63rd Omloop Het Volk - 1.HC

Belgium, March 1, 2008

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

Dominik Roels (Milram) grabs a few low-fives en route to the start.
Tour Down Under winner Andre Greipel (Team High Road) heads to the sign on area.
Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux) pondering his plans for the day.
Robbie McEwen (Silence-Lotto) rolls away from the sign on, but the Aussie didn't get much further than that and was the first to retire today.
Servais Knaven (Team High Road) heads for the start.
Belgian hero Tom Boonen (Quick Step) was looking in excellent shape as usual at this time of year.
Race organiser Wim Van Herreweghe takes his seat in the car.
Peter Van Petegem was on hand to drop the flag and get the 63rd Het Volk underway.
The peloton makes its way out of Gent.
The peloton rolls through a corner during the early part of the race.
Dutchman Max Van Heeswijk now rides for Willems Veranda's Continental Team.
Michael Friedman (Slipstream) had a great ride today in the break, but it wasn't half painful.
Fabian Cancellara (Team CSC) was immensely strong as usual, eventually finishing 13th.
Tom Boonen gets some encouragement from the fans, but his Quick Step team had a disappointing Het Volk today.
Sven Krauss (Gerolsteiner) grinds up a climb.
Steffen Wesemann (Colstrop) wasn't at his best today, coming home over six minutes down on the winner.
Heinrich Haussler (Gerolsteiner) stayed well wrapped up today.
The gutter is much smoother than the cobbles.
Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) strings out the chasers.
Andre Greipel (Team High Road) stays on the smooth surface.
Belgian champion Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) hopes to make amends at Kuurne Bruxelles Kuurne tomorrow.
Martin Velits (Team Milram)
Ralf Grabsh (Team Milram) could probably do with an easier gear.
Gilbert spent nearly 50 kilometres of today's race alone.
Full gas! Gilbert gulps in the air during his solo breakaway effort.
Gilbert stays focused during his solo move.
Nick Nuyens (Cofidis) broke away to finish second, but had no answer to the power of Phillipe Gilbert.
Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux) produced a sensational solo ride to win the 63rd Omloop Het Volk.
Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux) wins Het Volk after a brilliant ride.
Nuyens, Gilbert and Hushovd (l-r) on the podium, occupying 2nd, 1st and 3rd, respectively.
Gilbert smiles through the trophy.

Images by Gregor Brown/Cyclingnews.com

Steven Cozza (Slipstream Chipotle - H30) sports the mustache that inspired team-mate David Zabriskie.
Team Rabobank lined up in Citadelpark.
Fumiyuki Beppu (Skil-Shimano) with experience in Belgian racing.
Tyler Farrar (Slipstream Chipotle - H30) racing at home – he lives in Gent.
The races lines up outside of SMAK in Gent's Citadel park.
Rik Verbrugghe (Cofidis) is building his form for Flanders and the Giro d'Italia.

Images by Brecht Decaluwé/Cyclingnews.com

Marc Madiot talked about his Belgian riders with Cyclingnews.
Steven Cozza (Slipstream Chipotle - H30) (and his mustache) interviewed by Cyclingnews' Gregor Brown.
Silence-Lotto's tallest rider Johan Van Summeren is getting ready for the start.
A little 'Where's Waldo' game: The crowd goes mad, so where is Tom Boonen?
Nick Nuyens (Cofidis) just broke the pencil from this fan who thought it was all fantastic
Two Aussies catching up about their crashes: Stuart O'Grady (Team CSC) and Robbie McEwen (Silence-Lotto).
Belgian champion Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) is running late for the start of the Omloop.
Arnaud Gerard (Française des Jeux) is the junior world champion from 2002.

Images by Gerard Knapp/Cyclingnews.com

Tom Boonen (Quick Step) approaches the start line after escaping the human tunnel leading from the teams' area. Boonen said yesterday he is looking to add the opening race of the season to his palmarès
Robbie McEwen (Silence-Lotto) gives an interview in Flemish to Belgian TV prior to the start of the Het Volk
Marc de Maar (Ned) of Rabobank explains to Cyclingnews Gregor Brown how the team is committed to working for Juan Antonio Flecha who was second in last year's Het Volk
Wim Vansevenant (Bel) of Silence-Lotto told Cyclingnews Brecht Decaluwé he was looking forward to the opening race of the Belgian season in his last season as a pro
Crowds assemble in Gent's Citadel Park prior to the start of Het Volk as the riders are introduced as they sign-on. The park is also the location of 't Kuipke, Gent's famous 166m indoor velodrome
Christophe Kern of Credit Agricole makes his way back to the team cars through another human funnel of fans. A large group of junior cyclists from the Gent area were allowed to stand inside the barriers and seek autographs from their heroes as they made their way back
Gergen Löwik from Rabobank emerges from the human tunnel leading out of the teams' area

Images by Bjorn Haake/Cyclingnews.com

Will Frishkorn (Slipstream Chipotle - H30) at the sign in.
Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux) will be very motivated on his home turf in Belgium.
Tom Boonen (Quick Step) is the big favourite for the race through Vlaanderen.
Nick Nuyens (Cofidis) is getting ready for a long race and understands the importance of fuelling up. Bon appetite.
Gert Steegmans (Quick Step) has struggled in the spring with the aftermath of his Mallorca crash injuries and is lacking race miles. But he is certainly motivated.
Stijn Devolder (Quick Step) has won the Volta ao Algarve and is showing that he is in good shape.
The Belgian Champion Devolder is looking forward to Het Volk.
Wouter Weylandt (Quick Step) will be playing a team role today and hope that one of the stars on the team will be winning the race.

Images by AFP Photo

The Landbouwkrediet-Tonissteiner team training near Valkenberg in the week leading up to Het Volk.
Robbie McEwen and Leif Hoste answer questions at the Silence-Lotto press conference before Het Volk.
Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux) enjoying his training in Belgium last week.
Gilbert produced a performance which drew comparisons to the legendary Eddy Merckx.
A delighted Philippe Gilbert said today's win was "the most beautiful day of my life".

Images by Sonja Csury/www.allaboutcycling.de

Jimmy Casper (Agritubel) talking about his condition before the race.
Steven Cozza of Team Slipstream.
Tyler Farrar of Team Slipstream.
Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux) the winner of Omloop Het Volk this year at the team presentation.
Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux) – The winner of Omloop Het Volk this year.
Philippe Gilbert (Française des Jeux) – The winner of Omloop Het Volk talking about his feelings before the race.
Philippe Gilbert the winner of Omloop Het Volk 2008.
Koen De Kort (Astana) gives an interview.
Niki Terpstra (Team Milram)
Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole) feeling good before the race.
Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole)
Alexandre Pichot (Bouygues Telecom)
Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas) before the start.
Robbie McEwen (Silence - Lotto) at the team presentation.
Robbie McEwen (Silence - Lotto) before the start.
Paolo Bettini and Robbie McEwen in good spirits.
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) talking about his condition.
Paolo Bettini, the Italian Quick Step rider is in good spirits before the race.
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) at the team presentation.
Paolo Bettini (Quick Step) in good spirits.
The big favourite Tom Boonen (Quick Step).
Tom Boonen (Quick Step) at the team presentation.
Gert Steegmans (Quick Step) – The Tour de France stage winner in Gent 2007.
Tour de France stage winner Gert Steegmans (Quick Step) talking about his moods.
Gert Steegmans (Quick Step)
Gert Steegmans (Quick Step) gives an interview..
Franck Renier (Bouygues Telecom)
Anthony Geslin (Bouygues Telecom) before the start.
Rony Martias (Bouygues Telecom) feeling good for the race.
Tom Boonen in good spirits.