Jan Tratnik wins thrilling 2024 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad ahead of Nils Politt; Wout van Aert makes it two Visma riders on the podium
Cycling
Jan Tratnik has taken victory in a thrilling edition of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. With the drama going all the way to the final pedal stroke, Nils Politt and Wout van Aert completed a top-class podium.
With around 30 riders forming an elite, leading group at the front of the race, with the majority of teams represented in it, as the race headed into the final 70km, those caught out had some relatively earlier troubles to deal with.
In the leaders, the likes of Wout van Aert, Christophe Laporte, Jasper Philipsen, Kasper Asgreen, Tom Pidcock, Jonathan Milan, Tim Declerq and Arnaud De Lie among others, there was plenty of quality in the front group.
As the peloton came very close to completing the catch though, the Team Visma | Lease a Bike riders in the peloton attacked again, forming another selection at the front. Just six riders held a lead of around 50 seconds at 40km to go, those being van Aert, Laporte, De Lie, Pidcock, Matteo Jorgenson and Toms Skujins.
With the lead having extended to over a minute into the final 30km, the impetus of the chase had stalled somewhat, meaning things may have been decided.
So which of the six would win? Team Visma | Lease a Bike had the clear numbers advantage and despite Skujins making a few attacks it was a man in yellow and black that finally make the elastic snap when Jorgenson attacked clear with just over 20km to go.
As the chase of the American stalled, the peloton actually caught right up to the chasers and with Pidcock dropping away, Tim Wellens joined the group.
Incredibly, as the race went over the Bosberg, Jorgenson was caught by the peloton and the race was all back together with just over 11km to the line.
Team Visma | Lease a Bike still had strength in numbers though and Jan Tratnik soon countered. He was joined by Nils Politt and the duo had built up an advantage of 16 seconds at the front.
With 2km to go it was still 15 seconds and the duo were beginning to think about an incredible victory. They couldn't let up and play games though because the chasers were still all in.
Into the finishing straight, Politt was stuck on the front, with Tratnik making his move to come around with a couple hundred metres to go. When he did so, Politt could not respond and victory was Tratnik's with van Aert leading home the bunch for third.
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Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- It would be great if the World Champion's jersey could be rotated among McNulty, Simmons, and Jorgenson. They threaded the needle perfectly. If each hadn't done exactly what he did, exactly when he did it, the race would have gone to one of the more heralded superstars. That said, how nice that this humble and hardworking guy gets his moment in the sun.
MarkFour07-11-2026 - This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
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🇧🇪 #OHN24 𝗬𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗦 𝗝𝗔𝗡! 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗹!
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