The 71st edition of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad will take place on Saturday 27 February 2016. The opening race of the Belgian cycling season starts at the Citadelpark in Ghent. After that the peloton needs to cover 200.8 kilometres, thirteen hills and ten cobbled sections in total.
The race is about 60 kilometres before the cobblestones. The Haaghoek is the first section, thereafter six ascents will follow with among others the Eikenmolen and Tenbosse-two new hills on the course. About 90 kilometres from the end the peloton has to ride a second time over the cobbles of the Haaghoek, then it goes towards the Taaienberg and Eikenberg. Several teams will try to make a first selection on these hills. The final passage of the Haaghoek will then give the introduction to the finale. The finale is a bit different compared to previous editions. Due to traffic work at the Molenberg, the final hill is now the Boembekeberg. The last cobbled sections are the Paddestraat, Lippenhovestraat and Lange Munte. That final section is situated at about twenty kilometres of the finish, which is this year on the Emile Clauslaan.
Lotto Soudal starts with ambition in the opening weekend. Tiesj Benoot, Jürgen Roelandts and Jens Debusscheren already showed in Algarve that they’re in a good shape. Although there will be strong opponents. Riders as Philippe Gilbert and Greg Van Avermaet, Tom Boonen and Niki Terpstra, Alexander Kristoff and world champion Peter Sagan will aim for the victory. Tiesj Benoot and Jürgen Roelandts give a preview.
Tiesj Benoot: “I start in the opening weekend with a little more confidence compared to last year. I know the course very well, but a lot of others too. We’ll have to make sure that we’re on the right positions at the crucial moments and we’ll have to ride attentively at the front of the peloton.”
“In my opinion, the Ronde Van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix are more important races, but I won’t start the Omloop with less ambition. I was already in good shape last year in the same period and now as well. I feel good, especially after the Volta ao Algarve. I went a few times full gas in several stages so perhaps I can count on a supercompensation, we’ll see.”
“The new hill in the finale won’t determine the race I think. The difference will be made before this hill. We want to be with as much riders as possible in the finale, then we can try something and attack. It would be great if I could win the race. But if someone else of the team wins, I’ll be equally happy of course.”
Jürgen Roelandts: “Until now I didn’t start with a 100 per cent positive feeling in the races. But I didn’t participate at the recon today so hopefully I’ll be in a good shape. I stayed in Algarve till yesterday, the final stage was really tough and I took my time to recover as good as possible.”
“I don’t mind that there are other riders in the team that can win the race. In my opinion it’s even better for us as a team. You have to make sure that you’re attentive in the front of course. This year’s selection is one of the stronger ones of the past few years, maybe it’s even the best selection. If we could win a race during the opening weekend, it would give a boost to the whole team. It depends on how the race will evolve of course, but we stand a good chance. Even more than the previous years.”
Selection Lotto Soudal: Tiesj Benoot, Stig Broeckx, Sean De Bie, Jens Debusschere, Pim Ligthart, Jürgen Roelandts, Tosh Van der Sande and Jelle Wallays.
Sports directors: Herman Frison and Frederik Willems.
