{{For|the women's race|2016 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (women's race)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox cycling race report | name = 2016 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad | series = 2016 UCI Europe Tour | image = Omloop Het Nieuwsblad-2016 banner.jpg | image_caption = Event poster with previous winner Ian Stannard | image_size = 325 | date = {{start date|df=yes|2016|02|27}} | stages = 1 | distance = 200.8 | unit = km | time = 4h 54' 12" | first = Greg Van Avermaet | first_nat = BEL | first_natvar = | first_team = {{UCI team code|BMC|2016}} | second = Peter Sagan | second_nat = SVK | second_natvar = | second_team = {{UCI team code|TNK|2016}} | third = Tiesj Benoot | third_nat = BEL | third_natvar = | third_team = {{UCI team code|LTS|2016}} | previous = 2015 | next = 2017 }} The 71st edition of the '''Omloop Het Nieuwsblad''' was held on 27 February 2016.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url = http://www.procyclingstats.com/race/Omloop_Het_nieuwsblad_Elite_2016-profiles|title = Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Elite 2016 - Classic|access-date = 22 February 2016|website = ProCyclingStats}}</ref> It was won by Belgian Greg Van Avermaet in a five-man sprint before Peter Sagan and Tiesj Benoot.<ref name= "Benson" >{{cite web|last1=Benson|first1=Daniel|last2=Decaluwé|first2=Brecht|title=Van Avermaet wins Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Elite|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/omloop-het-nieuwsblad-elite-2016/results/|website=Cyclingnews.com|access-date=27 February 2016}}</ref> [[File:Gent_-_Omloop_Het_Nieuwsblad,_27_februari_2016_(E18).JPG|right|thumb|300x300px|Podium of the race: Peter Sagan, Greg Van Avermaet and Tiesj Benoot]] The race started and finished in Ghent, Belgium, covering 200.8 km.<ref name="roadmap" >{{cite web|title=Roadmap|url=http://ohn.pro.p.assets.flandersclassics.be/files/2682/original/omloop2016-elite-men-roadmap.pdf|website=omloophetnieuwsblad.be|publisher=Flanders Classics|access-date=22 February 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055007/http://ohn.pro.p.assets.flandersclassics.be/files/2682/original/omloop2016-elite-men-roadmap.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The ''Omloop'' marked the start of the cobbled classics season in Europe and was rated as a 1.HC event of the 2016 UCI Europe Tour.
==Preview== ===Route=== The Omloop Het Nieuwsblad started in Ghent, East Flanders, and addressed the Flemish Ardennes in the south of the province, featuring numerous short climbs, before returning to Ghent.<ref name="roadmap" /> This edition, organizers needed to find an alternative for the traditional start and finish location on Sint-Pietersplein.{{refn|group=N|Every seven years, when Easter comes early in the year, Ghent's largest square, ''Sint-Pietersplein'', is booked for the annual Mid-Lent fair.}} In 2016 organizers chose {{Interlanguage link multi|Citadel Park (Gent)|nl|3=Citadelpark|lt=Citadel Park}}, the site adjacent to the Kuipke velodrome, as the start location. The finish was on Emile Claus thoroughfare, close to the starting place.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bekijk hier het gewijzigde parcours van de Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|url=http://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20160223_02144671|website=Het Nieuwsblad|publisher=Mediahuis|access-date=23 February 2016}}</ref>
At 200 kilometres and with a dozen climbs in the ''hill zone'', the course was challenging and arduous. Additionally, there were several flat stretches of cobbles.<ref name= "CN preview 2016" >{{cite web|title=Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Elite 2016|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/omloop-het-nieuwsblad-elite-2016/|website=Cycling News|publisher=Immediate Media Company|access-date=23 February 2016}}</ref> The race featured one new climb, Boembekeberg, as a replacement for the Molenberg, which was skipped because of road works.<ref name="roadmap" /><ref>{{cite web|last1=Wynn|first1=Nigel|title=Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2016 preview|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/omloop-het-nieuwsblad-and-kuurne-brussels-kuurne-2016-preview-213153?trend=Omloop-Het-Nieuwsblad|website=Cycling Weekly|access-date=24 February 2016}}</ref>
There are thirteen categorized climbs:<ref name="roadmap" /> {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ Climbs in the 2016 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad<ref name="roadmap" /> |- ! scope=col | {{abbr|No.|Number}} ! scope=col | Name ! scope=col | Distance from finish ({{abbr|km|kilometres}}) ! scope=col | Road surface ! scope=col | Length ({{abbr|m|metres}}) ! scope=col | Average gradient (%) ! scope=col | Maximum gradient (%) |- |1 ! scope=row | Leberg | 141 | asphalt | 950 | 4.2% | 13.8% |- |2 ! scope=row | Berendries | 137 |asphalt | 940 | 7% | 12.3% |- |3 ! scope=row | Tenbosse | 132 | asphalt | 450 | 6.9% | 8.7% |- |4 ! scope=row | Eikenmolen | 127 | asphalt | 610 | 5.9% | 12.5% |- |5 ! scope=row | Muur van Geraardsbergen | 115 | cobbles | 1.075 | 9.3% | 19.8% |- |6 ! scope=row | Valkenberg | 97 | asphalt | 540 | 8.1% | 12.8% |- |7 ! scope=row | Kaperij | 78 | asphalt | 1.000 | 5.5% | 9% |- | 8 ! scope=row | Kruisberg | 67 | asphalt/cobbles | 950 | 4.8% | 9% |- |9 ! scope=row | Taaienberg | 57 | cobbles | 530 | 6.6% | 15.8% |- |10 ! scope=row | Eikenberg | 52 | cobbles | 1.200 | 5.2% | 10% |- |11 ! scope=row | Wolvenberg | 48 | asphalt | 645 | 7.9% | 17.3% |- |12 ! scope=row | Leberg | 38 | asphalt | 950 | 4.2% | 13.8% |- |13 ! scope=row | Boembeke<ref>{{cite web|title=Boembeek|url=http://www.sport.be/cycling/nl/hellingen/info.html?Route_ID=490|website=sport.be|access-date=12 March 2016}}</ref> | 32 | asphalt | 1.200 | 5% | 7% |} <gallery mode="packed" heights=200px widths=200px> Hetnieuwsblad2016 part1.png|alt=Map|Northern part of the race : Begin of the route (red), final (green) Hetnieuwsblad2016 part2.png|alt=Map|Southern part of the race : Begin of the route (red), intermediate part (blue), final (green) </gallery>
===Pre-race favourites=== Britain's Ian Stannard, the winner of the previous two editions, was not present in this year's event. World champion Peter Sagan was among the key favourites, together with classics specialists Alexander Kristoff, Tom Boonen, Greg Van Avermaet and Philippe Gilbert.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Clarke|first1=Stuart|title=10 riders to look out for at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/10-riders-to-look-out-for-at-omloop-het-nieuwsblad-212993|website=cycling Weekly|access-date=24 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Zij zijn klaar voor de Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|url=http://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20160222_02142510|website=Het Nieuwsblad|publisher=Mediahuis|access-date=22 February 2016|language=nl}}</ref> Former world time trial champion Tony Martin made a first appearance.<ref name= "Fav" >{{cite web|last1=O'Shea|first1=Sadhbh|title=riders to watch for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne - Video|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/5-riders-to-watch-for-omloop-het-nieuwsblad-and-kuurne-brussel-kuurne-video/|website=Cycling News|publisher=Immediate Media Company|access-date=22 February 2016}}</ref> {{Div col|colwidth=24em}} *{{flagathlete|Peter Sagan|SVK}} ({{UCI team code|TNK|2016}}) *{{flagathlete|Alexander Kristoff|NOR}} ({{UCI team code|KAT|2016}}) *{{flagathlete|Greg Van Avermaet|BEL}} ({{UCI team code|BMC|2016}}) *{{flagathlete|Philippe Gilbert|BEL}} ({{UCI team code|BMC|2016}}) *{{flagathlete|Tom Boonen|BEL}} ({{UCI team code|EQS|2016}}) *{{flagathlete|Tony Martin|GER}} ({{UCI team code|EQS|2016}}) *{{flagathlete|Niki Terpstra|NED}} ({{UCI team code|EQS|2016}}) *{{flagathlete|Stijn Vandenbergh|BEL}} ({{UCI team code|EQS|2016}}) *{{flagathlete|Luke Rowe|GBR}} ({{UCI team code|SKY|2016}}) *{{flagathlete|Arnaud Démare|FRA}} ({{UCI team code|FDJ|2016}}) *{{flagathlete|Tiesj Benoot|BEL}} ({{UCI team code|LTB|2016}}) *{{flagathlete|Edward Theuns|BEL}} ({{UCI team code|TFR|2016}}) {{div col end}}
===Teams=== 25 teams were invited: 12 UCI WorldTeams and 13 continental teams.{{refn|group=N|As a 1.HC event, the race organizers could invite up to 70% UCI WorldTeams as a total of the line-up.}}{{refn|group=N|{{UCI team code|TGA|2016}} withdrew at the last moment, because they were unable to line up enough riders, after a severe accident in an early-season training camp left several riders injured.}}<ref>{{cite web|last1=Clarke|first1=Stuart|title=Giant-Alpecin pull out of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|url=http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/giant-alpecin-pull-out-of-omloop-het-nieuwsblad-212729|website=Cycling Weekly|access-date=22 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Veranda's Willems vervangt Giant-Alpecin in Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|url=http://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20160219_02138477|website=Het Nieuwsblad|access-date=22 February 2016}}</ref> In total, 199 riders were at the start.{{refn|group=N|Teams were limited to eight riders, for a maximum field of 200 riders.}}<ref>{{cite web|title=List of participants Omloop Het Nieuwsblad|url=http://ohn.pro.p.assets.flandersclassics.be/files/2771/original/Deelnemers%20UCI.pdf?1456505007|website=official website|access-date=27 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305170750/http://ohn.pro.p.assets.flandersclassics.be/files/2771/original/Deelnemers%20UCI.pdf?1456505007|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{Cyclingteamlist|title=ProTeams|year=2016|ALM|BMC|EQS|FDJ|IAM|LTB|KAT|team1={{UCI team code|OBE|2016a}}|TLJ|SKY|TNK|TFR}} {{Cyclingteamlist|title=Professional Continental teams|year=2016|BOH|CCC|COF|DEN|NIP|ONE|ROO|SSG|team1={{UCI team code|STH|2016a}}|TSV|VAT|WGG}} {{Cyclingteamlist|title=Continental teams|year=2016|VWT}}
==Race report== Twelve riders, among which Alexis Gougeard, were in the early breakaway, as {{UCI team code|EQS|2016}} and {{UCI team code|KAT|2016}} held them within range of the peloton. Greg Van Avermaet, Luke Rowe and Tiesj Benoot broke clear on Taaienberg, immediately being joined by Peter Sagan on the descent. The four riders caught the remaining early escapees and dropped them all on the last cobbled sections, except for Gougeard. Powering on to Ghent, the elite group stayed clear until the finish and the race was decided in a five-man sprint. Van Avermaet led out the slightly uphill sprint from afar and sealed his first win of the season. Sagan was second, Benoot third. Jens Debusschere won the sprint for sixth place, nine seconds behind Van Avermaet.<ref name= "Benson" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Van Avermaet schiet meteen raak in de Omloop |url=http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/matchcenter/mc_wielrennen/Comp_voorjaar/1.2581341 |website=Sporza.be |access-date=27 February 2016 |language=nl |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160301092816/http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/matchcenter/mc_wielrennen/Comp_voorjaar/1.2581341 |archive-date=1 March 2016 }}</ref>
==Results== [[File:E3 Harelbeke 2013, van avermaet top paterberg (19636839984).jpg|thumb|right|Greg Van Avermaet ''(pictured in 2013)'' sealed his first win of 2016 in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad]] {{cyclingresult start}} {{cyclingresult|1|Greg Van Avermaet|BEL|{{UCI team code|BMC|2016}}|4h 54' 12"}} {{cyclingresult|2|Peter Sagan|SVK|{{UCI team code|TNK|2016}}|+ 0"}} {{cyclingresult|3|Tiesj Benoot|BEL|{{UCI team code|LTS|2016}}|+ 0"}} {{cyclingresult|4|Luke Rowe|GBR|{{UCI team code|SKY|2016}}|+ 0"}} {{cyclingresult|5|Alexis Gougeard|FRA|{{UCI team code|ALM|2016}}|+ 5"}} {{cyclingresult|6|Jens Debusschere|BEL|{{UCI team code|LTS|2016}}|+ 9"}} {{cyclingresult|7|Adrien Petit|FRA|{{UCI team code|DEN|2016}}|+ 9"}} {{cyclingresult|8|Edward Theuns|BEL|{{UCI team code|TFR|2016}}|+ 9"}} {{cyclingresult|9|Jasper Stuyven|BEL|{{UCI team code|TFR|2016}}|+ 9"}} {{cyclingresult|10|Mathieu Ladagnous|FRA|{{UCI team code|FDJ|2016}}|+ 9"}} {{cyclingresult end |source=<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/omloop-het-nieuwsblad/2016/result |title=Omloop Het Nieuwsblad ME 2016 One day race results |website=ProCyclingStats.com |access-date=19 April 2026}}</ref>}}
==Notes== {{reflist|group=N}}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * {{Official website|http://www.omloophetnieuwsblad.be/en}}
{{Omloop Het Nieuwsblad}}
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Category:Omloop Het Nieuwsblad – Men's race Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Omloop Het Nieuwsblad