Under wraps: images from Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne

Under wraps: images from Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne

As if the cobbled hills and other riders weren’t enough, there was another factor to take on in Belgium: that bitter wind.

Michael Valgren Kuurne-Brussels-Kurne Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Racing Sep Vanmarcke

The sun might have been out and the skies blue, but it was a biting cold wind that ripped through the peloton at the traditional opening salvos of the Belgian season this weekend.

You can’t always see the challenge that the wind presents in still images of cycle racing, but its presence is all too evident in Chris Auld’s collection of images from Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday and down the road in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne the following day.

From whatever level you look at it, seeking shelter seemed to be the name of the game – whether that was hiding one’s face behind a buff to keep the chill of the chops, or one’s body behind another in an echelon to keep powder dry for later in the race. Only the brave bared legs, while spectators huddled against walls – and under ear flaps.

Rouleur Roadbook: a road cyclist’s guide to Ghent 

It was great for flag-flying though. And there were of course riders who did stick their noses out in the wind. Sep Vanmarcke launched a blistering attack on the Muur in Het Nieuwsblad only to hit a more fearsome wall of block-head once away on his own over the top.

Omloop Het Niuewsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2018, Chris Auld

Dimension Data’s Julien Vermote, was another. The former Quickstep rider who’s made a name for himself riding in the wind on the front of the bunch all day for the benefit of sprinters, nearly seized his own moment of glory at their expense in Kuurne. 

But, the final survivor from a late three man breakaway, he was passed in the home straight as the fastmen burst forth from the shelter of bunch with Dylan Groenewegen taking the honours. 

It was left then to Astana’s Michael Valgren to find good blowing in the ill wind. With the protection of two team mates in the break with him, once the Dane had opened a gap in the closing kilometres at Het Nieuwsblad, it was too much of a commitment for any his rivals to move to chase him down.

Omloop Het Niuewsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2018, Chris Auld

Omloop Het Niuewsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2018, Chris Auld

Omloop Het Niuewsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2018, Chris Auld Omloop Het Niuewsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2018, Chris Auld

Read: Tony Martin’s Paris-Roubaix dreamOmloop Het Niuewsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2018, Chris Auld Omloop Het Niuewsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2018, Chris Auld

Omloop Het Niuewsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2018, Chris Auld Omloop Het Niuewsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2018, Chris Auld Omloop Het Niuewsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2018, Chris AuldOmloop Het Niuewsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2018, Chris Auld

Omloop Het Niuewsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2018, Chris Auld
Read: Jørgen Leth on the making of a cinematic cycling classic

Omloop Het Niuewsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2018, Chris Auld

Omloop Het Niuewsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2018, Chris Auld

Omloop Het Niuewsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2018, Chris Auld

Omloop Het Niuewsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2018, Chris Auld

Omloop Het Niuewsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2018, Chris AuldThe post Under wraps: images from Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne appeared first on The world's finest cycling magazine.

Michael Valgren Kuurne-Brussels-Kurne Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Racing Sep Vanmarcke

READ MORE

Domination and revelations: The Dauphiné showed us more than just Tadej Pogačar's continued superiority

Domination and revelations: The Dauphiné showed us more than just Tadej Pogačar's continued superiority

The final showdown before the Tour de France; what exactly did we learn from eight days at the Critérium du Dauphiné?

Leggi di più
Final Tour de France podium 2024

Tour de France favourites 2025: who will win the yellow jersey?

A look at who the bookmakers are backing to win the general classification at this year's Tour

Leggi di più
Julius Johansen

The incredible comeback story of Tadej Pogačar’s new teammate after WorldTour rejection

He won a world road race title before Tadej Pogačar, but the blonde-haired Dane had to suffer a painful rejection before finally reaching the top

Leggi di più
First blood in the mountains: What does Pogačar's crushing Dauphiné stage win tell us about the Tour?

First blood in the mountains: What does Pogačar's crushing Dauphiné stage win tell us about the Tour?

Time trial gains for Jonas Vingegaard, first mountain domination for Tadej Pogačar. Are we set for a close-fought Tour de France?

Leggi di più
Joao Almeida

Tour de Suisse 2025 preview: Almeida the man to beat?

With the big hitters fighting it out in the Critérium du Dauphiné, there's a golden opportunity for a WorldTour victory at the Tour de Suisse

Leggi di più
Tiffany Cromwell

My other life as a graphic designer, by Tiffany Cromwell

Veteran of the women’s peloton since 2010, Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto’s Tiffany Cromwell spends most of her downtime drawing and creating, including a number of Formula One...

Leggi di più

READ RIDE REPEAT

JOIN ROULEUR TODAY

Get closer to the sport than ever before.

Enjoy a digital subscription to Rouleur for just £4 per month and get access to our award-winning magazines.

SUBSCRIBE