Last Sunday, Jan Tratnik celebrated his 35th birthday - a good reason to take a closer look at the new member to Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe. The second reason? The upcoming Opening Weekend with the Omloop Nieuwsblad, which Tratnik surprisingly won last year.
In the first part, we traced Jan's unusual path into professional cycling. 24th February in 2024 was just as unpredictable, as it was only the second time in his career that he had competed in the Omloop. He actually seemed destined for the role of helper in the strong Visma team. But cycling is unpredictable.
“After 100 kilometers, I thought the race was over”, recalls Jan. The second of eleven cobbled sections had not even been completed, the hilly part of the race was still to come. "Strong crosswinds had torn the field apart. All the favorites were at the front, Visma was represented by five men. I wasn't there. Basically, everything was done."
But that's how it is with the cobbled classics: nothing is decided until the finish line is crossed. "I was in the second group and just kept fighting to always get over the hills with the first riders. And then we actually closed the gap to the break again."
That was just before the famous Muur van Geraardsbergen, the penultimate climb.
The decisive moment
In the final 20 kilometers, the peloton splitted again. Attacks followed one after the other, but even after the final Bosberg there was no preliminary decision. Until Jan took heart.
"I went eight kilometers before the finish. I turned around - and the group was standing still. That was the moment when I realized: this can work." With Nils Politt as his only companion, he flew towards the finish in Ninove.
And Jan kept the upper hand in the sprint. "When I crossed the finish line, it was one of the best moments of my career. Friends from Slovenia were there, celebrating me - an incredible feeling."
Returning with Bib 1
But it's not just the memories of that day that remain, but also a valuable lesson: "You must never give up in Belgium. There are 100 ways a race can turn around - even if you're a long way behind."
A year later, Jan returns to this special place - with race number 1 on his back. "This will be one of the greatest moments of my career. The Omloop is a prestigious race, the history, the cobbles, the atmosphere. Belgium is a cycling nation. I get goosebumps when I think about it."
"And since my victory, Omloop Nieuwsbald naturally has a very special place in my heart."