Paolini wins Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Luca Paolini (Team Katusha) won the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad by beating his breakaway companion Stijn Vandenbergh (Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team) in a two-up sprint. Maarten Wijnants (Team Blanco) won the sprint for third among those in the chase group.

A crowded St-Peter's square in Ghent, Belgium welcomed last year's surprise winner Sep Vanmarcke (Blanco) and 197 other riders who were about to tackle the 198 tough kilometers over the narrow and twisting Flemish roads while enduring freezing temperatures and a blisteringly cold wind.

In a fast first hour at 46km/h, nine riders managed to get into the early breakaway group. They were William Clarke (Argos-Shimano), Florian Vachon (Bretagne), Julien Fouchard (Cofidis), Nico Sijmens (Cofidis), Cyril Lemoine (Sojasun), Jérôme Cousin (Europcar), Zakkari Dempster (Netapp-Endura), and a little later, also Gatis Smukulis (Katusha) and Preben Van Hecke (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise).

The nine riders reached the first cobblestones with a maximal advantage of five minutes on the peloton. As the hills and cobbles quickly followed each other, the gap steadily decreased. By the time the race reached the crucial Taaienberg climb, the gap was down to 1:15. The peloton split into several parts and only 40 men featured in the first peloton when hitting the following Eikenberg climb.

Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) attacked the peloton after the Eikenberg together with Marco Bandiera (IAM). The duo caught up with the leaders by the next climb.

Their move was copied by Greg Van Avermaet (BMC), Geraint Thomas (Sky), Jurgen Roelandts (Lotto-Belisol), Maarten Wynants (Blanco), Sven Vandousselaere (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Egoitz Garcia Etxegibel (Cofidis) and later also Luca Paolini (Katusha).

Before those men bridged up with the tired leaders, Chavanel left his companions behind at the cobbles of the Haaghoek. With 45km left to race, Chavanel started a seemingly impossible solo ride. The Frenchman gathered no more than half a minute on the chase group where Van Avermaet took most of the initiative on the Leberg and the Molenberg.

After that last climb of the day, Chavanel was caught, creating a lead group of 10 men: Chavanel, Van Avermaet, Thomas, Paolini, Roelandts, Vandenbergh, Vandousselaere, Garcia, Wynants and Bandiera.

At the kilometres long pavé sections of the Paddestraat and Lippenhovestraat, Vandenbergh accelerated with only Paolini being able to hold the wheel of the tall Belgian rider.

On the following windy roads, the duo extended its lead up to nearly half a minute over the eight-man strong chase group by the time they reached the final pavé section (2500m) of the Lange Munte at 20km from the finish line in Ghent. None of the chasers tried to set-up a solo move on these cobbles, but also together they weren't able to get closer to the two leaders despite the cold headwind.

Full Results

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Elite men
#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha4:52:15
2Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team0:00:00
3Sven Vandousselaere (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise0:01:13
4Geraint Thomas (GBr) Sky ProcyclingRow 3 - Cell 2
5Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 4 - Cell 2
6Marco Bandiera (Ita) IAM CyclingRow 5 - Cell 2
7Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 6 - Cell 2
8Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 7 - Cell 2
9Maarten Wynants (Bel) Blanco Pro Cycling TeamRow 8 - Cell 2
10Egoitz Garcia Etxegibel (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 9 - Cell 2
11Gerald Ciolek (Ger) MTN-Qhubeka0:06:27
12Manuel Belletti (Ita) Ag2R La MondialeRow 11 - Cell 2
13Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) Accent Jobs-WantyRow 12 - Cell 2
14Alexey Tsatevitch (Rus) KatushaRow 13 - Cell 2
15Baptiste Planckaert (Bel) Crelan-EuphonyRow 14 - Cell 2
16Adrien Petit (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 15 - Cell 2
17Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky ProcyclingRow 16 - Cell 2
18Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 17 - Cell 2
19Heinrich Haussler (Aus) IAM CyclingRow 18 - Cell 2
20Jack Bauer (NZl) Garmin-SharpRow 19 - Cell 2
21Aliaksandr Kuchynski (Blr) KatushaRow 20 - Cell 2
22Martin Elmiger (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 21 - Cell 2
23Bert De Backer (Bel) Team Argos-ShimanoRow 22 - Cell 2
24Maxime Vantomme (Bel) Crelan-EuphonyRow 23 - Cell 2
25Bertjan Lindeman (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 24 - Cell 2
26Viacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus) KatushaRow 25 - Cell 2
27Gaetan Bille (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 26 - Cell 2
28Mickael Delage (Fra) FDJRow 27 - Cell 2
29Jean-Lou Paiani (Fra) SojasunRow 28 - Cell 2
30Kurt Hovelijnck (Bel) Crelan-EuphonyRow 29 - Cell 2
31Iljo Keisse (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 30 - Cell 2
32Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJRow 31 - Cell 2
33Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Orica-GreenEdgeRow 32 - Cell 2
34Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky ProcyclingRow 33 - Cell 2
35Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 34 - Cell 2
36Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 35 - Cell 2
37James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Accent Jobs-WantyRow 36 - Cell 2
38Yoann Offredo (Fra) FDJRow 37 - Cell 2
39Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 38 - Cell 2
40Egidijus Juodvalkis (Ltu) Crelan-EuphonyRow 39 - Cell 2
41Markus Eichler (Ger) Team NetApp-EnduraRow 40 - Cell 2
42Arnaud Labbe (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 41 - Cell 2
43Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 42 - Cell 2
44Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Orica-GreenEdgeRow 43 - Cell 2
45Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 44 - Cell 2
46Stijn Neirynck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 45 - Cell 2
47Daniel Oss (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 46 - Cell 2
48Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 47 - Cell 2
49Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 48 - Cell 2
50Benjamin Verraes (Bel) Accent Jobs-WantyRow 49 - Cell 2
51Vincent Jerome (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 50 - Cell 2
52Koen Barbe (Bel) Crelan-EuphonyRow 51 - Cell 2
53Luke Rowe (GBr) Sky ProcyclingRow 52 - Cell 2
54Romain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 53 - Cell 2
55Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Team Argos-ShimanoRow 54 - Cell 2
56Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling TeamRow 55 - Cell 2
57Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 56 - Cell 2
58Oscar Gatto (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle ItaliaRow 57 - Cell 2
59Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) MTN-QhubekaRow 58 - Cell 2
60Frederik Willems (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 59 - Cell 2
61Gabriel Rasch (Nor) Sky ProcyclingRow 60 - Cell 2
62Tim De Troyer (Bel) Accent Jobs-WantyRow 61 - Cell 2
63Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 62 - Cell 2
64Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Sky ProcyclingRow 63 - Cell 2
65Nick Nuyens (Bel) Garmin-SharpRow 64 - Cell 2
66Nico Sijmens (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 65 - Cell 2
67Sebastien Rosseler (Bel) Garmin-SharpRow 66 - Cell 2
68Jonathan Breyne (Bel) Crelan-EuphonyRow 67 - Cell 2
69Klaas Lodewyck (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 68 - Cell 2
70Reto Hollenstein (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 69 - Cell 2
71Julien Fouchard (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 70 - Cell 2
72John Degenkolb (Ger) Team Argos-ShimanoRow 71 - Cell 2
73Anthony Geslin (Fra) FDJRow 72 - Cell 2
74Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Blanco Pro Cycling TeamRow 73 - Cell 2
75Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Vini Fantini-Selle ItaliaRow 74 - Cell 2
76Mauro Finetto (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle ItaliaRow 75 - Cell 2
77Thor Hushovd (Nor) BMC Racing TeamRow 76 - Cell 2
78Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 77 - Cell 2
79Grega Bole (Slo) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 78 - Cell 2
80Lars Boom (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling TeamRow 79 - Cell 2
81Bjorn Leukemans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 80 - Cell 2
82Tim Declercq (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 81 - Cell 2
83Alexandre Pichot (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 82 - Cell 2
84Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 83 - Cell 2
85Jelle Wallays (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 84 - Cell 2
86Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 85 - Cell 2
87Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 86 - Cell 2
88Andreas Klier (Ger) Garmin-SharpRow 87 - Cell 2
89Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 88 - Cell 2
90Baden Cooke (Aus) Orica-GreenEdgeRow 89 - Cell 2
91Salvatore Puccio (Ita) Sky ProcyclingRow 90 - Cell 2
92Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 91 - Cell 2
93Mitchell Docker (Aus) Orica-GreenEdgeRow 92 - Cell 2
94Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 93 - Cell 2
95David Veilleux (Can) Team EuropcarRow 94 - Cell 2
96William Bonnet (Fra) FDJRow 95 - Cell 2
97Damien Gaudin (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 96 - Cell 2
98Christopher Sutton (Aus) Sky ProcyclingRow 97 - Cell 2
99Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 98 - Cell 2
100Debusschere Jens (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 99 - Cell 2
101Jacob L Rathe (USA) Garmin-Sharp0:08:49
102Sébastien Hinault (Fra) IAM Cycling0:12:04
103Zakkari Dempster (Aus) Team NetApp-EnduraRow 102 - Cell 2
104Angelo Tulik (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 103 - Cell 2
105Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-BaloiseRow 104 - Cell 2
106Blaz Jarc (Slo) Team NetApp-EnduraRow 105 - Cell 2
107Jerome Cousin (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 106 - Cell 2
108Gatis Smukulis (Lat) KatushaRow 107 - Cell 2
109David Boucher (Fra) FDJ0:13:39
110Matt Brammeier (Irl) Champion System Pro Cycling TeamRow 109 - Cell 2
111Andreas Stauff (Ger) MTN-QhubekaRow 110 - Cell 2
112Clinton Robert Avery (NZl) Champion System Pro Cycling TeamRow 111 - Cell 2
113Roberto De Patre (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle ItaliaRow 112 - Cell 2
114Erick Rowsell (GBr) Team NetApp-EnduraRow 113 - Cell 2
115Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Team NetApp-EnduraRow 114 - Cell 2
116Johann Van Zyl (RSA) MTN-QhubekaRow 115 - Cell 2
117Bobbie Traksel (Ned) Champion System Pro Cycling TeamRow 116 - Cell 2
118Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 117 - Cell 2
119Russell Downing (GBr) Team NetApp-EnduraRow 118 - Cell 2
120Jonathan Mcevoy (GBr) Team NetApp-EnduraRow 119 - Cell 2
121Gael Malacarne (Fra) Bretagne-Seche EnvironnementRow 120 - Cell 2
122Pirmin Lang (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 121 - Cell 2
123Paul Martens (Ger) Blanco Pro Cycling TeamRow 122 - Cell 2
124Mattia Cattaneo (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 123 - Cell 2
125Christophe Laborie (Fra) SojasunRow 124 - Cell 2
126Rony Martias (Fra) SojasunRow 125 - Cell 2
127Evaldas Siskevicius (Ltu) SojasunRow 126 - Cell 2
128Andrea Palini (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 127 - Cell 2
129Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) Orica-GreenEdgeRow 128 - Cell 2
130Jean-Luc Delpech (Fra) Bretagne-Seche EnvironnementRow 129 - Cell 2
131Steve Chainel (Fra) Ag2R La MondialeRow 130 - Cell 2
132Gediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) Ag2R La MondialeRow 131 - Cell 2
133Sébastien Minard (Fra) Ag2R La MondialeRow 132 - Cell 2
134Svein Tuft (Can) Orica-GreenEdgeRow 133 - Cell 2
135Dominique Rollin (Can) FDJRow 134 - Cell 2
136Martin Reimer (Ger) MTN-QhubekaRow 135 - Cell 2
137Jan Ghyselinck (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 136 - Cell 2
138Alexander Kristoff (Nor) KatushaRow 137 - Cell 2
139Rudiger Selig (Ger) KatushaRow 138 - Cell 2
140Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) MTN-QhubekaRow 139 - Cell 2
141Davide Appollonio (Ita) Ag2R La MondialeRow 140 - Cell 2
142Elia Favilli (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 141 - Cell 2
143Davide Cimolai (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 142 - Cell 2
144Kris Boeckmans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 143 - Cell 2
145Alessandro Proni (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle ItaliaRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFRick Flens (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling TeamRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFMoreno Hofland (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling TeamRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFRobert Thomas Wagner (Ger) Blanco Pro Cycling TeamRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFMatteo Trentin (Ita) Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 148 - Cell 2
DNFKenny Dehaes (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 149 - Cell 2
DNFGert Dockx (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 150 - Cell 2
DNFVicente Reynes Mimo (Spa) Lotto BelisolRow 151 - Cell 2
DNFMarcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto BelisolRow 152 - Cell 2
DNFHugo Houle (Can) Ag2R La MondialeRow 153 - Cell 2
DNFAxel Domont (Fra) Ag2R La MondialeRow 154 - Cell 2
DNFAnthony Ravard (Fra) Ag2R La MondialeRow 155 - Cell 2
DNFJohan Le Bon (Fra) FDJRow 156 - Cell 2
DNFMassimo Graziato (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 157 - Cell 2
DNFLuca Wackermann (Ita) Lampre-MeridaRow 158 - Cell 2
DNFSam Bewley (NZl) Orica-GreenEdgeRow 159 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Matthews (Aus) Orica-GreenEdgeRow 160 - Cell 2
DNFAlbert Timmer (Ned) Team Argos-ShimanoRow 161 - Cell 2
DNFWilliam Clarke (Aus) Team Argos-ShimanoRow 162 - Cell 2
DNFRoy Curvers (Ned) Team Argos-ShimanoRow 163 - Cell 2
DNFLuka Mezgec (Slo) Team Argos-ShimanoRow 164 - Cell 2
DNFTom Stamsnijder (Ned) Team Argos-ShimanoRow 165 - Cell 2
DNFMartijn Maaskant (Ned) Garmin-SharpRow 166 - Cell 2
DNFRamunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Garmin-SharpRow 167 - Cell 2
DNFJohan Vansummeren (Bel) Garmin-SharpRow 168 - Cell 2
DNFJéröme Gilbert (Bel) Accent Jobs-WantyRow 169 - Cell 2
DNFAndy Cappelle (Bel) Accent Jobs-WantyRow 170 - Cell 2
DNFWilliam Routley (Can) Accent Jobs-WantyRow 171 - Cell 2
DNFStefan Van Dijk (Ned) Accent Jobs-WantyRow 172 - Cell 2
DNFSébastien Delfosse (Bel) Crelan-EuphonyRow 173 - Cell 2
DNFFrédéric Amorison (Bel) Crelan-EuphonyRow 174 - Cell 2
DNFArnaud Gerard (Fra) Bretagne-Seche EnvironnementRow 175 - Cell 2
DNFClément Koretzky (Fra) Bretagne-Seche EnvironnementRow 176 - Cell 2
DNFBenjamin Le Montagner (Fra) Bretagne-Seche EnvironnementRow 177 - Cell 2
DNFGeoffroy Lequatre (Fra) Bretagne-Seche EnvironnementRow 178 - Cell 2
DNFBenoit Jarrier (Fra) Bretagne-Seche EnvironnementRow 179 - Cell 2
DNFFlorian Vachon (Fra) Bretagne-Seche EnvironnementRow 180 - Cell 2
DNFMatthias Friedemann (Ger) Champion System Pro Cycling TeamRow 181 - Cell 2
DNFWang Yip Tang (HKg) Champion System Pro Cycling TeamRow 182 - Cell 2
DNFMart Ojavee (Est) Champion System Pro Cycling TeamRow 183 - Cell 2
DNFRyan Roth (Can) Champion System Pro Cycling TeamRow 184 - Cell 2
DNFKin San Wu (HKg) Champion System Pro Cycling TeamRow 185 - Cell 2
DNFFlorent Barle (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 186 - Cell 2
DNFKristof Goddaert (Bel) IAM CyclingRow 187 - Cell 2
DNFAleksejs Saramotins (Lat) IAM CyclingRow 188 - Cell 2
DNFAlexander Porsev (Rus) KatushaRow 189 - Cell 2
DNFMaxime Daniel (Fra) SojasunRow 190 - Cell 2
DNFJimmy Engoulvent (Fra) SojasunRow 191 - Cell 2
DNFCyril Lemoine (Fra) SojasunRow 192 - Cell 2
DNFPaul Voss (Ger) Team NetApp-EnduraRow 193 - Cell 2
DNFFerekalsi Debesay Abrha (Eri) MTN-QhubekaRow 194 - Cell 2
DNFYoucef Reguigui (Alg) MTN-QhubekaRow 195 - Cell 2
DNFRafael Andriato (Bra) Vini Fantini-Selle ItaliaRow 196 - Cell 2
DNFLuigi Miletta (Ita) Vini Fantini-Selle ItaliaRow 197 - Cell 2

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