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OMLOOP

By Gruber Images

March 2^nd, 2016

at the start.

This is the story about a story that was never supposed to be a story. The Omloop Het Nieuwsblad always takes place about a day after we return to Europe for the year. No one expects anything from us, and we don’t promise anything. It’s a bonus day, a warm-up day, a stretching session.

This is going to sound bad, but bear with me: last year, I took note of the women’s Omloop for the first time. The route looked fantastic, the racing was awesome - all signs pointed to a day worth shooting.

Then, with the help of our good friend, bike rider, and (newly licensed UCI official!) moto pilot, Michael Ossieur, a plan started to form. What if we split up for the day? What if Jered shot the men’s race with rally man Yoeri, and I shot the women’s race from the moto with Michael? Done.

personalized giant beer.

Most notable memory from the start? The race gave Lizzie her very own gigantic bottle of Kwaremont beer - with her World Champion self on it.

start.

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kluisberg.

The racing was fast from the beginning, but things took a turn for the difficult starting with the Kluisberg. From this point onward, the race hit a terrible/awesome string of hills and cobbles, sometimes together.

watching.

As with all things bike racing, the situation on the road is entertaining, but the views to the left and right of the road are often even better. They’re certainly more unexpected.

Côte de trieu.

With this nasty climb, the World Champion came to the fore and drove the pace up the beautiful slopes of one of the larger climbs in the area. When Armitstead finished, her teammate and US National Champion, Megan Guarnier, took over. The forcing at the front was enough to ruin the days of many riders.

paterberg help.

From the Trieu, it was a quick downhill run to the base of the short, 20+% cobbles of the Paterberg - where team staff (Hi Beth!) were ready and waiting with bottles and wheels - just in case.

paterberg.

Dutch National Champion, Lucinda Brand, drives the pace up the Paterberg.

Paterberg gutter.

Behind Brand, riders made their way up in all manner of physical states: composed, suffering, abject suffering, resignation.

the view.

I never get tired of this view.

post-paterberg pain

Of course, with every great climb, there’s the frantic chase to get back on terms with the leaders AFTER the climb. It’s a terrible period for all but the strongest, and it’s one we generally don’t get to see too often - since we’re either on the side of the road or watching on TV - and TV coverage doesn’t show the struggle of the riders chasing back on, trying to keep their chances alive for a few more minutes.

watching the pain.

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kortekeer.

One of my favorite climbs in the area. It climbs the same ridge as the Koppenberg and starts maybe 2k from the base of the infinitely more famous climb. It starts off through an open field, and like the walls of a bowl, it gets steeper and steeper as you head into the forest. From there, the road twists and leaps upward at an uncomfortable rate. It’s a great race climb and produces the desired suffering effect with ease.

ruitersstraat.

Only 800 meters long and generally downhill-ish, Ruitersstraat isn’t the hardest sector of cobbles, but with Armitstead doing the honors on the front only moments after cresting the wall of the Wolvenberg, her forcing was enough to turn the proverbial screw another couple turns.

side of the road.

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ladeuze.

Take a deep breath, because after all of that, there’s still much more to come. The fun was just getting started! Jessie Daams attacked out of the field up Ladeuze. Her move would last more than long enough to allow her to suffer in peace and quiet until she likely had had enough.

jessie daams solo.

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after the molenberg.

When it comes to cobbled climbs, the Molenberg ranks high on my list of favorites. It’s short, it’s hard, it’s pretty, and the cobbles are a mess. It would seem like it should be a great place to shoot, but I’ve never had great luck on it. I have, however, had a lot of fun shooting the wide open fields in the shadow of a windmill just after the top of the climb. The racing is always hot at this point in the men’s races - the women did not disappoint. Ellen Van Dijk attacked out of the leading group, which set off alarms aplenty.

single file through the fields.

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that windmill.

So much hurting.

chasing.

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joelle's suffering.

No one stood out to me more throughout the day than Joelle Numainville. The tough Canadian seemed to be on the edge all day long, but made selection after selection and eventually finished 19th. It did not look easy.

deep breath.

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business.

After the last hill was climbed, the riders began making their way back to Gent via a nasty trio of cobbles: Paddestraat, Lippenhovestraat, and the Lange Munte. It was in this flatland cobbled playland that Gracie Elvin (Orica) and Lizzie Armitstead got away.

head down.

It soon became clear that this move was Lizzie’s. She kept the break afloat while Elvin did not seem interested in making it work. Their gap never went out too big, and it soon looked doomed as the field began to reel them in. Until…

party time!

With the field nearly upon them, Armitstead hit it hard. The effort was enough to both rid herself of Elvin, but also reignite her chances off the front - this time, alone.