Race Historical past: Ed Hood cherished the ‘race chase’; Italy, France, Spain, it didn’t matter, however he cherished his journeys to Belgium – Flanders to be exact. The ‘Opening Weekend’ of the Omloop Het Volk (Het Nieuwsblad’s earlier identify) and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne was the beginning of his spring race calendar and he all the time made probably the most of each minute. Ed Hood took a stroll down ‘Reminiscence Lane’ just a few years in the past for a take a look at a dozen prime editions.
# You’ll be able to see the complete ‘PEZ 2025 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Preview’ HERE. #
Jean Bogaerts – Two time winner
1945: The very first version was known as the ‘Omloop van Vlaanderen’ however this upset the rival Het Nieuwsblad newspaper as a result of it sounded an excessive amount of like ‘Ronde van Vlaanderen’ which was their child; therefore it grew to become ‘Het Volk’ with Belgian laborious man, Jean Bogaerts taking the primary of two wins – he’d win once more in 1951.
Albert Sercu in 1947
1947: have you ever ever questioned why the late, nice Patrick Sercu was so quick and versatile? He selected his mother and father effectively; with dad Albert profitable this version of Het Volk.
Ernest Sterckx – Triple winner
1956: Ernest Sterckx turns into the primary triple winner after wins in ’52 and ’53 – an actual Belgian ‘Classicer’ with wins in Flèche Wallonne, Gent-Wevelgem and two wins in Paris-Brussels, which was an enormous race again in these days.
Shay Elliott forward of Anquetil
1959: Shay Elliott of Eire makes historical past as the primary ‘Anglo’ to win a Traditional, it could be 55 years earlier than the feat was repeated by that man, Stannard. And with regards to Irish laborious males, this was a race effectively suited to the ability set of ‘King Kelly’ however second to Etienne De Wilde in 1989 was as an in depth as he bought – and there have been additionally two third locations for him.
Roger’s first win
1969: Roger De Vlaeminck wins, ‘sure, however he received quite a lot of races,’ I hear you say. This was his FIRST ever skilled occasion – class, he’d win once more a decade later in 1979.
Jos Bruyere
1980: Eddy Merck’s proper hand man, Jos Bruyere turns into the second rider to, ‘do the triple’ after wins in ’74 and ’75. An enormous of a person, laborious as nails, oblivious to atrocious climate his palmarès embody two Liege-Bastogne-Liege wins and an extended spell within the maillot jaune in 1978.
De Fons on De Muur
1982: Englishman Graham Jones was class and it took a person of even better class, House Boy, Fons de Wolf to disclaim Jones the win on this version. A great 12 months for Anglos, Jones second, Kelly third and the late Paul Sherwen eighth. Jones may have been a lot extra however in true Gallic model of the time was raced to a frazzle by Peugeot.
The late Gerrie Kneteman and Paul Sherwen in Omloop Het Volk 1983
1988: Rony Van Holen wins and it’s one of many few occasions in latest historical past if you may say; ‘who?’ of an Omloop winner. Regardless of sporting an extravagant mullet, Van Holen was elegant; World Junior Highway Race Champion in 1977 he received an unlimited variety of races as an novice and while he maybe by no means reached the heights anticipated as a professional he received the Pino Cerami, Brabantse Pijl, Samyn and the Jef Scherens twice.
Johan Museeuw, Frank Vandenbroucke and three time Het Volk winner Peter van Petegem on the Molenberg
2002: and ‘De Pete’ aka Peter Van Petegem joins ‘Recordmen’ Sterckx and Bruyere on three wins after his ’97 and ’98 wins. An actual Flandrian laborious man with two Rondes and a Paris-Roubaix amongst his palmarès. Vik and I had been over in Belgium for the Nationwide Championships one 12 months and handed the good man in our automobile while he was out on a coaching run. We rolled down the window and gave him a shout; a nod and a grunt had been returned. After we informed our Belgian buddies, they reckoned we should have caught him in a chatty temper.
Juan Antonio Flecha 2010
2010: A Spaniard profitable a cobbled traditional? And one born in Argentina? Juan Antonio Flecha supplied the fledgling Workforce Sky with an enormous increase when he received the Omloop and bought their season off to a terrific begin – nevertheless, that was pretty much as good because it bought for the crew that 12 months; earlier than their remorseless ascendancy started.
Ian Stannard within the Omloop 2015
2015: We’d watched Ian Stannard beat GVA to win in 2014 however this 12 months, when he was away within the closing with THREE Fast-Steps – Tremendous Stars Tom Boonen and Niki Terpstra plus human freight prepare, Stijn Vandenbergh, his probabilities of a repeat win appeared slim. ‘Shocked silence’ doesn’t adequately describe the eerie quiet within the bar the place we watched the previous couple of kilometres, when Stannard rolled all three of them – exceptional.
Ed Hood can be in Flanders this weekend in spirit
# Keep PEZ for the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad race report on Saturday and all of the information, together with Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, in EUROTRASH Monday. #
Like PEZ? Why not subscribe to our weekly e-newsletter to obtain updates and reminders on what’s cool in street biking?
