A lot of people in Bruges for the Tour of Flanders
What a turnout for the start of the Tour of Flanders in Bruges. Many cycling fans were present at the Markt in Bruges to see the cyclists at the team presentation.
It has been since 2016 that the start was given in Bruges. The starting shot has been given in Antwerp for the last six editions. But over the next five years, the Tour of Flanders will start three times in Bruges, alternated with two editions in Antwerp.
Three top favourites
The riders left the Market at 10 am. Among the 175 riders, there are three top favorites for the overall victory: Wout van Aert, Tadej Pogacar and two-time winner Mathieu van der Poel. It is already the 20th time that Flanders’ Most Beautiful starts from the Venice of the North and again under massive public interest.
From starting point ‘Brugge die Schone’ to the finish site on the Minderbroedersstraat in Oudenaarde, the riders will have to cover 273.4 kilometres. These are interspersed with numerous tough cobblestone sections and 19 slopes with the duo Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg in the absolute final. From the top of this last bump it is still 13 kilometers to the finish line.
We will know the successor of around 4:50 pm Mathieu van der Poel. The 28-year-old Dutchman therefore starts with shirt number 1 with the strong Dane Sören Kragh Andersen in his Alpecin-Deceuninck team.
Wout van Aert wants to go for a first victory in Flanders’ Most Beautiful. De Kempenaar leads the strongest team in the peloton, Jumbo-Visma. In addition to Van Aert, Christophe Laporte (winner of Gent-Wevelgem and Dwars door Vlaanderen) and Tiesj Benoot are also present.
There is talk of the ‘Big Three’ and in addition to the two leaders quoted earlier Tadej Pogacabe sure to count on that. The Slovenian is supported within UAE Team Emirates by Matteo Trentin and Tim Wellens.
Former winners at the start
As for the list of former winners at the start, Kasper Asgreen (2021) is part of Soudal Quick-Step, which also features Julian Alaphilippe and Belgian champion Tim Merlier. Peter Sagan (2016) gets Edvald Boasson-Hagen (TotalEnergies) and Alexander Kristoff (2015) tops at UNO-X. And then there are Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers), Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo), Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus), Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorius), John Degenkolb (DSM), Sep Vanmarcke (Israel-Premier Tech), Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) and Matteo Jorgenson (Movistar).
Only Mathieu van der Poel can join the circle of riders that once won the Tour of Flanders three times on Sunday evening. These include the Swiss Fabian Cancellara (2010, 2013 and 2014), Tom Boonen (2005, 2006 and 2012), Johan Museeuw (1993, 1995 and 1998), Eric Leman (1970, 1972 and 1973), the Italian Fiorenzo Magni (1949 , 1950 and 1951) and Achiel Buysse (1940, 1941 and 1943).