Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2024: Tratnik bests Politt in sprint-à-deux

foto: Cor VosVisma | Lease a Bike opens the race early, but still, the Omloop comes down to the last 10 kilometres. Following a regroupment it is Jan Tratnik who strikes. Nils Politt follows his move and the two hold off the chasing peloton before the Slovene outsprints the German. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2024 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

1. Jan Tratnik (slo)
2. Nils Politt (ger) + 0.03
3. Wout van Aert (bel) + 0.08
4. Oliver Naesen (bel) s.t.
5. Christophe Laporte (fra) s.t.
6. Laurenz Rex (bel) s.t.
7. Jasper Stuyven (bel) s.t.
8. Tom Pidcock (gbr) s.t.
9. Matteo Trentin (ita) s.t.
10. Arnaud De Lie (bel) s.t.

Race report
Samuele Batistella, Manlio Moro, Frank van den Broek and Jelle Vermoote intitiate the breakaway before Lars Boven, Alexis Gougeard, Sander De Pestel, Sean Flynn and Elias Maris make it nine at the front. The lead group opens up a maximum lead of 5 minutes.

With over 100 kilometres a remaining group of some 30 riders escapes from the peloton and they rejoin the nine at the front. On board are the likes of Van Aert, Laporte, Benoot, Jorgenson, Affini, Philipsen, Gogl, Asgreen, Moscon, Pidcock, Rowe, Swift (Connor), Turner, Kirsch, Milan, Skujins, Declercq, De Lie, De Buyst, Van Rooy, Neilands, Pickrell and Fredheim.

The Jumbo-riders up the pace on the Wolvenberg and the lead group is down to Van Aert, Laporte, Jorgenson, De Lie, Pidcock, Skujins and Moscon. The latter loses contact on the cobbles of the Jagerij.

Jorgenson strikes with 21 kilometres remaining. The American enters the Muur van Geraardsbergen with a 30 seconds lead. Pidcock loses contact and Wellens rejoins the chasers.

Jorgenson’s lead has fallen to 10 seconds at the base of the Bosberg, while several riders bridge across to the chase group.

Tratnik sneaks away with 9 kilometres to go and Politt follows his move. The two open up a 40 seconds gap before the chase is launched behind them.

The attackers cooperate well, although Politt doesn’t shy away from taking on the most work. Tratnik says ‘thank you’ and opens up a 3 seconds gap in the sprint. Van Aert adds more joy to the Visma|Lease a Bike party by finishing in third place.

Other interesting reads: route and start list 2024 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.