Van der Poel wins Flanders’ most beautiful for the second time

Under a radiant sun, the peloton left – without the sick Van Aert – for a race of 272.5 kilometers on Flemish roads. The first attack came from Movistar’s camp. The Swiss Johan Jacobs, with roots in West Flanders, tried to slip away. Jacobs was quickly grabbed by the enthusiasm of other small teams. After fifteen kilometers there was a more concrete attempt: Stan Dewulf from Alveringem (AG2R-Citroën) drove together with Sébastien Grignard (Lotto-Soudal), Lindsay De Vylder (Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise), Taco van der Hoorn (Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert) , Mathijs Paasschens (Bingoal-Pauwels Sauzen-WB), Manuele Boaro (Astana Qazaqstan), Luca Mozzato (B&B), Tom Bohli (Cofidis) and Max Kanter (Movistar) away from the pack.

West Flemings tame the peloton

The 5-star teams blocked every counterattack and controlled the game. The escapees got no more than five minutes lead. While Tadej Pogacar was recovering from his fall in the opening phase, West Flemings Tim Declercq and Julien Vermote took the peloton in tow. Especially Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl and Jumbo-Visma tried to control the race.

Van Hooydonck opens the debates

We had to wait for the race to completely burst open on the Molenberg. Van Hooydonck and Koch collected a handful of seconds. Immediately afterwards, on the spur of the Berendries, there was a new impulse: Garcia Cortina accelerated, Pedersen, Kirsch, Stybar, Steimle, G.Vermeersch, Bettiol, Van Dijke, Le Gac, Haller and Turner joined. Van Hooydonck and Koch decided to wait and so a group of thirteen riders was formed.

At Berg Ten Houte, the favorites stirred for the first time. Trentin took the initiative and saw Campenaerts, Van der Poel, Asgreen and Pogacar react. Connecting with the group of Pedersen and Stybar was not yet possible. Wellens, Enjoys and Swift tried again and were able to join Pedersen and co. There the cooperation came to a halt and the escapees were also grabbed by the cocks of the Kwaremont by an impressive Pogacar: everything had to be redone.

VDP and Pogacar

About twenty riders survived the selection of Pogacar and Van Der Poel on the first time Kwaremont and Paterberg in succession. Together with the rest of Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl, Asgreen fell completely in between, but was able to rejoin with a large group in the run-up to the Koppenberg. Van Baarle and Wright anticipated Melden’s bump and took a nice lead. On the Koppenberg, van der Poel, Pogacar and Madouas made the jump to the two leaders.

Dream Final

The five escapees flew at full speed towards the Oude Kwaremont. Van Baarle, Madouas and Wright had to get rid of it almost immediately. The dream duo Van der Poel and Pogacar left together on their way to the very last time Paterberg. At the Pater they remained faithful to each other. A thrilling sprint had to make a decision. The pursuers even came all the way back. Van der Poel was the first to start and was able to maintain his lead just barely. Van der Poel thus takes revenge after the lost sprint against Asgreen last year. Together with Pogacar he was clearly the strongest today. Pogacar was let down by the return of Madouas and Van Baarle and fell short of the podium.