Sep Vanmarcke wins the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2012
Sep Vanmarcke of Team Garmin-Barracuda entered the 2012 winning list after his remarkable performance at the first spring classics of the season, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
The Belgian took full use of the home advantage and sailed his way through the finish-line while the crowd cheered their local hero.
He overcame the race favourites, Tom Boonen and Philippe Gilbert to claim his first ever win at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
Boonen of Team Omega Pharma-Quick Step finished the race at the second position while Juan Antonio Flecha of Sky Procycling Team and Heinrich Haussler of Team Garmin occupied the third and fourth spots.
The 23-year-old voiced after the race, “I still can’t believe that I’ve won but I figure it’ll be true, this is unbelievable. As a 14-year-old you start to race and you admire the Belgians who ride the classics and win. You grow, each year you improve and now I’m here, winning my first classic”.
Philippe Gilbert was targeting his third victory at the race but had to face the disappointment as Team BMC cyclist could not achieve any better than the 31stposition.
He finished 41 seconds behind the race leader and could not overcome the lost time because of the flat tire during the last 60 kilometres of the race.
One really had to ride his luck and Vanmarcke took full advantage to seal the deal on the 200 kilometre race.
The 23-year-old started riding professionally with Team Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator in 2010 and joined the American side Team Garmin after spending a year with his previous team.
He secured the Mountain classifications at the Quatre Jours de Dunkerque 2010 and finished second at the Gent-Wevelgem 2010.
Sep’s only success at the 2011 season was the fourth place finish at the E3 Prijs Vlaanderen-Harelbeke.
The cyclist continued his second consecutive season with the American side and a stage win early on the season will be a definite boost in his confidence for the coming part of the season.
The Belgian noted, “I’ve been through a lot of emotional roller coasters in the past due to some health issues. This winter I’ve worked much more professionally, for example doing exercises every day for two hours to strengthen my back which is often causing problems elsewhere”.
After a terrific start to his classics season, Vanmarcke is hopeful to continue his winning streak for the coming races of the year.
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