Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2024 men’s race As it happened – Visma-LeaseABike dominate but Jan Tratnik the suprise winner of curtainraise, Van Aert third

Watch the finish below.

I'm a little surprised to win that, because we know we (Visma-LeaseABike) have such a strong team for the classics. In the past I didn't do many classics and today I was more in domestique role but still. The guys did a really good job in the first half of the race. I just missed behind but I could... not relax behind but we had five guys up front. Then it was a case of keep believing. We caught back all the guys and then I just went to counter-attack. This may be the biggest win in my life.

I was a little worried in the last k if I could win the sprint but then I see Nils start quite early so I started believe I could win. It's nice to have Wout on the podium.

It was not a really controlled race. I was surprised when we caught them.

1. Jan Tratnik (Visma | Lease a Bike)
2. Nils Politt (Bora-Hansgrohe)
3. Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike)

Remember how hard he worked in the Olympic Road Race in Japan? I think this is his reward for that.

Politt drags them round and leads as the road bends right. Tratnik jumps with 200m to go and Politt has no answer to him. It looked like Wout van Aert got third, so a great result for Visma-LeaseABike. In the end.

But they can't ease up. 10 seconds can disappear in an instant. Round the bend and under the flamme rouge.

They're holding them steady down this long straight road. Visma-LeaseABike are doing what they can to interrupt the chase.

Two riders of very different stature have 15 seconds as the metres come down very very fast.

They've already got 17 seconds and they should have pretty fresh legs - at least compared to some. Pretend I didn't say Tratnik was out of contention earlier. Nice call Daniel Benson of GCN.

But there's a larger group likely to tack onto it. The attacks are going to come thick and fast for the remainder of this race. Will we see a sprint finish?

I don't mind saying I'd love it for Wellens to win this one. All the climbs are done, it's just tactics left on the flat run-in to Ninove.

Ivan Garcia Cortina (Movistar) responsible for the final act of destruction. Wout van Aert is still there with team-mates but he may yet rue a wasted opportunity.

On the Bosberg, with 20 more riders coming from behind. The TV camera is foreshortening the distance but it seems Jorgensen is about to be caught.

The Bosberg could be where this race is decided. It's a much tougher, more interesting group than it looks - on paper and IRL.

Led by a charging Tim Wellens, who bridges across. Van Aert seems to be struggling a bit as they go up and round past the chapel. Pidcock has gone, and it seems the race is coming back together apart from Jorgensen, who has just a handful of seconds and knows what he has to do. Still the Bosberg to come. What a finale we have in store.

The steadily steepening paved streets of Geraardsbergen, past the fun fair and the thicker crowds. How's his engine? Is Van Aert going to attack himself?

Over the bridge in solid TT tuck. He's just about to hit the very first, uncobbled part of the Muur. Laporte and Van Aert are just sitting on for now.

And this is a real move from the American. He just drops off a few lengths and then sets off on the opposite side of the road. This puts the onus on Skujins, Pidcock and De Lie but they're just looking at each other. Jorgensen has already opened up a sizeable gap.

And Julian Alaphilippe is down again, as well as his team-mate Kasper Asgreen, and Florian Senechal. What a Weston-Super the French double world champion is having today.

On the third from last of them, the Elverenberg - Vossenhol, Rui Oliveira has a go, but the game is now surely insurmountable. No serious attacks in the front six as yet, but surely they're coming. The question is: Before the Muur? On it? Or after? The cohesion from this group has dwindled somewhat, as you'd expect. There's not really any need for Pidcock and Skujins to do serious turns to keep the group away, because they know they're going to have to save something for one big effort that will either work... or it won't.

On the steeply pitched Berendies, he decides the best form of defence is attack. He doesn't quite get away but does make it clear to take the climbers points at the top of the hill.