Races Road Flecha fires solo shot for self and Sky By Brecht Decaluwé published 27 February 2010 Haussler holds on to second, Farrar sprints to third Comments Image 1 of 115Domenik Klemme (Saxo Bank)(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)Juan Antonio Flecha (Team Sky) wins Omloop Het Nieuwsblad(Image credit: AFP)Kevin De Weert (Quick Step)(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)Rene Mandri (Ag2R-La Mondiale) and Servais Knaven (Milram)(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)Steely focus from all the riders as they climb on the cobbles(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)The peloton dig in as the climb grips(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)RadioShack were one of the big teams to miss out on a result today(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)Tom Boonen (Quick Step) will have to wait another year for his chance to claim a maiden victory at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)Marcus Burghardt (BMC) in the peloton(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)Topsport Vlaanderen lead the way on a climb(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil) pins it(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)Roger Kluge (Milram)(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)Frederik Veuchelen (Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team)(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)Roy Curvers (Skil-Shimano) and Roger Kluge (Milram) contend with a climb while in the break(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)Frederic Guesdon (Francaise de Jeux) in search of the path of least resistance(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)The early breakaway(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)Russian Champion Serguei Ivanov (Katusha)(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)A relatively relaxed looking peloton(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)Robbie McEwen (Katusha)(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)Kim Kirchen (Katusha) and Johan Van Summeren (Garmin-Transitions)(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)Teams share the work in the peloton(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)Sky remain tightly packed within the pack(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)The Sky team management was beaming after Flecha's win.(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)David Boucher (Landbouwcredit) leads Gregory Habeaux (Verndas Willems) and Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil) in pursuit of the early breakaway(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Cervelo had a good day - Heinrich Haussler finishing second(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Quick Step hold court in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)George Hincapie (BMC) and Stuart O'Grady (Saxo Bank) follow the pace set by Garmin-Transitions(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)The first cobbles of the 2010 season(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Andreas Klier (Cervelo TestTeam)(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Marcus Burghart (BMC Racing Team)(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)An Post show themselves at Het Nieuwsblad(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Riders scramble in the first Classic of the year(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)The peloton was content to let the break exhaust themselves(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Sky mass towards the front of the bunch(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil) on the attack(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)The Omega Pharma Lotto riders played a key role in the race.(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)Alessandro Ballan (BMC Racing Team) makes his way to the sign-on in Gent(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Marcus Burghart (BMC Racing Team) answers questions at the start(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)I've got a feelin': Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky) looking relaxed at the start(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Good skills: The Skil-Shimano boys carry out a final radio check at the stage start(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)David Millar (Garmin-Slipstream) proved invaluable to Farrar in the finale(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Frederik Veuchelen (Vacansoleil), Frederic Guesdon (Francaise de Jeux), Roger Kluge (Milram) and Roy Curvers (Skil-Shimano)(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)German Roger Kluge (Milram) has continued his strong start to the road season. He sits third wheel in the break at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)David Boucher (Landbouwcredit) leads Gregory Habeaux (Verndas Willems) and Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil) in pursuit of the break(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)The front group at the business end of Omloop(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Thor Hushovd (Cervelo TestTeam) and Leif Hoste (Omega Pharma-Lotto)(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)An emotional Flecha makes his way to the podium(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Flecha makes his way to the top step(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Nice one: Farrar and Flecha(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Haussler congratulates Flecha(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Flecha prepares to hoist his prize aloft(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Heinrich Haussler (2nd, Cervelo), Juan Antonio Flecha (1st, Sky) and Tyler Farrar (3rd, Garmin-Transitions)(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Haussler and Farrar agreed that the strongest man had won the day(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)A happy trio on the podium(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky) enjoys the moment(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)2010 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad winner Juan Antonio Flecha(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Haussler was satisfied with his second place finish(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Second (Haussler) and third (Farrar) acknowledge one another(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Flecha winds down after taking his win(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Flecha's team boss Dave Brailsford was one of the first to congratulate him(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Dave Brailsford embraces Juan Antonio Flecha at the finish of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)A good day for Sky in Belgium(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Sky's Dave Brailsford and Juan Antonio Flecha(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Farrar makes his way onto the stage(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions) is in-form and is waiting for luck to fall his way(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions)(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Heinrich Haussler (Cervelo TestTeam)(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)How sweet it is: Flecha kisses his long-awaited trophy(Image credit: Isabelle Duchesne)Right on target, Flecha throws his customary salute(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Finally! Flecha gets a Classic victory(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Flecha points to his sponsor, while Peter van Petegem looks on from the Director's car(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Heinrich Haussler (2nd, Cervelo), Juan Antonio Flecha (1st, Sky) and Tyler Farrar (3rd, Garmin-Transitions)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Heinrich Haussler (Cervélo) pushes the pace on the cobbles.(Image credit: www.ispaphoto.com)The peloton at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad(Image credit: www.ispaphoto.com)Thor Hushovd (Cervelo Test Team) racing on the cobbles(Image credit: www.ispaphoto.com)Kevin Hulsmans (Quick Step)(Image credit: www.ispaphoto.com)Robbie McEwen (Katusha)(Image credit: www.ispaphoto.com)Belgians Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and former-rival, now race director Peter van Petegem after the 2010 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.(Image credit: www.ispaphoto.com)Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) spent some time off the front.(Image credit: www.ispaphoto.com)Tom Boonen (Quick Step)(Image credit: www.ispaphoto.com)Tom Boonen (Quick Step) racing(Image credit: www.ispaphoto.com)Flecha time trials his way to the finish in Gent(Image credit: Bettini Photo)Flecha's win was a gritty display by the Spaniard(Image credit: Bettini Photo)There would be no podium spot today for Omega Pharma Lotto.(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky) congratulates Tyler Farrar (Garmin - Transitions)(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)There was no Spanish media for Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky) to talk to after his win at the Belgian race.(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky) on the podium.(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky) was happy with his win.(Image credit: Tim Van Wichelen)