Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is traditionally held as the opening of the Belgian classics season. The race’s 70th edition ran over 200 kilometers and it saw quite an exciting finish with four riders getting away from the field within the last 40 kilometers. Last year’s winner Ian Stannard (Sky) accomplished to stand up against three riders of Belgian team Etixx-Quick Step. Niki Terpstra and Tom Boonen finished on the podium. BORA – ARGON 18 crossed the finish line with the main field.

“It wasn’t the kick-off of the classics season we hoped for. We knew it was going to be a tough race. That’s why we wanted to be in the breakaway and to focus on the final. Both plans didn’t work out and therefore the race didn’t develop as we planned. The guys didn’t have their best day which make it challenging to perform at 100%. This will be improved in the upcoming races. Tomorrow we’ll have the next chance to do so”, Sport Director Andre Schulze looks ahead.