Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2019: Favourites
Michael Valgren won last year's race with a late attack, while Greg Van Avermaet took his home race in 2016 and 2017. Who are the major contenders to win the 2019 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad?
The season is still young, so it is hard to pinpoint absolute favourites. But obviously, we have the usual suspects in the Flemish Classics – the Olympic Champion himself, Sep Vanmarcke, Tiesj Benoot and Tim Wellens.
After ten years of starting and finishing in Ghent, the finale of last year’s Omloop revived the much-loved climax of the old Tour of Flanders. Although the finish won’t be in Meerbeke but in Ninove this year, the bare bones are the same. So the combination of the Wall of Geraardsbergen and the Bosberg before the run-in to Ninove are going to be the focal point of the 199.8 kilometres race. The iconic Wall is a cobbled speed breaker of 475 metres at 9.3% before the Bosberg serves a 980 metres climb at 5.8% (half of it cobbled). Between the top of Bosberg and the finish in Ninove are 12.8 flat kilometres.
Van Avermaet’s victories were in Ghent after a finale with the last climb 35 kilometres before the line. He succeeded Ian Stannard, who was victorious in the Omloop editions of 2014 and 2015. Other victors are Philippe Gilbert (2006, 2008), Sep Vanmarcke (2012) and Sebastian Langeveld (2011). Yet, there is only only rider who won Omloop Nieuwsblad with the redrawn finale – Michael Valgren.
Favourites 2019 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
***** Dylan van Baarle, Greg Van Avermaet, Michael Valgren
**** Philippe Gilbert, Michael Matthews, Niki Terpstra
*** Sep Vanmarcke, Zdenek Stybar, Jasper Stuyven, Tim Wellens
** Tiesj Benoot, Oliver Naesen, Wout Van Aert, Alexey Lutsenko
* Mike Teunissen, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Magnus Cort
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Results
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Riders
Watch the highlights of recent races here:
Related articles Overview - Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2019 More articles Volta a Catalunya 2024: Schultz outguns Pogacar on uphill finish
Volta a Catalunya 2024 Route stage 1: Sant Feliu de Guíxols - Sant Feliu de Guíxols
Volta a Catalunya 2024 Route stage 2: Mataró – Vallter 2000
Volta a Catalunya 2024: Riders
Volta a Catalunya 2024: GC Favourites
Volta a Catalunya 2024 Route stage 3: Sant Joan de les Abadesses – Port Ainé
Volta a Catalunya 2024 Route stage 4: Sort – Lleida
Volta a Catalunya 2024 Route stage 5: Altafulla – Viladecans
Volta a Catalunya 2024 Route stage 6: Berga – Queralt
Volta a Catalunya 2024 Route stage 7: Barcelona – Barcelona
E3 Saxo Classic 2024: The Route
E3 Saxo Classic 2024: Riders
Gent - Wevelgem 2024: The Route
Gent – Wevelgem 2024: Riders
Gent - Wevelgem 2024 - women: Route
Dwars door Vlaanderen 2024: The Route
Dwars door Vlaanderen 2024: Riders
Tour of Flanders 2024: The Route
Tour of Flanders 2024: Riders
Cycling Calendar 2024
Tour de France 2024: The Route
Tour de France 2024: Riders
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 1: Florence - Rimini
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 20: Nice - Col de la Couillole
Tour de France 2024 Route stage 21: Monaco - Nice
Giro 2024: The Route
Giro 2024: Riders
Giro 2024 Route stage 1: Turin - Turin
Vuelta 2024: The Route
Like our Facebook page and stay on top of all pro-race information!