[bell tolls] [cheering]
[music] Conor Dunne: We're at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
[cheering] [music]
Conor: Now, I love watching bike races on TV but there is simply nothing like taking
the thrill of the action by the side of a road, so I decided to show Olly and you how
to watch a bike race like a pro. Oliver Bridgewood: I've watched a bike race
before, Conor. Conor: No. No, Ollie. You haven't watched
a bike race like a pro. [music]
Oliver: We've come to Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the first Belgian classic of the year and
a proper, proper bike race. Conor: Yes, I actually raced it myself and
it's just a mental experience to be part of. Fans, the course, the atmosphere.
Oliver: Frites and beer. Conor: Don't forget the frites and the beer,
definitely. Oliver: Waffles. Waffles as well.
Conor: Yes, don't forget waffles. I like waffles too.
[music] Oliver: Omloop starts in Gent and winds its
way 199 kilometers around some iconic roads and cobbled sections, ending in Ninove. We're
going to try and watch the race from these five spots, some of the most exciting points
along the route. [music]
Oliver: Well, when are we heading to the start, then, mate?
Conor: Okay. Right. That's the thing. We're going to have to miss the start as part of
that. Oliver: Miss the start?
Conor: I know, I know, I know, I know, but we're going to have to miss it, basically,
because the start is so far away. If we go to the start, we're going to miss probably
two or three cobbled sections. It's a trade-off. If we go to the start, we miss the action.
In my opinion, we're here for the action, we're here to see the cobbles, the drama unfold
in real life. Otherwise, we'll be stuck in-- Riding for ages and ages and we'll miss it
all. Oliver: Okay. Well, I reckon just to spice
it up a bit as well, we should have a bit of a wager. Always like a wager.
Conor: Yes, okay. Go on, then. What's the forfeit?
Oliver: Forfeit is you have to pack up my bike or I have to pack up your bike.
Conor: Okay. Oliver: Okay. Right, but what we'll do, we
each pick a rider and whoever's rider finishes highest in the standings wins.
Conor: Okay. I'm going for Ben Swift. I think he's got it today.
Oliver: I'm going to go for Oliver Naesen because he's got the best name, best first
name, and we're friends. [laughs] Conor: Cycling friends. I went riding with
him in Calpe. Oliver, I'm going to cheer you on in the race.
[laughter] Oliver: Yes. Right. Let's go. Come on, then.
[music] Oliver: We got our bikes. Already got our
kit on. We're about to leave the warmth of the car and head out but, quick disclaimer,
we are going to be self-shooting some of this ourselves. If it's not quite up to the usual
standard you expect, sorry. Blame us. Conor: Yes. You're a roving reporter in the
field, Ollie, today. I guess we'd better get going. 16k to the first sector, you know.
We need to get a push on. You've been dilly-dallying, eating waffles and things.
Oliver: All right. Let's go, then. Quick, let's go.
[music] Oliver: We set off battling the wind on a
16-kilometer ride to the first spot. We've just made it to the first sector, where we're
trying to catch the race, by the skin of our teeth. We were actually hammering it while
riding along there. Conor: The first sector we made it to is the
Haaghoek. It's about 2.5 kilometers of cobbles. Immediately followed is the Leberg, quite
a key point in the race. You're going over this three times so it's good to be here.
The crowds are really piling up now and everyone's waiting for the race to arrive.
Oliver: I tell you what, you weren't wrong about the weather. It's proper windy. There's
a bit of rain getting on the lens, so I have to wipe that. 45 mile an hour winds today.
I brought a flag for Oliver to cheer him on. Conor: It's the peloton just passing now.
It's like [unintelligible 00:04:02] on the front. Fans are going, "Go on, [unintelligible
00:04:05]." Go on, Ryan. They look like they're suffering. They look very cold, though. Very,
very cold. Oliver: Can we stay in there? It's nice and
warm. They got a fire and everything. [music]
Oliver: With no time to spare, we headed off to the next sector.
Conor: We've made it to the next sector and, as you can see, the weather hasn't improved.
I think there's quite a camera shake going on as well, and that's my hand absolutely
shivering. Oliver: It's cold. So cold.
Conor: Yes. This cobbled sector is called the Holleweg just after the feed zone so I'm
hoping one of the riders chucks some [unintelligible 00:04:48] to us because I'm getting quite
hungry. The sun's poking its head out and Ollie's getting a bit more optimistic that
he's not going to be freezing for the rest of the day.
Oliver: The race is getting close because cars are coming through now and I can see
the helicopter just on the horizon coming over, so not long now before the break gets
here. Here they come now. The break's been caught. Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go,
go, go. [background noise]
Oliver: There weren't many smiles in that bunch. They didn’t look like they were having
a good time. [laughs] Conor: They're starting to suffer now, aren't
they? [music]
Oliver: Time and the weather were not on our side. We decided to cut our losses and head
straight to the iconic Muur. Conor: One of the things about cycling is
that you can do the climbs just before the race comes. I think this is great. You just
soak up the atmosphere and pretend you’re in the race. I might try and get some cheers
from the fans. You ready, Ollie? Oliver: Yes.
[music] Conor: Ollie's got me again.
[cheering] Conor: You beat me.
[laughter] Oliver: We arrived at the Muur just in time
to watch the final moments of the women's race, which we thought we wouldn't be able
to see. That's the great thing about coming to see a live bike race. You often get the
chance to watch two. [music]
Oliver: One of the awesome things about today and just coming to bike races, in general,
is you appreciate the roads and the terrain in a way that you can just never do that on
TV. Conor: Yes, I think that's the beauty of cycling,
really, that you can just go out there on your bike and do exactly what the pros are
doing in the race. This is just open to you and no one's stopping you from doing it.
Oliver: It’s good. All right. Not long now till they come through.
Conor: Looking forward to it, actually. It's going to be big. The atmosphere is building
now so I think we should get involved in the crowds, find our place. I'll tell you one
of my top tips when you're waiting for the race to arrive is to find a nice place that
you can watch. Don't be rushing around just before the race gets there. Take some time,
get a good spot. This verge is perfect for me. Nice vantage point. Comfy. Comfy bit of
grass. Oliver Naesen's not in the front group, is he? We're told the race is at the bottom
of the Muur. Anticipation is building. We hear the helicopters coming.
Oliver: Are they at the bottom now? Conor: Yes, they're at the bottom. They're
on the climb. They're coming. I didn't even know. They're coming. You can hear them. You
can hear the noise. You can hear the noise. [cheering]
Conor: Go, go, go. Go on, Michael. Oliver: Should we get some frites and waffles
now? Conor: Yes, definitely. I'm starving. Let's
watch the finish as well. Quick. [chuckles] See if Ollie can get up the verge first. [laughs]
You can do it, Ollie. Oliver: Yes.
[music] Oliver: From the Muur, we were never going
to make it to the finish so we decided to head to the local pub, soak up the atmosphere,
and catch the final few kilometers. Commentator: Lampaert boxed in there, unable
to get around Stuyven. Shake of the head. Jasper Stuyven winning for an eighth time
in his career and he has started 2020 with a bang.
Oliver: It was a super exciting race and although the weather was against us, we had an awesome
day. I tell you what, what about our wager, then? How did-
Conor: Yes, that's a point. That's a point. Oliver: -Swifty and Naesen do?
Conor: I'm just looking here now, actually. Ben Swift, 38th. Solid result there.
Oliver: 38th? Quite good, that. Conor: You know what?
Oliver: You think he's done it? Conor: I think he's done-- I'm not seeing
Oliver Naesen here. I'm just going in the top ten.
Oliver: Seventh. [laughs] Conor: Oh no.
Oliver: I knew he'd come through for me. My boy, Oliver. Cheers.
[music] Oliver: Finally, we headed off for some well-deserved
frites. Lovely. Conor: This is what I love about Belgian racing.
Any time there’s a big race on in town, they have what's called a kermis. Ollie wasn’t
sure what this was so I’m going to explain. It's just a fair, really, and you just have
a massive party. The race finishes and the party goes on. Everyone has a great time.
The community comes together. I love it in Belgium when they do this.
[music] Oliver: Now, today, we didn't get through
as many of the sectors as we originally planned but there's an important message in that.
Whenever you come and watch a bike race, always have a contingency plan and be prepared to
change your plans because things like the weather are uncontrollable. Today, the weather
was pretty grim. It's looking quite nice now but it was pretty grim at times, as I'm sure
you saw, but we still had an awesome time. We just changed up our plans and went on the
Muur for more of the time. Conor: Yes, definitely. I think you don't
want to get too stressed by trying to see too many sectors and getting caught up in
that too much. You just want to enjoy the moment, enjoy the race and have a great time.
That's what it's all about, really. Oliver: And frites.
Conor: Yes, and frites. Definitely frites. With mayo, not andalouse.
Oliver: We hope that it's inspired you to come and watch a race for yourselves because
there really is nothing like it. Conor: It's just the best thing ever. It's
such an experience. Really, just get out there and give it a go.
Oliver: Anyway, we'd better go now and you got to pack my bike as well. Come on.
Conor: Oh no. I forgot about that. Flipping heck, I drew the short straw here. I thought
I had it as well. Ollie, could you not have washed this? Come on. I know it's a forfeit
but it's absolutely filthy. [00:11:04] [END OF AUDIO]