For the second year in a row, Belgium was left without a win in one of its two opening weekend Classics, the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.
The Belgian malaise has gotten so bad though, that a top ten in the race watched and counted on most feverishly, Het Nieuwsblad, is barely a given. In 2010, Niko Eeckhout was the top placed Belgian in 7th, this year, the top placed Belgian finished a further two spots back in 9th, young run Jürgen Roelandts.
While 9th in the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is a disappointing result for Belgium as a whole, it's nothing to mock in regards to the ever improving Roelandts. Before Saturday, his best finish was 29th in the race that his team captain, Philippe Gilbert, has won twice before.
Ninth place is an encouraging result for the rider from Sint-Martens-Bodegem, a suburb of Brussels, but it could have been better. Roelandts was the last rider to hold on behind Flecha's onslaught on the flat cobbled section of the Paddestraat. The tough double of the Paddestraat and the Lippenhovestraat made for a vicious flat pave combo that was just a little too much for the 25 year old.
"I was at five meters, then ten, then fifteen, then slowly the Paddestraat turned. I knew Flecha was going to try something there, and I wanted to hold on to his wheel, but he was very strong, too strong."
Once the initial gap opened, it was never coming back, despite Roelandts's best efforts. After giving it everything for a few minutes, the Belgian opted for discretion and sat up to wait for the group in hot pursuit behind him.
"On the second part of the section [the 1300 meters of the Lippenhovestraat], I was really in the red, and I knew it was over. It was better that I sat up and waited for the pursuers…In the end, everyone was tired in our group, and it was going in all directions.
Roelandts's eventual top ten was just reward for a well run race by the young Belgian, and with Gilbert targeting a slow build-up for his key spring targets, it's a promising situation for Omega Pharma-Lotto. The 2010 Amstel Gold winner will certainly be in top condition for the spring's Monuments, so the only difficult question is - what kind of support can he expect from his team. With a performance like Saturday's, Gilbert can likely rest a little easier knowing that Roelandts will likely be a very capable lieutenant for him in the critical phases of this year's Classics.