2011 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
| Race details | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dates | 26 February | ||||||||||||
| Stages | 1 | ||||||||||||
| Distance | 203 km (126.1 mi) | ||||||||||||
| Winning time | 5h 18' 03" | ||||||||||||
| Results | |||||||||||||
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| Winner |
 Sebastian Langeveld (NED)
|
(Rabobank) | |
| Second |
 Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP)
|
(Team Sky) | |
| Third |
 Matthew Hayman (AUS)
|
(Team Sky) |
The 2011 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad took place on 26 February 2011. It was the 66th edition of the international classic Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. This year's Omloop started and ended at St. Peter's Square in Ghent, Belgium and spanned 203 kilometers in the province of East Flanders. The race was the first 1.HC event in the 2011 UCI World Ranking.
This year's edition of the race featured more cobblestones when compared to previous editions, as it crossed a 2 kilometer cobblestone section three times. Former rider and race organizer Peter Van Petegem also decreased the number of climbs from twelve to nine, notably omitting the infamous Muur van Geraardsbergen. According to the race organization, the race course was "slightly tough[ened] overall".
Rabobank's Sebastian Langeveld (NED) beat Team Sky's Juan Antonio Flecha of Spain after a breakaway of 53 kilometers. Langeveld beat Flecha in a two-man sprint under wet and cold conditions. The other pre-race favourites Tom Boonen, Stijn Devolder and Thor Hushovd finished 5 minutes after Langeveld.
As this was a UCI 1.HC event, the organizers, the Flanders Classics Federation, were allowed to invite UCI ProTeams (max 80% of the total field), UCI Professional Continental teams, and UCI Continental teams. Non ProTeams teams are indicated by an asterisk below. Each of the 22 teams were permitted up to eight riders, for a total of 176 riders.
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