This year’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad was one of the most remarkable races of the season. With 40 kilometres remaining a break of four went clear consisting of Ian Stannard of Team Sky and three Etixx-Quick Step riders, Tom Boonen, Stijn Vandenberghe and Niki Terpstra.
Despite a valiant chase from Sep Vanmarcke, the four stayed clear. It should have been a straightforward win for one of the Etixx riders, but a lot of mistakes were made in the closing kilometres and they somehow managed to lose the race.
Patrick Lefevere, boss of the Etixx team, said later that he wouldn’t have asked his riders to do anything differently. “We did what we did and we lost,” he said. “Stannard won. That’s the conclusion.”
Watch the last 20 kilometres of the race here:
best ride of 2015