Coenen (MrBookmaker.com), creating a small gap that Nick Nuyens (Quick.Step) rode across.
The three hit the Vogelzangstraat with a 10 second lead of the peloton, and then Nuyens made the winning move. He poured on the power and Dierckxsens and Coenen had no answer, letting the 24 year old ride away over the wet cobbles. At the end he had 10 seconds and was looking strong, but there were still 15 kilometres to race and a big peloton behind.
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Nuyens was on a good day though, and pedaled a nice cadence in the next few kilometres, opening up a gap of 15, then 20 seconds. Somehow, the peloton's chase was having no effect, as Nuyens continued to ride away. Rabobank and Davitamon-Lotto pulled out all stops, even putting Van Petegem in the rotation to add some firepower. But to no avail as Nuyens reached 32 seconds with 4 km to go.
That was plenty for the Quick.Step man and he rode over the last bridge into Lokeren and down the finishing straight a very happy man, punching the air to all sides as he claimed his biggest victory so far in a career that has included wins in Paris-Brussels, GP Wallonie and GP Industria & Commercio Di Prato. With Tom Boonen comfortably taking the sprint for second ahead of Rabobank's De Jongh, Quick.Step's two young guns cleaned up in the opening race of the season.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Luc Claessen/Cyclingnews.com/www.actiefotos.be
- Nick Nuyens (Quick.Step) looking very happy at the start
- Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step) wondering how his form is
- Tristan Hoffman (CSC) looking focused at the start
- Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) is in action already this season
- Leif Hoste (Discovery). Stunned mullet?
- Andreas Klier is one of T-Mobile's best classics riders
- Marc Wauters (Rabobank) trying to keep warm
- Jakob Piil (CSC) at the start
- George Hincapie (Discovery) looking forward to it
- The peloton through the trees
- The early break led by Piil through a snow-lined forest
- Serguei Ivanov (T-Mobile) smooth on the cobbles
- Lars Michaelsen (CSC) did not have the best of days
- Peter van Petegem (Lotto) looks eagerly up ahead
- Jeff Louder (Navigators) suffers on the cobbles
- Thomas Bruun Eriksen (CSC) enjoying himself
- Max Van Heeswijk (Discovery) was the team's sprinter today
- O'Grady and Tankink have maximum concentration
- Devolder wasn't the only one to wear shorts today!
- Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) looking strong
- Marc Wauters (Rabobank) on the cobbles
- Oooohhhhh dear
- Bettini did a great deal of work early on
- Vaugrenard leads Piil and Trouve on the cobbles
- Nico Mattan (Lotto) keeping it upright
- Discovery Channel drives the eight man break
- The leading break of eight ride through snow covered fields with Ekimov, Hincapie and Van Petegem at the front
- Hincapie and Van Petegem in the breakaway
- Nick Nuyens (Quick.Step) wins the 60th Omloop Het Volk
- It's as if I won myself Tom Boonen finishes second, delighted with his teammate Nick Nuyens' win in Omloop Het Volk
- Successful team manager Patrick Lefevere is interviewed
- The podium (L to R): Tom Boonen (2nd), Nick Nuyens (1st) and Steven de Jongh (3rd)
- Nick Nuyens (Quick.Step) on the podium with his trophy
- Nick Nuyens (Quick.Step) very happy with himself
Images by AFP Photo
- Tristan Hoffman (CSC) on the ground after breaking his leg in a crash during the Omloop Het Volk
Images by Christine Grein/www.capture-the-peloton.com
- Philippe Gilbert (Bel) having a chat
- Nick Nuyens is well-pleased with THIS trophy
- Nick Nuyens , winner of Omloop Het Volk
- Who's a happy Belgian?
- The Omloop Het Volk podium Boonen, Nuyens and De Jongh
- Roy Sentjens (Rabobank)
- Discovery's Max van Heeswijk
- Nico Mattan one of the Davitamon-Lotto crew
- Peter Farazijn (Cofidis)
- Conditions weren't too bad for Omloop Het Volk
- Jakob Piil (CSC) leads on the Muur
- Nick Nuyens and the impressive silverware
- Tom Boonen took second for a Quickstep 1-2
- The Credit Agricole boys work hard
- Team Wiesenhof does it tough out the back
- George Hincapie on the Muur
- No, I don't think they've frozen off yet Steve...
Pre-race action
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Jeff Jones/Cyclingnews.com
- Quick.Step's new bus
- It's a lot less snowy than last year!
- Crowds in the team bus area
- Cofidis' Thierry Marichal's Wilier Triestina
- Cofidis are riding Vittoria Corsa Evo-CX tubulars
- Johan Coenen's (MrBookmaker.com-Sportstech) Ridley Damocles
- MrBookmaker.com-Sportstech are on Vredestein Fortezza Pro tyres
- Tune hubs and standard spoked wheels for MrBookmaker
- Shimano-Memory Corp will ride these Colnagos
- Barloworld-Valsir are on De Rosa Kings
- This reminds me of a song
- Discovery Channel's Treks
- Vuelta X Lite wheels
- Shimano will be providing neutral support
- Are you talking to me? George Hincapie (Discovery Channel)
- Philippe Gilbert (Francaise des Jeux) called into replace Eisel
- Flemish children wait for an autograph
- Nicolas Jalabert (Phonak) is one of his team's leaders
- Swiss champion Gregory Rast (Phonak) looking for an exit
- Robert Hunter (Phonak) looking circumspect
- Alain van Katwijk (Shimano) smiles as he exits the sign on
- Kristof Trouve (MrBookmaker) can at least have a warm head
- Laurent Brochard (Bouygues Telecom) has his mullet to keep him warm, as usual
- Viatcheslav Ekimov (Discovery) is ready
- Tom Boonen (Quick.Step) is a popular lad with the media
- Ludo Dierckxsens (Landbouwkrediet-Colnago) can't wait!
- The business end of Tom Boonen's machine
- Matt Hayman (Rabobank) does an impression of Superman
- Steven de Jongh (Rabobank) is one of the favourites
- Leif Hoste (Discovery) exits the sign on
- Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) gives a pre race interview
- Robbie McEwen (Davitamon-Lotto) gives a pre race interview
- Leif Hoste (Discovery) attempts to keep warm
- Oleg Grishkine (Navigators) chats with Slava Ekimov (Discovery) before the start
- All lined up for the start of the 60th Omloop Het Volk
- Hammond and Devolder synchronize watches
Results - 201 km
1 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Quickstep 5.06.00 (39.4 km/h) 2 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep 0.14 3 Steven De Jongh (Ned) Rabobank 4 Nico Eeckhout (Bel) Chocolade Jacques - T Interim 5 Bert De Waele (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago 6 Uros Murn (Slo) Phonak Hearing Systems 7 Roy Sentjens (Ned) Rabobank 8 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Discovery Channel 9 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Rabobank 10 Ludo Dierckxens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago 11 Andreas Klier (Ger) T-Mobile 12 Allan Johansen (Den) Team CSC 13 Robbie McEwen (Aus) Davitamon - Lotto 14 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 15 Johan Coenen (Bel) MrBookmaker.com - SportsTech 16 Christophe Detilloux (Bel) Française des Jeux 17 Jimmy Casper (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 18 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 19 Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Crédit Agricole 20 Matthé Pronk (Ned) MrBookmaker.com - SportsTech 21 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française des Jeux 22 Nico Mattan (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 23 Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Rabobank 24 Grégory Rast (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems 25 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) T-Mobile 26 Koen Barbe (Bel) Chocolade Jacques - T Interim 27 Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Davitamon - Lotto 28 Cédric Vasseur (Fra) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 29 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 30 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel 31 Steffen Wesemann (Ger) T-Mobile 32 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank 33 Marc Lotz (Ned) Quickstep 34 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quickstep 35 Bram Tankink (Ned) Quickstep 36 Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank 37 Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Chocolade Jacques - T Interim 38 Peter Van Petegem (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 39 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Davitamon - Lotto 40 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel 0.26 41 Jan Kuyckx (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 3.47 42 Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) Barloworld - Valsir 43 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Crédit Agricole 4.06 44 Andy Flickinger (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance 45 Thierry De Groote (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago 46 David Boucher (Fra) MrBookmaker.com - SportsTech 47 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems 48 Cycril Lemoine (Fra) Crédit Agricole 49 Michael Barry (Can) Discovery Channel 50 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Team CSC 51 Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) Discovery Channel 52 Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel) Chocolade Jacques - T Interim 53 Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 54 Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank 55 Glenn D'Hollander (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago 56 Gorik Gardeyn (Bel) MrBookmaker.com - SportsTech 57 Lars Michaelsen (Den) Team CSC 58 Erwin Thijs (Bel) MrBookmaker.com - SportsTech 59 Roger Hammond (GBr) Discovery Channel 60 Lilian Jegou (Fra) Française Des Jeux 61 Stephan Schreck (Ger) T-Mobile 62 Jeremy Hunt (GBr) MrBookmaker.com - SportsTech 63 Daniele Contrini (Ita) Team LPR 6.25 64 Cédric Coutouly (Fra) Agritubel 65 Ludovic Auger (Fra) Française des Jeux 7.34 66 Denys Kostyuk (Ukr) Jartazi Granville Team 67 Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Cofidis - Le Crédit par Téléphone 68 Geert Verheyen (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Colnago 69 Benny De Schrooder (Bel) Chocolade Jacques - T Interim 70 Wim De Vocht (Bel) Davitamon - Lotto 71 Christopher Baldwin (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 72 Mickael Delage (Fra) Française des Jeux 73 Kirk O'Bee (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 74 Rolf Aldag (Ger) T-Mobile 75 Oleg Grishkine (Rus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
