Dylan van Baarle bags fine solo victory on Jumbo-Visma debut at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad

Dylan van Baarle took a magnificent solo victory on his Jumbo-Visma debut as the 2023 spring Classics began in style at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. The Dutchman, who switched to Jumbo from Ineos Grenadiers over the winter, proved too strong for his supporting cast, riding them off his back wheel one after another.

Ad A four-strong chase group formed to exert some pressure, but Van Baarle never looked in serious danger of losing his advantage, riding into the race's new finish at Ninove half a kilometre ahead of anyone else. CyclingRecord-smashing Remco and THAT handshake – 24 moments that shaped the season25/12/2022 AT 18:00 Van Baarle had been among the favourites before the first major classic of the season, but would not have seen his name at the top of too many pundits' lists.

In the absence of of reining champion, Wout van Aert, it was an open field that set off from Ghent on the cold but humid, windy 200km course. A seven-strong breakaway slipped the clutches of the bunch inside the opening 10km.

It contained a mixture of promising youngsters and solid pros, but no serious threats to the overall victory: Jelle Wallays (Cofidis), Mathias Norsgaard (Movistar), Mathis Le Berre (Arkea Samsic), Louis Blouwe (Bingoal WB), Adam de Vos (Human Powered Health), Gilles De Wilder (Team Flanders Baloise), Alex Colman (Team Flanders Baloise). Within twenty kilometres the group had built themselves a lead of four minutes, as Jumbo Visma controlled things loosely from behind.

A crash ahead of the first run across the Haaghoek, a section of hellingen which would prove even more important later, brought the the races of Michael Schar (AG2R Citroen) and outside bet Ben Turner (Ineos Grenadiers) to an early close. Riders forced to WALK up