Stannard wins Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Ian Stannard (Team Sky) claimed a thrilling edition of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in a two-up sprint against BMC's Greg Van Avermaet. The pair slipped clear of the main field inside the closing kilometres of the race and despite a late chase from Omega Pharma-Quickstep and Belkin, the pair held on to decide the race in a sprint finish.

Heading into the final few hundred meters, van Avermaet moved to the front but Stannard, with a strong pedigree from his track racing days, kicked out and had enough to hold off a late challenge from the Belgian rider.

Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky) finished third, giving Sky two riders on the podium, after the Norwegian beat Niki Terpstra (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) and Sep Vanmarcke (Team Belkin to the line).

Boasson Hagen and Terpstra had joined forces moments before the winning move when a dangerous group had slipped clear, but after Lars Boom punctured and Yoann Offredo crashed, the group lost its impetus.

With Boasson Hagen and Terpstra caught, Stannard and Van Avermaet seized the initiative forged clear.

Goodbye Kristof

The traditional opener of the Belgian road season in Ghent started at half past 11 with a minute of silence to pay tribute to the late Kristof Goddaert and Ghent's art pope Jan Hoet, who both passed away recently. Goddaert's teammates from the IAM team lined up in front of the peloton on a chilly, foggy and quiet St-Peter's square.

Cyril Lemoine (Cofidis), Frederik Veuchelen (Wanty), Stijn Steels (Topsport), Maciej Paterski (CCC), Christophe Laborie (Bretagne-Séché Environnement), Andreas Schillinger (Netapp), Aliaksandr Kuchynski (Katusha), and Ramon Sinkeldam (Giant Shimano) animated the first half of the race, breaking clear inside the first 30 kilometres.

After nearly 150km, the last four survivors of this group were caught by the peloton. The damage in the peloton caused by the series of slippery roads, pavé and the typical bergs was severe. The biggest victims of the multiple crashes were Thor Hushovd (BMC) and Alexandre Pichot (Europcar), who were both forced to leave the race with injuries.

The ascents of the Taaienberg, Eikenberg and Wolvenberg showed that Sep Vanmarcke (Belkin), Matteo Trentin (Omega Pharma-Quick-Step) and Nikki Terpstra (Omega Pharma-Quick-Step) all had good legs, while the expected attack from Tom Boonen on the Taaienberg never materialized.

Around 40 riders survived all the attacks and hit the Leberg 42km from the finish in Ghent. Greg van Avermaet (BMC) put in an acceleration on the Leberg, but once the pace dropped, a few other riders managed to sneak away. The group included Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sky), Lars Boom (Belkin), Yoann Offredo (FDJ.fr), Arnaud Démare (FDJ.fr), Nikki Tepstra, Egoitz Garcia (Cofidis) and Kenneth Van Bilsen (Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise).

When the group turned the corner onto the Molenberg at 37km from the finish, Offredo fell while riding in third position. Terpstra and Boom hammered up the cobbled climb and discovered at the top that they were the sole leaders. Boasson Hagen, Van Bilsen and Démare eventually managed to bridge back up to the Dutch duo when hitting the 2.4km-long former Roman road of the Paddestraat, with 30km to go to the finish.

On the Paddestraat, Boom led the leaders over the wet cobbles while Vanmarcke led the peloton at 35 seconds. Halfway over the cobbles, a fierce acceleration from Terpstra was answered only by Boom and Boasson Hagen. The three leaders had a gap of 45 seconds, but the co-operation was lacking.

When Boom flatted and fell back to the bunch Terpstra and Boasson Hagen began to attack each other, a clear sign that any partnership would be fleeting at best.

At the final pavé section called the "Lange Munte", the remains of the peloton were only 20 seconds down on the two leaders. Boasson Hagen and Terpstra exchanged attacks but ended up in the clutches of the bunch.

With 17km to go, about 20 riders were battling for the victory. A peloton with Tom Boonen trailed the leaders by 50 seconds.

Stannard wasted no time and when several groups came together; he blasted away on the wider roads towards Ghent, with only van Avermaet holding his wheel.

It looked as though victory would certainly come down to the two leaders but when Terpstra and Vanmarcke attacked, with Boasson Hagen for company, it looked as though the race was playing into the Norwegian's hands. However, Stannard and Van Avermaet remained consistent in their turns and only inside the final kilometre, with the chase too far back, did they start to watch each other.

Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Ian Stannard (GBr) Team Sky4:49:55
2Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 1 - Cell 2
3Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Sky0:00:24
4Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 3 - Cell 2
5Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 4 - Cell 2
6Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) Wanty - Groupe Gobert0:01:34
7Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 6 - Cell 2
8Dries Devenyns (Bel) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 7 - Cell 2
9Egoitz Garcia Echeguibel (Spa) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 8 - Cell 2
10Arnaud Demare (Fra) Fdj.frRow 9 - Cell 2
11Luke Rowe (GBr) Team SkyRow 10 - Cell 2
12Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Garmin SharpRow 11 - Cell 2
13Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 12 - Cell 2
14Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 13 - Cell 2
15Zico Waeytens (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 14 - Cell 2
16Jelle Wallays (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 15 - Cell 2
17Johan Le Bon (Fra) Fdj.fr0:01:41
18Lars Boom (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 17 - Cell 2
19Florian Senechal (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits0:02:47
20Yoann Offredo (Fra) Fdj.frRow 19 - Cell 2
21Edward Theuns (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise0:03:43
22Aliaksandr Kuchynski (Blr) Team KatushaRow 21 - Cell 2
23Christophe Laborie (Fra) Bretagne - Seche EnvironnementRow 22 - Cell 2
24Laurens De Vreese (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 23 - Cell 2
25Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 24 - Cell 2
26Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) IAM CyclingRow 25 - Cell 2
27Gerald Ciolek (Ger) MTN - QhubekaRow 26 - Cell 2
28Koen De Kort (Ned) Team Giant-Shimano0:03:46
29Zdenek Stybar (Cze) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 28 - Cell 2
30Maarten Wynants (Bel) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 29 - Cell 2
31Gatis Smukulis (Lat) Team KatushaRow 30 - Cell 2
32Björn Leukemans (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 31 - Cell 2
33Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 32 - Cell 2
34Martin Reimer (Ger) MTN - Qhubeka0:09:14
35Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Lotto BelisolRow 34 - Cell 2
36Kristian Sbaragli (Ita) MTN - QhubekaRow 35 - Cell 2
37Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 36 - Cell 2
38Stig Broeckx (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 37 - Cell 2
39Pim Ligthart (Ned) Lotto BelisolRow 38 - Cell 2
40Clément Koretzky (Fra) Bretagne - Seche EnvironnementRow 39 - Cell 2
41Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing TeamRow 40 - Cell 2
42Jos Van Emden (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 41 - Cell 2
43Kiryll Pozdnyakov (Rus) RusveloRow 42 - Cell 2
44Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) MTN - QhubekaRow 43 - Cell 2
45Kenneth Van Bilsen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 44 - Cell 2
46Martin Elmiger (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 45 - Cell 2
47Raymond Kreder (Ned) Garmin SharpRow 46 - Cell 2
48Bert De Backer (Bel) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 47 - Cell 2
49Maciej Paterski (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 48 - Cell 2
50Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto BelisolRow 49 - Cell 2
51Scott Thwaites (GBr) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 50 - Cell 2
52Tim Declercq (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 51 - Cell 2
53Roy Curvers (Ned) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 52 - Cell 2
54Silvan Dillier (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 53 - Cell 2
55David Boucher (Fra) Fdj.frRow 54 - Cell 2
56Zakkari Dempster (Aus) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 55 - Cell 2
57Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 56 - Cell 2
58Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 57 - Cell 2
59Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 58 - Cell 2
60Tony Hurel (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 59 - Cell 2
61Bryan Coquard (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 60 - Cell 2
62Nick Nuyens (Bel) Garmin SharpRow 61 - Cell 2
63Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 62 - Cell 2
64Bjorn Thurau (Ger) Team EuropcarRow 63 - Cell 2
65Albert Timmer (Ned) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 64 - Cell 2
66Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 65 - Cell 2
67Anthony Geslin (Fra) Fdj.frRow 66 - Cell 2
68Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 67 - Cell 2
69Wesley Kreder (Ned) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 68 - Cell 2
70Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin SharpRow 69 - Cell 2
71Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Bretagne - Seche EnvironnementRow 70 - Cell 2
72Matteo Trentin (Ita) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 71 - Cell 2
73Damien Gaudin (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 72 - Cell 2
74Gert Joeaar (Est) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 73 - Cell 2
75Stijn Steels (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 74 - Cell 2
76Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 75 - Cell 2
77Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Team KatushaRow 76 - Cell 2
78Jaco Venter (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 77 - Cell 2
79Heinrich Haussler (Aus) IAM CyclingRow 78 - Cell 2
80Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 79 - Cell 2
81Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team SkyRow 80 - Cell 2
82Jack Bauer (NZl) Garmin SharpRow 81 - Cell 2
83Timofey Kritskiy (Rus) Rusvelo0:14:02
84Vladimir Isaichev (Rus) Team KatushaRow 83 - Cell 2
85Adrien Petit (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 84 - Cell 2
86Gediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) AG2R La MondialeRow 85 - Cell 2
87Maxime Daniel (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 86 - Cell 2
88Alexey Tsatevitch (Rus) Team KatushaRow 87 - Cell 2
89Marco Bandiera (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 88 - Cell 2
90Nicola Testi (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 89 - Cell 2
91Sébastien Hinault (Fra) IAM CyclingRow 90 - Cell 2
92Robert Wagner (Ger) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 91 - Cell 2
93Jay Robert Thomson (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 92 - Cell 2
94Hugo Houle (Can) AG2R La MondialeRow 93 - Cell 2
95Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 94 - Cell 2
96Gert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 95 - Cell 2
97Sébastien Turgot (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 96 - Cell 2
98Gabriel Rasch (Nor) Team SkyRow 97 - Cell 2
99David Millar (GBr) Garmin SharpRow 98 - Cell 2
100Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier (Fra) Fdj.frRow 99 - Cell 2
101Jerome Cousin (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 100 - Cell 2
102Benoit Jarrier (Fra) Bretagne - Seche EnvironnementRow 101 - Cell 2
103Johann Van Zyl (RSA) MTN - QhubekaRow 102 - Cell 2
104Jean-Marc Bideau (Fra) Bretagne - Seche EnvironnementRow 103 - Cell 2
105Benjamin Le Montagner (Fra) Bretagne - Seche EnvironnementRow 104 - Cell 2
DNFLuca Paolini (Ita) Team KatushaRow 105 - Cell 2
DNFViacheslav Kuznetsov (Rus) Team KatushaRow 106 - Cell 2
DNFRudiger Selig (Ger) Team KatushaRow 107 - Cell 2
DNFKenny De Haes (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 108 - Cell 2
DNFFrederik Willems (Bel) Lotto BelisolRow 109 - Cell 2
DNFIljo Keisse (Bel) Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling TeamRow 110 - Cell 2
DNFSteve Chainel (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 111 - Cell 2
DNFSébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 112 - Cell 2
DNFThomas Leezer (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFBram Tankink (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFMaarten Tjallingii (Ned) Belkin-Pro Cycling TeamRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFThor Hushovd (Nor) BMC Racing TeamRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFKlaas Lodewyck (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFRick Zabel (Ger) BMC Racing TeamRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFWilliam Bonnet (Fra) Fdj.frRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFMickael Delage (Fra) Fdj.frRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFSteele Von Hoff (Aus) Garmin SharpRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFJohan Van Summeren (Bel) Garmin SharpRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFVincent Jerome (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFAlexandre Pichot (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFAngelo Tulik (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFTom Stamsnijder (Ned) Team Giant-ShimanoRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFChristian Knees (Ger) Team SkyRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFSalvatore Puccio (Ita) Team SkyRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFChristopher Sutton (Aus) Team SkyRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFManuel Belletti (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFMarco Frapporti (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFAntonio Parrinello (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFAndrea Zordan (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFErwann Corbel (Fra) Bretagne - Seche EnvironnementRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFPierre-Luc Perrichon (Fra) Bretagne - Seche EnvironnementRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFPawel Charucki (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFPiotr Gawronski (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFTomasz Kiendys (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFAdrian Kurek (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFJaroslaw Marycz (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFNikolay Mihaylov (Bul) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFJacek Morajko (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFJulien Fouchard (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFRomain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Solutions CreditsRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFKevin Ista (Bel) IAM CyclingRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFDominic Klemme (Ger) IAM CyclingRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFPirmin Lang (Swi) IAM CyclingRow 148 - Cell 2
DNFAleksejs Saramotins (Lat) IAM CyclingRow 149 - Cell 2
DNFAndreas Stauff (Ger) MTN - QhubekaRow 150 - Cell 2
DNFIgor Boev (Rus) RusveloRow 151 - Cell 2
DNFLeonid Krasnov (Rus) RusveloRow 152 - Cell 2
DNFRoman Maikin (Rus) RusveloRow 153 - Cell 2
DNFAndrei Solomennikov (Rus) RusveloRow 154 - Cell 2
DNFGennadiy Tatarinov (Rus) RusveloRow 155 - Cell 2
DNFBlaz Jarc (Slo) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 156 - Cell 2
DNFRalf Matzka (Ger) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 157 - Cell 2
DNFJonathan Mcevoy (GBr) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 158 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Schwarzmann (Ger) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 159 - Cell 2
DNFPaul Voss (Ger) Team Netapp - EnduraRow 160 - Cell 2
DNFKevin Van Melsen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 161 - Cell 2
DNFJan Ghyselinck (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 162 - Cell 2
DNFFrederik Veuchelen (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 163 - Cell 2

 

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