A late attack enabled Deceuninck-QuickStep’s Zdenek Stybar to solo to victory in the 200km Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in Ghent, Belgium, today.
The Czech formed part of a five-man breakaway and he attacked within the last 2km to surge ahead and win. CCC’s Greg Van Avermaet won the sprint for second, beating Lotto Soudal’s Tim Wellens into third.
A late attack enabled Deceuninck-QuickStep’s Zdenek Stybar to solo to victory in the 200km Omloop Het Nieuwsblad today. Photo: Tiz-cycling.racing
The race was set alight when a four-man group, comprising Roy Jans (Corendon-Circus), Tom Wirtgen (Wallonie-Bruxelles), Alex Howes (EF Education First) and Tom Devriendt (Wanty-Groupe Gobert), broke away with almost 60km to go.
A large chasing group, of approximately 20 riders, were 1:40 behind the escapees, while the peloton were a further 15 seconds back.
Shortly after that the chasing group got swallowed in. Devriendt then attacked from within the break at the base of the Wolvenberg climb and eventually stretched his lead out to 30 seconds.
The three other escapees had 15 seconds over the peloton as they headed towards Molenberg, which was the eighth climb of the race.
The breakaway riders eventually got caught and, at the top of Molenberg, the peloton began to splinter, causing a reduced bunch of about 20 riders to form at the front.
Devriendt got pegged back, as a 17-man group created a 24-second lead over the rest of the peloton.
Alexey Lutsenko led the breakaway group onto the Berendries climb as they held a narrow 15-second lead.
Tiesj Benoot took over at the front of the break, maintaining a small buffer over a reduced chasing group.
Benoot then crashed out of the break on a corner before Elverenberg, which split the group in half.
Van Avermaet led the six survivors on the Muur as the break had a tight gap.
Daniel Oss was dropped from the break, as the other five riders continued to work together to stay away from an eager chase.
Each rider in the break kept swapping turns at the head of affairs and it paid off as their lead increased.
In the final 2km Stybar then attacked, broke clear and created a small gap. He stretched his lead out as he neared towards the line for his eventual solo victory.
It was QuickStep’s first win in the Omloop since 2005, which was then known as Omloop Het Volk.
