Day 1 of the opening weekend - and Belgium once again showed why it is the home of the spring classics. The euphoria of the fans, the raw fascination of the cobbles, the excitement in the air - all of this will carry us through the next six weeks.
The 80th anniversary edition of Omloop Nieuwsblad was more than just a race. It was the start of the classics campaign, the moment when the season really gets going for the one-day specialists. But this time it was different: no snow, no rain, no whipping winds. Instead, sunshine, spring-like temperatures and perfect conditions for a spectacle on the legendary roads of Flanders.
The weather left its mark on the race. "The start was surprisingly calm - not the usual chaos we often experience here," recalls last year's winner Jan Tratnik. But if you thought it would stay that way, you were wrong.
With the combination of Molenberg and Leberg, the typical chaos of the classics broke out. The peloton broke up and the pace exploded. "From then on it was Belgium as we know it. Every climb was full gas - and I was able to keep up without any problems," said Jan.
He was joined by Tim van Dijke, Mick van Dijke and Roger Adrià in the two groups that would decide the race. But for Tratnik the day came to a bitter end on the famous Muur van Geraardsbergen. A mechanical caused him to fall back at the crucial moment. "Unfortunately I couldn't test myself in the end," he said disappointedly.
But he still has good memories: "Even though I was not able to perform in the end, it was an incredible feeling to start with number 1".
Tim van Dijke finished in 15th place as the best Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe rider. "I ended up in 15th place, but I don't think that really reflects the race I rode. But yeah, that's cycling - you can't always control how the race goes. It was a good performance for my first race. We can build on that now," said the rookie.