Incentives abound for one of the most important races on the calendar: The 107th edition of the Tour of Flanders is coming this Sundaythe second monument of the year, with a truffled route of heights and cobblestones between Bruges and Oudenaarde, which is 273.4 km, where a new and exciting battle with no quarter is expected between the great favourites, Van der Poel, Van Aert and Tadej Pogacar.
A clear trio of picks as indicated by their trajectories this season, but this time the podium dreams could reach Movistar after the great performances of Iván García Cortina, Matteo Jorgenson, both top 5 at the recent E3 Harelbeke, and Oier Lazkano, second in Through Flanders.
GOOD DUEL TO 3: VAN DER POEL, VAN AERT AND POGACAR
The flamenco cycling festival expect another rivalry between Van der Poel, double winner of Flanders and defending champion and winner of Milan San Remo, Tadej Pogacarwith 9 wins in the season, and Van Aert, who defeated his rivals in a direct duel in Harelbeke and presented the Ghent Wevelgem to his colleague in France, who was also present in Flanders, Christophe Laporte.
But the list of candidates to replace Van der Poel on the list of winners is extensive. Soudal is Alaphilippe as the leader of a team that includes Kasper Asgreen, winner in 2021, Tim Merlier or Lampaert, while Ineos will play Tom Pidcock, the king of “sterrato” in Strade Bianche.
In addition, and in the event of an option for sprinters, runners such as Mads Pedersen will opt for honorary positions, at the command of a Trek that will accompany Theuns and Stuyven, Michael Matthews, Matej Mohoric, Kristoff and Caleb I don’t know.
This time, Movistar came in high spirits after the latest encouraging results in the classics. Jorgenson and García Cortina were top 5 in Harelbeke and Lazkano was second in Through Flanders. The Spanish formation will go for it all with a team completed by Johan Jacobs, Mathias Norsgaard, Juri Hollmann and Iván Romeo.
SIX CAVED SECTIONS AND 19 HEIGHTS ON THE ROUTE
A unique atmosphere is expected at the queen test of Flanders, a career that justifies a professional career for any cyclist, whose personality is forged by time. The devotion to cycling in that region of Belgium is evident in a long route, with narrow roads, where the heights and the “pavé” provide scenarios for the epic.
“De Rondee”, created in 1913 by the journalists Leon van den Haute and Karel van Wijnendaele, the founders of the newspaper Sportwereld, only stopped between 1915 and 1918 due to the First World War, since then the legend it grows every year.
This year the start returns to Bruges, which hosted the start of the Flemish event without interruption between 1998 and 2016. The capital of West Flanders, with its World Heritage Old Town, will launch a 273.4 km journey through the characteristic Flemish cobbled hills to Oudenaarde.
The first part is flat in the western part of Flanders, where a breakaway is expected.. The first cobbled sector will arrive at km 109, the Huisepontweg, while the first level of the day, Korte Ast, will follow soon after.
Towards the equator of the test, the first ascent awaits the Oude Kwaremont, 2,200 meters long, 1,500 of which are paved, with slopes of up to 11 percent. This wall will be climbed three times and is usually decided on your third step.
The first key is in Molenberg (km 171), where the first selection will be madeand then to the first chain of the Oude Kwaremont (km 218) with the Paterberg (360 meters at 12 percent) and the ramps of 20 percent of the Koppenberg (600 meters with slopes of 22).
The judges of the Tour of Flanders are Kwaremont and Paterbergscenes of the last attacks before facing the last 12 kilometers leading to the city of Oudenaarde.
TO THE VAN VLEUTEN WOMEN FOR ITS THIRD VOLUME
the dutch Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar), champion of the World and of three major stages, will try to achieve her third title in Flanders of the Flemish queen test, which will also take place this Sunday with a route of 156 km and a start and finish line in Oudenaarde.
Van Vleuten will be Movistar’s undisputed assetwhich was completed by Floortje Mackaij, Arlenis Sierra, Sheyla Gutiérrez, Liane Lippert and Aude Biannic.
The main rivals and candidates for victory are the defending champion, the Belgian Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx), her Dutch teammates Demi Vollering and Lorena Wiebes, Jumbo’s Marianne Vos and the Italians Chiara Consonni ( UAE) and Elisa Balsamo (Trek ).
The tour will pass through the Oude Kwaremont / Paterberg section only once, which is the last two levels and is crowned 11 km from the end. The key comes to Molenberg (km 80), from where another nine levels follow.
The other main area is the section from Koppenberg (km 113) to Taaienberg (km 122), a difficult area that is difficult to control in the last part of the race.
last winner
2022. Mathieu Van der Poel (PSB)
2021. Kasper Asgreen (DIN)
2020. Mathieu Van der Poel (PSB)
2019. Alberto Bettiol (ITA)
last winner
2022. Lotte Kopecky (BEL)
2021. Annemiek van Vleuten (PSB)
2020. Chantal van der Broek (PSB)
2019. Marta Bastianelli (ITA)
Source: La Verdad
I’m Robert Maynard, and I am a passionate journalist with experience in sports writing. For the last few years, I have been writing for Today Times Live. My main focus has been on sports-related stories and features. With my strong background in journalism and extensive knowledge of the industry, I am able to provide readers with well-crafted pieces that are both informative and engaging.
