TOUR OF FLANDERS
It’s Antwerp’s turn to host the biggest party of the Belgian cycling year, taking over from Bruges, as the alternating host city of the 2024 Tour of Flanders. The main changes to this year’s route come in the early stages of the race, keeping more to wide roads to try and minimise the risk of crashes, but largely this is immaterial, as the real race begins halfway in, when the riders start to take on the brutal cobbled climbs this race is famous for.
In the men’s race, the first of the 17 ascents will be the Oude Kwaremont, tackled after 137km of racing, while the Wolvenberg at the 72km point is the first of 12 such tests in the women’s race. The Wolvenberg is where both converge, after which comes the Molenberg, Marlboroughstraat, Berendries and Valkenberg. Though the men do a few extra climbs skipped by the women, each race will share an identical final 45km starting with the Koppenberg – a climb notorious for its impossibly hard cobblestones and gradients. A touch of wheels, or a tyre slipping in the wet can stop a rider in an instant, forcing them, and many behind, to dismount and run up.
Any one of the Koppenberg, Steenbeekdries, Taaienberg and the Kruisberg can potentially launch race-shaping attacks, but it’s the final ascents of Oude Kwaremont and the Paterberg that are often most decisive. Controversial when first devised in 2012, particularly as it meant the omission of the iconic Muur van Geraardsbergen, this finale has since won fans over, shaped by the double punch of the long, gradual Kwaremont and the short yet ultra-steep Paterberg. Last year both Lotte Kopecky and Tadej Pogačar, not wanting to leave it to a sprint in Oudenaarde, made their moves on the Kwaremont, whereas others have favoured the final 20% gradients of the Paterberg to force a gap.
RACE INFO
Men: 31 March (270.8km) Start: 09:00 GMT Expected finish: 15:29 GMT
Women: 31 March (163km) Start: 12:25 GMT Expected finish: 16:44 GMT
MEN
Favourite: Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-deceuninck)
The Dutchman has achieved unrivalled consistency at this race with a run of 1st, 2nd, 1st and 2nd since 2020.
Decent bet: Dylan van Baarle (Visma-lease a Bike)
Most of Visma-lease a Bike’s line-up could take victory on their day, but van Baarle has a good record at this race.
Long shot: Oier Lazkano (Movistar) The 24-year-old is one of the most exciting new talents in Classics racing, and has the characteristics to become the first ever Spanish winner of the Ronde.
WOMEN
Favourite: Lotte Kopecky
(SD Worx-protime)
With her smooth style over pavé, and a nation united behind her, the Belgian is in her element at the Ronde.
Decent bet: Shirin van Anrooij (Lidl-trek)
Having impressed so much in last year’s race, when only three riders could follow her on the Paterberg, the 22-year-old will enjoy a more senior leadership status.
Long shot: Chloé Dygert (Canyon-sram)
Untested on the cobbles, but boasting immense talent, the world time trial champion’s debut at the Tour of Flander is hotly anticipated.