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Startline Gallery: Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Blue skies for opening weekend of Belgian season

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Philippe Gilbert (BMC)

Philippe Gilbert (BMC)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Defending champion Sebastiaan Langeveld

Defending champion Sebastiaan Langeveld
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Manuel Quinziato (BMC)

Manuel Quinziato (BMC)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Sylvain Chavanel (Omega-Pharma-QuickStep)

Sylvain Chavanel (Omega-Pharma-QuickStep)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Former world champion Thor Hushovd (BMC)

Former world champion Thor Hushovd (BMC)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Home talent Sep Vanmarcke (Garmin-Barracuda)

Home talent Sep Vanmarcke (Garmin-Barracuda)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Matti Breschel (Rabobank)

Matti Breschel (Rabobank)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Matti Breschel (Rabobank)

Matti Breschel (Rabobank)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Taylor Phinney (BMC) before the race

Taylor Phinney (BMC) before the race
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Tomas Vaitkus (GreedEdge)

Tomas Vaitkus (GreedEdge)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Filippo Pozzato (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia)

Filippo Pozzato (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Matt Wilson and David Millar catch up at the start

Matt Wilson and David Millar catch up at the start
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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The bunch begins to gather on the startline

The bunch begins to gather on the startline
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Zachary Bell straight from the Track World Cup

Zachary Bell straight from the Track World Cup
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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American Taylor Phinney (BMC)

American Taylor Phinney (BMC)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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2010 winner Juan Antonio Flecha

2010 winner Juan Antonio Flecha
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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The start line in Gent

The start line in Gent
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Van Summeren (Garmin-Barracuda)

Van Summeren (Garmin-Barracuda)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Bernhard Eisel (Sky)

Bernhard Eisel (Sky)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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2010 winner Juan Antonio Flecha

2010 winner Juan Antonio Flecha
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda team have hearts on their jerseys

Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda team have hearts on their jerseys
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Thomas Voeckler (Europcar)

Thomas Voeckler (Europcar)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Bert De Backer (Project 1t4i)

Bert De Backer (Project 1t4i)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Bert De Backer (Project 1t4i)

Bert De Backer (Project 1t4i)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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The Europcar team on the podium

The Europcar team on the podium
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Sky's Pinarellos

Sky's Pinarellos
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Project 1t4i will be riding Felts

Project 1t4i will be riding Felts
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Rabobank are on Giant again this year

Rabobank are on Giant again this year
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Team Type 1 have a busy European schedule ahead of them

Team Type 1 have a busy European schedule ahead of them
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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John Degenkolb (Project 1t4i)

John Degenkolb (Project 1t4i)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Dominic Klemme in his new team kit

Dominic Klemme in his new team kit
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Leif Hoste (Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda)

Leif Hoste (Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Vansummeren's feet

Vansummeren's feet
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Johan Vansummeren (Garmin-Barracuda)

Johan Vansummeren (Garmin-Barracuda)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Johan Vansummeren (Garmin-Barracuda)

Johan Vansummeren (Garmin-Barracuda)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Johan Vansummeren's Cervelo

Johan Vansummeren's Cervelo
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Rabobank's Lars Boom

Rabobank's Lars Boom
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Carlos Barredo (Rabobank)

Carlos Barredo (Rabobank)
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)
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Vegard Stake Laengen's Colnago

Vegard Stake Laengen's Colnago
(Image credit: Cyclingnews.com)

We’ve had the Tours of Oman and Qatar but for many of the real traditionalists the road season really begins this weekend with the double header of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne.

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Video: Patrick Lefevere ahead of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Omloop is the first race on the menu, starting in the picturesque setting of Gent, Belgium. In the last few years the race has begun in typically Belgian spring weather of rain, cold and gusty winds..

However Saturday’s race set off under clear blue skies, warm temperatures and huge degree of anticipation.