Flanders Race Report: Mathieu van der Poel was anticipated to win the 2024 Tour of Flanders, however the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider took an epic Ronde with solo effort within the Flemish rain, going solo from the Koppenberg. Surprisingly, Luca Mozzato (Arkéa-B&B Resorts) was second and Michael Matthews was third, however the Australian was declassed in favour of Nils Politt (UAE Workforce Emirates).
Mathieu van der Poel received the Tour of Flanders for the third time. In his rainbow jersey, the World champion of Alpecin-Deceuninck soloed to victory after making the decisive assault on a soaking moist Koppenberg for a solo of 45 kilometres.
Mathieu van der Poel takes his third Tour of Flanders within the rainbow
Parcours
After the beginning in Antwerp, the primary 100 kilometres of the 270.8 kilometres race, the peloton passes by means of Sint-Niklaas, Hamme, Haaltert, Herzele and Zottegem to achieve the Flemish Ardennes, the place the race will actually begin. The Lippenhovestraat and the Paddestraat are the primary difficulties of the day after 104 kilometres of racing. The riders will then race over the standard finale of the Ronde van Vlaanderen. After 136 kilometres they tackle the primary passage of the Oude Kwaremont. From then on the climbs and cobbles come one after the opposite in fast succession. The Kapelleberg, the cobbles of the Holleweg, the Wolvenberg, the cobbles of the Kerkgate and the Jagerij, the climb of the Molenberg, the Marlboroughstraat, the Berendries and eventually the Valkenberg all inside 30 kilometres.
Flanders’24 map
The highest of the Valkenberg is slightly below 90 kilometres from the end. At that time the riders have accomplished 180 kilometres. After the Valkenberg, in case you are nonetheless there, there may be time to assault. That is doable on the Berg Ten Houte or the Hotond. After the Hotond it’s the Oude Kwaremont for the second time after which to the Paterberg. The primary passage of the Paterberg all the time causes motion because the Koppenberg is subsequent on the horizon. “We’ve made the run-up to the Koppenberg extra straight ahead and we have now eradicated the descent and sharp bend simply earlier than the ascent,” the organisers defined. The powerful Koppenberg is the place the place the favourites will make their mark. The Mariaborrestraat, Steenbeekdries and Traaiberg are one other alternative for assaults. Traaiberg is adopted by the Hotond, then there are 10 kilometres to the Oude Kwaremont for the final time.
Flanders’24 profile
The Oude Kwaremont is 16.7 kilometres from the end. The cream ought to have already come to the highest of the milk by this level and now’s the time for them to make life laborious for one another earlier than their last probability, 13.2 kilometres from the end on the Paterberg. The Paterberg is brief at lower than 400 metres and splendid for the extra explosive riders. From the summit there are 13 flat kilometres to Oudenaarde. The wind will be sturdy on the run-in to the end, powerful for a solo rider, but when there’s a group, then techniques will come into play for a dash on the large Minderbroedersstraat in Oudenaarde.
The beginning in Antwerp
Prime favorite, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck), spoke earlier than the beginning: “We’re simply going to attempt to management that race as greatest as doable and win. I’ve mentioned it earlier than: it’s all the time simple to race when the most effective riders are there, which doesn’t imply that there are not any good riders now. However you simply know: with Wout van Aert and Jasper Stuyven, and with Mads Pedersen who’s 100%, that they’d trip to the end. They consider they will win. However I anticipate an open battle right now. I feel that’s a bit too early (on the Kapelleberg-Molenberg). Perhaps the race will open up there, however I’m not going to pressure something there myself but. It’s a unique begin (from 2023). Then the wind performed a bit. I’d sit a bit farther from the entrance.”
Oier Lazkano (Movistar), Matteo Jorgenson (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) earlier than the beginning
An issue for favorite Mads Pedersen at the beginning
Man on type, Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) at the beginning: “We attempt to race as we have now accomplished earlier than,”“We miss Jasper and Alex, however we have now a really sturdy group. We consider we will proceed racing as we have now been doing. We predict that the race across the Molenberg will be opened, that isn’t an issue for us. The sooner it turns into man-to-man, the higher for us. Have my probabilities modified after my fall in Dwars door Vlaanderen? Naturally. It’s by no means splendid to crash three days earlier than Flanders, however all issues thought-about, I nonetheless consider that I’m higher than different years. We’ll see the way it goes. I hope for the most effective.”
Jayco AlUla’s Luke Durbridge needed to be within the ‘Break of the Day’
Get properly quickly Wout
After 20 kilometres a bunch of eight made their escape: Bert Van Lerberghe (Soudal Fast-Step), Luke Durbridge & Elmar Reinders (Jayco AlUla), Damien Touzé (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Lionel Taminiaux (Lotto Dstny), Stanislaw Aniolkowski (Cofidis), David Dekker (Arkéa-B&B Resorts) and Jelle Vermoote (Bingoal WB). At first they had been chased, however it suited the group’s of the favourites and so their lead was allowed to extend.
Alpecin-Deceuninck took management early to verify the break stayed away
The race handed by means of Sint Niklaas, the place De Ronde began from 1977 to 1997
Alpecin-Deceuninck and Lidl-Trek took management of the peloton for Mathieu van der Poel and Mads Pedersen and so the break quickly had a lead of 4:20, however that was their most. There was a variety of followers on the roadside, this brought about no less than three crashes one seemed notably unhealthy for a girl spectator.
The break was going to be out entrance for a very long time
The peloton was happy to see the break go, however they weren’t sitting again
Unusually, the primary counter-attack got here from Alpecin-Deceuninck, however Visma | Lease a Bike chased down Axel Laurence after which, with 110 kilometres to go, Matteo Jorgenson saved going. Pedersen additionally made a transfer, however every little thing calmed down once more. On the Molenberg, 100 kilometres from the end, there was extra fireworks.
Mathieu van der Poel wasn’t getting near the entrance early within the race, right here he comes again to the peloton with Micheal Matthews
By way of Oudenaarde for the primary time
As soon as once more it was Pedersen, this time with Jorgenson and Van der Poel on his wheel. A really sturdy group broke away from them, which was a harmful scenario for the World champion. A gaggle of Pedersen, Dylan van Baarle, Tiesj Benoot, Nils Politt and Oliver Naesen had a spot. The Alpecin-Deceuninck males didn’t permit the hole to get too massive after which Van der Poel closed the hole on the Valkenberg with a powerful effort. Pedersen wasn’t completed and went once more, however he had Gianni Vermeersch on his wheel, MvdP’s teammate.
The break on the Oude Kwaremont for the primary time
Pedersen and Vermeersch stayed off the entrance and climbed Berg Ten Houte with none issues. Within the peloton, Alpecin-Deceuninck had been in management and saved the hole small. Stefan Küng, who crashed with spectators, was capable of return. The rain and moist roads made the race very nervous within the run-up to the second passage of the Oude Kwaremont.
Loopy scenes on the Kwaremont for the peloton
Oier Lazkano put the stress on, on the Kwaremont, however Van der Poel closed the hole to Pedersen and Vermeersch. On the prime, solely Pedersen, Lazkano, Dylan Teuns, Laurence Pithie and Tim Wellens had been nonetheless on the wheel of the World champion, after which a bunch together with Jorgenson and Matej Mohorič was capable of be a part of them. The primary time over the Paterberg the race was cut up, however the gaps had been nonetheless small.
Mads Pedersen was the primary of the favourited to point out his hand, adopted by Matteo Jorgenson
Within the run-up to the Koppenberg the teams of favourites got here again collectively. Iván García jumped away and began the cobbles climb of the Koppenberg with a slight lead, however he had a mechanical downside and needed to cease. Mathieu van der Poel got here storming previous with Matteo Jorgenson and Mads Pedersen behind him. The others weren’t so fortunate and needed to run up the climb.
Pedersen went with slightly below 100K to go, however he had Gianni Vermeersch with him
The tempo that Van der Poel set on the Koppenberg was the decisive transfer of the day. Jorgenson had the World champion in sight excessive, however Van der Poel now had the bit between his tooth and took time on everybody. By the Traaiberg the lead was already 50 seconds on the American, who needed to drop again to a bunch with Bettiol, Teuns, García, Wellens, Pedersen and Laurenz Rex.
Van der Poel pulled the race collectively once more on the Paterberg
The cooperation was not good and so Van der Poel over one and a half minutes with 30 kilometres to go. He nonetheless had the Oude Kruisberg/Hotond, Oude Kwaremont and the Paterberg to deal with. Behind Van der Poel, the battle for the opposite podium locations was on. On the Hotond, Teuns and Bettiol broke away, however they had been practically 2 minutes behind Van der Poel.
It was time for Van der Poel to go
The World champion needed to endure booing and a beer bathe the final time on Kwaremont. No issues on the Paterberg earlier than the 13 flat kilometre to Oudenaarde. Van der Poel took his third victory within the Tour of Flanders, after his victories in 2020 and 2022.
Solely three riders may trip the Koppenberg: Pedersen, Jorgenson and Van der Poel
Greater than 1 minute behind Van der Poel, Bettiol and Teuns had been racing for the rostrum, however there was a big group arising from behind. Within the ending straight, Teuns and Bettiol began to play a recreation of poker, permitting the chasing group to catch them within the final 200 metres.
Most followers had been happy, however not all
Surprisingly second place went to Luca Mozzato (Arkéa-B&B Resorts), who had a giant battle with Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla). After the end the race jury declassed the Australian for his ‘swap’ to 1 facet. Nils Politt (UAE Workforce Emirates) was awarded third place.
The World champion simply saved placing time into the chasers
2024 Tour of Flanders winner, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck): “Hardest Tour of Flanders I’ve ridden. It was simply survival right now. For me it was the hardest Ronde I’ve ridden in these climate situations. These final twenty kilometres had been with our eyes closed. I used to be so devastated that I didn’t suppose a lot. I’ve to suppose once more about what occurred. The rain made the cobblestone climbs tough. The Koppenberg particularly was sliding and slipping all the best way to the highest. Then I had created a pleasant hole, however with the wind it was nonetheless far. I rode as laborious as I may, however on the finish I used to be manner off. The group rode unbelievable. I mentioned that they needed to maintain it collectively till the Koppenberg. I didn’t anticipate to be alone. After I handed by means of the Kwaremont for the primary time, I didn’t have the appropriate feeling anymore, however I’m glad I discovered it once more. My season has already been a hit. I can’t take into consideration Roubaix but. I’m fully fucked proper now.”
The win we anticipated, however nonetheless a race full of pleasure
The dash didn’t go so properly for Michael Matthews – Declassed from third place
Ronde van Vlaanderen End result:
1. Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Alpecin-Deceuninck in 6:05:17
2. Luca Mozzato (Ita) Arkéa-B&B Resorts at 1:02
3. Nils Politt (Ger) UAE Workforce Emirates
4. Mikkel Bjerg (Den) UAE Workforce Emirates
5. António Morgado (Por) UAE Workforce Emirates
6. Magnus Sheffield (USA) INEOS Grenadiers
7. Oliver Naesen (Bel) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale
8. Dylan Teuns (Bel) Israel-Premier Tech
9. Alberto Bettiol (Ita) EF Training-EasyPost
10. Toms Skujiņš (Lat) Lidl-Trek.
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