Johan Vansummeren leads his Garmin-Sharp teammates on the cobbled Taaienberg climb.(Image credit: Photopress.be)
Garmin-Sharp riders recon the route for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.(Image credit: Photopress.be)
Johan Vansummeren rides the Molenberg on the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad route.(Image credit: Photopress.be)
Garmin-Sharp's Martijn Maaskant and Tyler Farrar are joined by former teammate Heinrich Haussler (IAM Cycling) to recon the Haaghoek pave sector.(Image credit: Photopress.be)
Garmin-Sharp's Martijn Maaskant and Tyler Farrar are joined by former teammate Heinrich Haussler (IAM Cycling) to recon the Haaghoek pave sector.(Image credit: Photopress.be)
Heinrich Haussler (IAM Cycling) training on the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad course.(Image credit: Photopress.be)
Nick Nuyens (Garmin-Sharp) previews the Molenberg climb, one of 12 hellingen on the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad route.(Image credit: Photopress.be)
Garmin-Sharp riders check out the Haaghoek sector of pave.(Image credit: Photopress.be)
Thomas Dekker leads his Garmin-Sharp teammates over a sector of pave along the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad route.(Image credit: Photopress.be)
Sebastien Rosseler (Garmin-Sharp) seeks a smooth line up the Molenberg.(Image credit: Photopress.be)
Former teammates Tyler Farrar and Heinrich Haussler put in the miles on the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad pave.(Image credit: Photopress.be)
Garmin-Sharp's Johan Vansummeren, Sebastien Rosseler, Thomas Dekker, Martijn Maaskaant and Tyler Farrar recon the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad route.(Image credit: Photopress.be)
Nick Nuyens (Garmin-Sharp) trains on the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad route.(Image credit: Photopress.be)
Nick Nuyens is a new signee for Garmin-Sharp this season and adds considerable depth to their Classics roster.(Image credit: Photopress.be)
Members of Garmin-Sharp's Classics squad recon the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad parcours.(Image credit: Photopress.be)
It's almost Classics season in Belgium and Garmin-Sharp riders are out training on the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad route.(Image credit: Photopress.be)
Garmin-Sharp's Johan Vansummeren, Sebastien Rosseler, Thomas Dekker, Martijn Maaskaant and Tyler Farrar recon the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad route.(Image credit: Photopress.be)
Members of Garmin-Sharp's Classics squad train on the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad's cobbles.(Image credit: Photopress.be)
It's of the utmost importance to know the routes of the Classics and Garmin-Sharp riders put in training time for the upcoming Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.(Image credit: Photopress.be)
Garmin-Sharp's Thomas Dekker leads teammates Nick Nuyens and Johan Vansummeren over the cobbles.(Image credit: Photopress.be)
Heinrich Haussler (IAM Cycling), too, is out for a recon ride on the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad route.(Image credit: Photopress.be)
Nick Nuyens brings considerable Classics experience to Garmin-Sharp.(Image credit: Photopress.be)
It's nearly time for the cobbled Classics! Garmin-Sharp riders train with former teammate Heinrich Haussler on the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad pave. (Image credit: Photopress.be)
While members of the European peloton frequent sunny, balmy locales throughout the winter to build fitness for the 2013 season, there's still no substitute for putting in punishing training miles on the cobbled roads which comprise the upcoming Classics and semi-Classics in Belgium.
The Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is the traditional start to the Europe's cobbled campaign and key members of Garmin-Sharp's Classics squad have been putting in the miles on the 199km route to dial in their bikes and familiarise themselves with key sectors of the parcours.
Nick Nuyens, a new member of Garmin-Sharp for 2013, joined teammates Johan Vansummeren, Tyler Farrar, Martijn Maaskant, Sebastien Rosseler and Thomas Dekker as they rode key climbs, such as the Taaienberg and Molenberg, plus pave sectors, including Haaghoek, in preparation for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on February 23.
Heinrich Haussler (IAM Cycling), too, was also out training on the route and joined his former Garmin teammates in reconning sectors of pave.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Based in the southeastern United States, Peter produces race coverage for all disciplines, edits news and writes features. The New Jersey native has 30 years of road racing and cyclo-cross experience, starting in the early 1980s as a Junior in the days of toe clips and leather hairnets. Over the years he's had the good fortune to race throughout the United States and has competed in national championships for both road and 'cross in the Junior and Masters categories. The passion for cycling started young, as before he switched to the road Peter's mission in life was catching big air on his BMX bike.
