Stannard sees off Quickstep to win incredible Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Ian Stannard (Team Sky) retained his title in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad with an incredible solo ride against the might and numbers of Etixx-QuickStep. The British rider beat Niki Terpstra in a two-up sprint in a gripping race after taking apart a three-pronged attack from the Belgian team that also included Tom Boonen and Stijn Vandenbergh. However, while credit will go to Stannard for his faultless ride, the race was marked by an utter capitulation from Etixx-QuickStep, who let victory slip from their grasp.

The race-deciding break of four had jumped clear of the reduced peloton with 40 kilometres to go and it looked as though Etixx-Quickstep – with their two Classics leaders both present and accounted for – would determine the final result. However, Stannard clearly had other ideas – allowing the Belgian team to use up vital energy as they sought to hold off a brave chase from Sep Vanmarcke (Lotto-JumboNL) and Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing), before responding and then countering to several attacks in the closing stages of the race.

The first attack strangely came from Boonen - arguably the strongest sprinter in the group - inside the final five kilometres. Stannard allowed the former world champion to create a gap but then reeled the Belgian in with a measured, yet effective chase. The audacity of Stannard's response and his reluctance to see Etixx run away with the race, seemed to catch Etixx off guard and affect their game-plan.

Terpstra predictably attacked as soon as Boonen’s move had been neutralised but inexplicably he was caught by his own teammate, Vandenbergh.

Seizing weakness and possibly dissention in the ranks, Stannard responded with his own attack inside the final three kilometres. The move was too much for Vandenbergh and Boonen, with only Terpstra able to respond.

Etiix still had another error up their sleeve and duly played their final card with the finishline in site, as Terpstra unnecessarily moved to the front and opened up the sprint. Stannard slipped back, allowing the Dutch rider to set the tempo before edging him out in the final sprint.

How it unfolded

The early break consisted of Alexis Gougeard (AG2R-La Mondiale), Matt Brammeier (MTN-Qhubeka), Christophe Laborie (Bretagne-Séché Environnement), Michael Reihs (Cult Energy), Kevin Van Melsen (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), Louis Verhelst (Cofidis), Jaroslaw Marycz (CCC Sprandi Polkowice), Sean De Bie (Lotto Soudal) and Albert Timmer (Team Giant-Alpecin), who escaped inside the opening ten kilometres and built up a lead of six minutes over the peloton inside the first hour of racing.

They maintained that advantage as they rattled through the first sector of cobbles at Haaghoek after 59 kilometres and over the first climbs, the Leberg and Berendries, shortly afterwards. The first murmurings of a response from the main peloton didn’t arrive until after it crested the summit of the Muur after 83 kilometres, when Etixx-QuickStep, Sky and Lotto-JumboNL began to organise the chase.

On the next passage over the cobbles at Haaghoek, Bradley Wiggins (Sky) took up the pace-making at the head of the bunch, and his efforts, along with those of teammate Bernhard Eisel, promptly shaved another minute off the break’s lead, reducing it to three minutes by the time they hit the day’s fifth climb, the Kaperij.

Brammeier was particularly active at the head of the break, and his forcing on the next obstacle, the Kruisberg helped to whittle the front group down to just six riders – Timmer, Gougeard, Van Melsen, Verhelst and Laborie joined the Irishman – while Wiggins continued his lengthy cameo at the head of the peloton, leading the reduced group over the summit 2:07 down on the escapees.

Sky were still marshalling the bunch as the speed picked up on the approach to what is traditionally the formal beginning of hostilities, the Taaienberg, but once on the climb itself, Tom Boonen took up the reins on his traditional early season test site. The familiar acceleration up the smooth gutter on the right-hand side of the road suggested that Boonen remains the force of old, as a number of contenders, including Sep Vanmarcke (Lotto-JumboNL) and Alexander Kristoff (Katusha), were distanced.

Indeed, just five riders – Luke Rowe, Stannard (Sky), Van Avermaet (BMC), Edvald Boason Hagen (MTN-Qhubeka) and Zdenek Stybar (Etixx-QuickStep) – could track Boonen’s move, though their group swelled to 20 or so riders over the summit, with Arnaud Démare (FDJ) among those scrambling across. Only Timmer and Brammeier remained in front from the early break at that juncture, but their margin was down to 45 seconds as the race had begun in earnest behind, and it was clear their time out front was drawing inexorably to a close.

A brief lull over the Eikenberg allowed the a more general regrouping, with Kristoff and Vanmarcke fighting their way back on, but the bunch was now stretched in a long line and there would be no quarter asked or given from there to Ghent. Once onto the Wolvenberg, Luke Rowe struck out alone and his determined effort brought him across to the Brammeier and Timmer with 47 kilometres remaining, but a long, long stint of chasing from Vandenbergh (Etixx-QuickStep) brought them back and meant that the gruppo was about as compatto as circumstances could allow as they entered the final hour of racing.

Etixx detonate the race

That unity was fractured abruptly on the final haul over the cobbles at Haaghoek, when first Vandenbergh and then Boonen accelerated fiercely, bringning Niki Terpstra, Vanmarcke and Steve Chainel (Cofidis) clear with them. Vanmarcke issued a statement of intent when he took over the lead shortly afterwards and his surge propelled them further clear, but his progress was rudely interrupted by a rear wheel puncture as they exited the sector.

It would prove to be a key moment of the race. Boonen didn’t stand on ceremony and he continued with his forcing. When he turned around ahead of the Leberg, he had only black jerseys for company – those of his teammates, Terpstra and Vandenbergh, and that of Sky’s Stannard. Advantage Etixx-QuickStep.

Wisely, Stannard allowed the Etixx trio take up the running over the Leberg, and they quickly established a lead of 30 seconds over a reduced peloton where Lotto-Soudal, Lotto-JumboNL and BMC were scrambling to bring some order to the chase. On the final climb, the Molenberg, Vanmarcke desperately tried to breathe some life into the pursuit with a fierce acceleration, and he brought Van Avermaet and Stybar with him, but there was little to be done against the Etixx-QuickStep express in front.

On the cobbles at Paddestraat with 30 kilometres remaining, Terpstra allowed a gap to open to Boonen, forcing Stannard to come around and shut it down once again, while behind, Stybar and Van Avermaet sat like a dead weight on the eager Vanmarcke’s wheel, though that didn’t prevent the Lotto-Jumbo man from closing the gap to 15 seconds at one point. His efforts were recorded on the chalk board before the leading quartet, which compelled Stannard to help out the QuickStep trio and take a token turn on the front.

By the final sector of pavé, the Lange Munte, the gap was back out to 25 seconds as Vanmarcke began to tire and Van Avermaet – belatedly – offered his help. Terpstra, meanwhile, led the QuickStep flotilla across that 2,500-metre sea of uneven cobbles. The stowaway Stannard was pedalling comfortably in their slipstream, but locked, it seemed, in an impossible situation.

But QuickStep, whether through their own hubris or naivety created the opening for Stannard to exploit. Boonen’s first acceleration was nullified but from there the Belgian team’s strategy and hold on the race quickly began to unravel at an alarming pace.
When Vandenbergh pulled in a move from Terpstra and Boonen was unable to respond to Stannard’s main attack the writing was quickly on the wall but the inquest and post-mortem into Etixx capitulation will take much.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Ian Stannard (GBr) Team Sky4:58:41
2Niki Terpstra (Ned) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 1 - Cell 2
3Tom Boonen (Bel) Etixx - Quick-Step0:00:08
4Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Etixx - Quick-Step0:00:15
5Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Team LottoNL-Jumbo0:01:24
6Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 5 - Cell 2
7Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Etixx - Quick-Step0:01:29
8Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team0:04:36
9Luke Rowe (GBr) Team Sky0:04:55
10Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ.frRow 9 - Cell 2
11Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team KatushaRow 10 - Cell 2
12Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 11 - Cell 2
13Wesley Kreder (Ned) Team RoompotRow 12 - Cell 2
14Edward Theuns (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 13 - Cell 2
15Marco Marcato (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 14 - Cell 2
16Jesper Asselman (Ned) Team RoompotRow 15 - Cell 2
17Angelo Tulik (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 16 - Cell 2
18Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing TeamRow 17 - Cell 2
19Nikolas Maes (Bel) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 18 - Cell 2
20Pier Paolo De Negri (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 19 - Cell 2
21Hugo Houle (Can) AG2R La MondialeRow 20 - Cell 2
22Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 21 - Cell 2
23Aleksei Tcatevich (Rus) Team KatushaRow 22 - Cell 2
24Florian Senechal (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 23 - Cell 2
25Jérôme Pineau (Fra) IAM CyclingRow 24 - Cell 2
26Yoann Offredo (Fra) FDJ.frRow 25 - Cell 2
27Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) MTN - QhubekaRow 26 - Cell 2
28Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM CyclingRow 27 - Cell 2
29Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 28 - Cell 2
30Pim Ligthart (Ned) Lotto SoudalRow 29 - Cell 2
31Oliver Naesen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 30 - Cell 2
32Björn Leukemans (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 31 - Cell 2
33Heinrich Haussler (Aus) IAM CyclingRow 32 - Cell 2
34Johnny Hoogerland (Ned) Team RoompotRow 33 - Cell 2
35Florian Vachon (Fra) Bretagne-Séché EnvironnementRow 34 - Cell 2
36Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 35 - Cell 2
37Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 36 - Cell 2
38Dylan Teuns (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 37 - Cell 2
39Steve Chainel (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 38 - Cell 2
40Oscar Gatto (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 39 - Cell 2
41Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto SoudalRow 40 - Cell 2
42Salvatore Puccio (Ita) Team SkyRow 41 - Cell 2
43Marco Haller (Aut) Team Katusha0:05:06
44Bradley Wiggins (GBr) Team Sky0:05:09
45Johan Van Summeren (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale0:05:18
46Damien Gaudin (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 45 - Cell 2
47Matteo Trentin (Ita) Etixx - Quick-Step0:05:45
48Stig Broeckx (Bel) Lotto Soudal0:07:23
49Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) BMC Racing TeamRow 48 - Cell 2
50Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 49 - Cell 2
51Tyler Farrar (USA) MTN - Qhubeka0:09:50
52Zico Waeytens (Bel) Team Giant-Alpecin0:10:19
53Koen De Kort (Ned) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 52 - Cell 2
54Roy Curvers (Ned) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 53 - Cell 2
55Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 54 - Cell 2
56Iljo Keisse (Bel) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 55 - Cell 2
57Russell Downing (GBr) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 56 - Cell 2
58Bert Van Lerberghe (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 57 - Cell 2
59Huub Duyn (Ned) Team RoompotRow 58 - Cell 2
60Tim Kerkhof (Ned) Team RoompotRow 59 - Cell 2
61Rick Zabel (Ger) BMC Racing TeamRow 60 - Cell 2
62Mike Terpstra (Ned) Team RoompotRow 61 - Cell 2
63Mauro Finetto (Ita) Yellow FluoRow 62 - Cell 2
64Sander Helven (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 63 - Cell 2
65Christian Knees (Ger) Team SkyRow 64 - Cell 2
66Vicente Reynes Mimo (Spa) IAM CyclingRow 65 - Cell 2
67Adrian Kurek (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 66 - Cell 2
68Matthias Brandle (Aut) IAM CyclingRow 67 - Cell 2
69Alex Kirsch (Lux) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 68 - Cell 2
70Frédéric Brun (Fra) Bretagne-Séché EnvironnementRow 69 - Cell 2
71Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team SkyRow 70 - Cell 2
72Tim Declercq (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 71 - Cell 2
73Rudiger Selig (Ger) Team KatushaRow 72 - Cell 2
74Antoine Duchesne (Can) Team EuropcarRow 73 - Cell 2
75Yannick Martinez (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 74 - Cell 2
76Gatis Smukulis (Lat) Team KatushaRow 75 - Cell 2
77Sven Erik Bystrøm (Nor) Team KatushaRow 76 - Cell 2
78Giovanni Bernaudeau (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 77 - Cell 2
79Berden De Vries (Ned) Team RoompotRow 78 - Cell 2
80Louis Verhelst (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 79 - Cell 2
81Brian Van Goethem (Ned) Team RoompotRow 80 - Cell 2
82Adrien Petit (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 81 - Cell 2
83Daniele Colli (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 82 - Cell 2
84Maarten Wynants (Bel) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 83 - Cell 2
85Matt Brammeier (Irl) MTN - QhubekaRow 84 - Cell 2
86Jaco Venter (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 85 - Cell 2
87Mickael Delage (Fra) FDJ.frRow 86 - Cell 2
88Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 87 - Cell 2
89Anthony Geslin (Fra) FDJ.frRow 88 - Cell 2
90William Bonnet (Fra) FDJ.frRow 89 - Cell 2
91Gijs Van Hoecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 90 - Cell 2
92Jelle Wallays (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 91 - Cell 2
93Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 92 - Cell 2
94Paul Voss (Ger) Bora-Argon 18Row 93 - Cell 2
95Scott Thwaites (GBr) Bora-Argon 18Row 94 - Cell 2
96Robert Wagner (Ger) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 95 - Cell 2
97Christoph Pfingsten (Ger) Bora-Argon 18Row 96 - Cell 2
98Jos Van Emden (Ned) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 97 - Cell 2
99Bram Tankink (Ned) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 98 - Cell 2
100Gert Joeaar (Est) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 99 - Cell 2
101Manuel Belletti (Ita) Yellow FluoRow 100 - Cell 2
102Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Bora-Argon 18Row 101 - Cell 2
103Gerald Ciolek (Ger) MTN - QhubekaRow 102 - Cell 2
104Marco Bandiera (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 103 - Cell 2
105Dries Devenyns (Bel) IAM CyclingRow 104 - Cell 2
DNSSébastien Turgot (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFElia Viviani (Ita) Team SkyRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFChristopher Sutton (Aus) Team SkyRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFGediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) AG2R La MondialeRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFAlexis Gougeard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 109 - Cell 2
DNFLloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFGuillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Etixx - Quick-StepRow 111 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Boucher (Fra) FDJ.frRow 112 - Cell 2
DNFMatthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJ.frRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFJohan Le Bon (Fra) FDJ.frRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFMarcel Aregger (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFMartin Elmiger (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFGert Dockx (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFSean De Bie (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFKenny De Haes (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFNikias Arndt (Ger) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFBert De Backer (Bel) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFTom Stamsnijder (Ned) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFAlbert Timmer (Ned) Team Giant-AlpecinRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFVladimir Isaychev (Rus) Team KatushaRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFViacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus) Team KatushaRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFThomas Leezer (Ned) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFMaarten Tjallingii (Ned) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFTom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Team LottoNL-JumboRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFTiziano Dall'antonia (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFMarco Frapporti (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFFrancesco Chicchi (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFShane Archbold (NZl) Bora-Argon 18Row 132 - Cell 2
DNFZakkari Dempster (Aus) Bora-Argon 18Row 133 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Schwarzmann (Ger) Bora-Argon 18Row 134 - Cell 2
DNFDaniel Schorn (Aut) Bora-Argon 18Row 135 - Cell 2
DNFBenoit Jarrier (Fra) Bretagne-Séché EnvironnementRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFMaxime Cam (Fra) Bretagne-Séché EnvironnementRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Feillu (Fra) Bretagne-Séché EnvironnementRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFChristophe Laborie (Fra) Bretagne-Séché EnvironnementRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFDaniel Mclay (GBr) Bretagne-Séché EnvironnementRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFPierre-Luc Perichon (Fra) Bretagne-Séché EnvironnementRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFTomasz Kiendys (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFJaroslaw Marycz (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFNikolay Mihaylov (Bul) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFMarek Rutkiewicz (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFGrzegorz Stepniak (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFMateusz Taciak (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFChristophe Laporte (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 148 - Cell 2
DNFCyril Lemoine (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 149 - Cell 2
DNFAnthony Turgis (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 150 - Cell 2
DNFMartin Mortensen (Den) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 151 - Cell 2
DNFMads Pedersen (Den) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 152 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Reihs (Den) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 153 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Carbel Svendgaard (Den) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 154 - Cell 2
DNFTroels Ronning Vinther (Den) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 155 - Cell 2
DNFJoel Zangerle (Lux) Cult Energy Pro CyclingRow 156 - Cell 2
DNFTheo Bos (Ned) MTN - QhubekaRow 157 - Cell 2
DNFJay Robert Thomson (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 158 - Cell 2
DNFEduard Michael Grosu (Rom) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 159 - Cell 2
DNFAlessandro Malaguti (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 160 - Cell 2
DNFNicolas Marini (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 161 - Cell 2
DNFMattia Pozzo (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 162 - Cell 2
DNFRiccardo Stacchiotti (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 163 - Cell 2
DNFAntonio Viola (Ita) Nippo - Vini FantiniRow 164 - Cell 2
DNFGiorgio Cecchinel (Ita) Yellow FluoRow 165 - Cell 2
DNFAndrea Dal Col (Ita) Yellow FluoRow 166 - Cell 2
DNFRafael Andriato (Bra) Yellow FluoRow 167 - Cell 2
DNFJakub Mareczko (Ita) Yellow FluoRow 168 - Cell 2
DNFEugert Zhupa (Alb) Yellow FluoRow 169 - Cell 2
DNFYohann Gene (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 170 - Cell 2
DNFVincent Jerome (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 171 - Cell 2
DNFJulien Morice (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 172 - Cell 2
DNFJimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 173 - Cell 2
DNFFrederik Backaert (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 174 - Cell 2
DNFJérôme Baugnies (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 175 - Cell 2
DNFKevin Van Melsen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 176 - Cell 2
DNFTim De Troyer (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 177 - Cell 2
DNFFrederik Veuchelen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 178 - Cell 2

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