Team Sky out on the cobbles ahead of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

LottoNL.Jumbo also made a recon of the course on the same day Sky's Ian Stannard and Luke Rowe were out in preparation

20150226 / Cycling : Omloop Het Nieuwsblad training recognition / Ian STANDARD (Gbr) / Luke ROWE (Gbr) / photo Luc Claessen
(Image credit: ISPA/Claessen)

Cycling : Het Nieuwsblad training

Ian Stannard and Luke Rowe prepare for the first cobbles action of the season at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (L.Claessen/ISPA)
(Image credit: ISPA/Claessen)

The first semi-Classic of the season, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad kicks-off on Saturday, and defending champion Ian Stannard was out on a route reconnaissance on Thursday with Team Sky teammate Luke Rowe.

Former British National Road Race champion Stannard was the first Brit to win the race, which is historically dominated by Belgians, with 54 of the 69 editions of Het Nieuwsblad won by home riders.

Bradley Wiggins will also be on the startline to ride in support of Stannard, as he continues his build-up to Paris-Roubaix.

>>> Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2015 preview

Rowe and Stannard were out training just east of Oudenaarde on the Haaghoek sector of Pavé, which features three times on the course at 59, 110 and 157km, with seven other sectors to take on along the route as well.

They weren't the only ones out training either, as Sep Vanmarcke lead his Lotto.NL-Jumbo out on a recon as he eyes a second win in Het Nieuwsblad after winning the race in 2012.

The Belgian will be hoping for a victory in the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix later in the year as well, having already come close to a monument with a second place in Roubaix in 2013 and third in Flanders last year.

Cycling : Het Nieuwsblad training

Stannard (left) rides as defending champion and has a strong team around him which includes Bradley Wiggins along with Rowe (right) (L.Claessen/ISPA)
(Image credit: ISPA/Claessen)

Cycling : Het Nieuwsblad training

Rowe charges ahead of Stannard up the Haaghoek climb just east of Oudenaarde (L.Claessen/ISPA)
(Image credit: ISPA/Claessen)

Cycling : Het Nieuwsblad training

The former British national champion will be hoping to get through the Classics with no injuries this year (L.Claessen/ISPA)
(Image credit: ISPA/Claessen)

Cycling : Het Nieuwsblad training

The Sky duo ascend the Haaghoek (L.Claessen/ISPA)
(Image credit: ISPA/Claessen)

Cycling : Het Nieuwsblad training

It's not quite Roubaix or Flanders, but the het Nieuwsblad course has plenty of difficult sections for the riders. (L.Claessen/ISPA)
(Image credit: ISPA/Claessen)

Cycling : Het Nieuwsblad training

Sep Vanmarcke and his Lotto.NL-Jumbo teammates were also out on a course recon (L.Claessen/ISPA)
(Image credit: ISPA/Claessen)

Cycling : Het Nieuwsblad training

Vanmarcke won Het Nieuwsblad back in 2012 (L.Claessen/ISPA)

Cycling : Het Nieuwsblad training

Lotto will show off their new colours for the first time in a Classic after switching from being Belkin last year. (L.Claessen/ISPA)
(Image credit: ISPA/Claessen)

Cycling : Het Nieuwsblad training

Vanmarcke will be hoping his teammates can help him to a win at Flanders or Roubaix after some high placings in recent year (L.Claessen/ISPA)
(Image credit: ISPA/Claessen)

Cycling : Het Nieuwsblad training

Jos Van Emden powers along a cobbled sector ahead of the race proper on Saturday (L.Claessen/ISPA)
(Image credit: ISPA/Claessen)

Cycling : Het Nieuwsblad training

The 200km course contains 11 hellingen and 10 pavé sectors to deal with (L.Claessen/ISPA)
(Image credit: ISPA/Claessen)

Cycling : Het Nieuwsblad training

Maarten Tjallingii rides up the Haaghoek (L.Claessen/ISPA)
(Image credit: ISPA/Claessen)

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Richard Windsor

Follow on Twitter: @richwindy


Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.


An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).