Photo by Tim Van Wichelen

Taken together, the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne offer a first chance to see who will be the major players at April’s cobbled Monuments. Saturday’s Omloop—with nine climbs and nine sections of pavé over its 204.4 kilometer trek through Flanders—offers a scaled-down Tour of Flanders, where riders hoping to win April’s Ronde get a chance to test their legs. Sunday’s 193-kilometer K-B-K parcours offers a flatter option—perfect for a select but large group of sprinters, similar to what we might see at Ghent-Wevelgem in March.

As a result, many teams come into the weekend with two aces up their sleeves—some race both events and others will choose one over the other. But with few exceptions, all of the usual teams and protagonists have arrived in Belgium ready to battle for the first major victory of the season. Let’s take a look at the most likely pairs of favorites for this year’s Belgian Opening Weekend:

5-Stone Favorites

Juan Antonio Flecha/Edvald Boasson Hagen – After winning the Omloop in aggressive fashion last year, there’s little reason to doubt Juan Antonio Flecha’s chances to become a repeat winner in a race that has already seen 14 men win it more than once. The Spaniard’s preparation has been flawless, highlighted by a surprising top-10 finish on the climb to Green Mountain in last week’s Tour of Oman. With two weeks of racing in his legs, one of the strongest teams (Team Sky) in the race supporting him, and a title to defend, Flecha’s the top favorite for Saturday.

Or do I speak too soon? Edvald Boasson Hagen’s clearly overcome his troubles from 2010 and is ready to deliver on the potential he showed with HTC in 2009. Fresh from four top-5 placings and second-place overall in Oman, EBH could give everyone—Flecha included—a run for his money. Both men will need to co-exist should they want to find success; their ability to race aggressively yet cohesively will make or break them. Were I driving the car: I’d go with Flecha Saturday and EBH Sunday, with each playing the role of wild card lieutenant for the other.

Philipp Gilbert/Andre Greipel – Omega Pharma-Lotto’s Philippe Gilbert has won the Omloop twice in his career and would love to become one of only a handful of riders to win the race three times. Gilbert’s bigger objectives are Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders, and the Ardennes Classics, but he’s never been one to turn down a chance to win. For example, a last-minute participant in last week’s Volta ao Algarve, Gilbert won the first stage with a powerful uphill sprint that—despite his comments—displayed the Belgian’s fine form. At last year’s Omloop, Gilbert made last year’s winning break, but was unable to follow Flecha’s race-winning attack. You can bet the ever-aggressive Belgian won’t make the same mistake twice.

The winner of the GP Waregem in 2003 (an important U23 classic), Andre Greipel’s no stranger to racing in Belgium—even though his résumé doesn’t indicate it. As if the case with many, he’ll skip Saturday’s Omloop in order to be fresh for Kuurne. Like Gilbert, Greipel won a stage in Algarve, indicating his fitness is on track for the rest of the spring. If the weather holds and a break proves unable to succeed, look for Grepiel at the end of Sunday’s race.

4-Stone Favorites

Tom Boonen/Geert Steegmans – Interestingly, the Omloop is one of the few Belgian classics Quick-Step’s Tom Boonen hasn’t won—and with good reason. With Milan San Remo three weeks after the Belgian Opening Weekend, and the major cobbled Monuments another two weeks after that, Boonen tends to set his sights further down the road. That said, he’s clearly coming into form—his stage win in Qatar’s a good indicator—and he’s always a threat on home roads. Look for Belgian to put in a major attack sometime around the Taaienberg—just to test his legs—and then to see how things shake-up before deciding whether or not to go for the win.

Teammate Geert Steegmans has fallen a long way from the talented Belgian who won Tour stages in 2007 and 2008 and was considered a future contender for success in the cobbled classics. His return to Quick-Step has hopefully breathed new life into a rider many thought might one day challenge Tom Boonen. He’s riding both races, but will likely have more of a chance to ride for himself Sunday—especially if Boonen’s efforts Saturday are substantial. A win in Kuurne would go a long way toward restoring his reputation.

Thor Hushovd/Tyler Farrar – Like Boonen, Thor’s goals lie a bit further down the calendar; unlike his Belgian rival, he has less racing in his legs and hasn’t displayed a level of fitness on par with some other favorites. But Thor’s won this race in the past and is always a dangerous rider to contend with in Belgium and Northern France. Without Heinrich Haussler or Tyler Farrar on the roster, Garmin-Cervélo’s clearly putting all of their eggs in Thor’s basket.

As for Tyler Farrar, he’s not fooling anyone into thinking he’s not on his game. Sitting-out Saturday’s race in favor of Sunday’s flatter encore, Farrar has to be considered one of the top favorites for the win—and perhaps a safer bet for at least one win than his world champion teammate. That said, a win for Hushovd Saturday might provide a bit of extra motivation for Farrar and the team Sunday—a weekend sweep is a distinct possibility.

Stijn Devolder/Bjorn Leukemans – Vacansoleil’s Stijn Devolder has never been a man for the Belgian Opening Weekend. (His best results are a 40^th in the Omloop and 15^th in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.) But despite his past, Devolder wants to send a message to his doubters that he is still the same rider that won the Tour of Flanders in 2008 and 2009. He’s ridden a relatively full February program, culminating with his fourth-place finish in Monday’s difficult first stage of the Ruta del Sol. A win in the Omloop would certainly silence his doubters—at least until April.

Bjorn Leukemans was one of the revelations of last year’s cobbled classics thanks to top-10 finishes in just about every cobbled race from Dwaars door Vlaanderen through Paris-Roubaix (he skipped Ghent-Wevelgem in favor of the E3 Prijs). As a result, he comes to the Omloop perhaps looking a bit beyond it. A painful saddle sore on the inside of his thigh hasn’t helped matters, but he says he’s over it now and is racing pain-free. If he’s smart, he’ll do whatever he can to support Devolder in the hopes that Devolder returns the favor in April.

Marcus Burghardt/Greg Van Avermaet – BMC’s Marcus Burghardt and Greg Van Avermaet were two of the peloton’s most active riders in Qatar and Oman—they’re hoping the work pays-off this weekend in Belgium before teammates George Hincapie and Alessandro Ballan arrive later in the spring. Burghardt won Ghent-Wevelgem in 2007, but has little to show since aside from an inconsistent smattering of cobbled top-10’s. But one of those is a fifth-place finish in the 2009 Omloop and the German has the experience necessary to open BMC’s cobbled account with a victory Saturday—his only race of the weekend.

As for Greg Van Avermaet, he showed amazing potential in 2008 after winning a stage and the points jersey in the Vuelta; but like Burghardt, the Belgian’s had few results to speak of since. Interestingly, Van Avermaet finished one place ahead of his German teammate in the 2009 Omloop. A win Saturday would be a fabulous confirmation of his potential. Van Avermaet’s fast finish makes Sunday an option as well—especially if Burghardt’s BMC’s man for the Omloop.

3-Stone Favorites

Filippo Pozzato/Luca Paolini – Pozzato won the Omloop with Liquigas in 2007, heralding his arrival as a classics contender. Pippo’s enjoyed a rather quiet season so far, slowly riding himself into shape in Qatar and Oman before—we hope—giving us a glimpse of his fitness this weekend. We’ll also get our first chance to see Leif Hoste’s role with the team—his experience and knowledge should prove to be a major asset to Pozzato and the rest of the team.

But despite his presence, Hoste’s not likely to be Katusha’s #2 option this weekend; Luca Paolini—one of Katusha’s other off-season acquisitions—is. Paolini’s one of those veteran riders who knows how to find the right breakaway—after all, he spent most of his career with Paolo Bettini and was also with Liquigas when Pozzato won the Omloop. Paolini finished fourth in last year’s Omloop and is an even better option for Kuurne where his ability to join breaks and win sprints make him a more than capable contender.

2-Stone Favorites

Lars Boom/Sebastian Langeveld – This weekend was supposed to be our first chance to see new Rabobank signing Matti Breschel strut his stuff at the classics—until a lingering knee injury forced the Dane’s withdrawal. In his place, Lars Boom and Sebastain Langeveld will co-captain Rabobank in both races, with the two men hoping to earn the team a spot on the podium. Up-and-comers for several seasons now, both men could use a breakthrough ride to prove that the attention has been warranted. In particular, Boom is at a time in his career when his potential in the classics should start showing itself. Will this be the weekend that it does?

Lloyd Mondory/Anthony Ravard – Ag2R’s French sprinters both have the pedigree and the legs to perhaps pull a surprise this weekend—particularly in Kuurne-Brussles-Kuurne. If one of them manages to take a win, he’ll be the first Frenchman to win one of the Belgian openers since Frederic Moncassin won K-B-K in 1995—the only French winner of either race.

As for my prediction, I see Flecha, Gilbert, and Devolder as Saturday’s major animators, with Devolder taking a rain-soaked win over last year’s champion. Call me a sucker for aesthetics, but the image of the Belgian Champion crossing the line first just feels right. Thomas De Gendt will play an important role in helping Devolder get the win, possibly joining the Belgian Champ in the winning move.

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad: 1. Devolder, 2. Paolini, 3. Van Avermaet, 4. Flecha, 5. De Gendt

As for Sunday, the weather will be bad, but I still see a large hitting the line together. Steegmans hangs in to take the win over EBH, Farrar, and Vacansoleil’s Roman Feillu. Belgium rejoices.

Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne: 1. Steegmans, 2. Boasson Hagen, 3. Farrar, 4. Feillu, 5. Greipel

And for those of you who enjoy the wildest of wild cards, Topsport Vlaanderen’s Sander Armee’s your man. (If you’re in the UK, go put a quid down next to his name.)

And last but not least, we’re going to test drive a new Live Coverage application that will allow us to chat and discuss the race live right here on the site. So find your favorite Live Stream, open a new window, and head back here to discuss the race along with us as it happens.

For now, share your comments and picks below!