Lotte Kopecky's history charge, Tadej Pogačar's playground and more: Everything you need to know about the Tour of Flanders
The Tour of Flanders finally comes on Sunday, here's how to watch, who to watch, and what to watch out for
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Tour of Flanders
Sunday 5 April
Distance: 278km (men's), 164.1km (women)
Finish: 15:30 (men's), 16:35 (women's) BST
The biggest Belgian race of the year is here, potentially the biggest Monument of the year, with the men's and women's Tour of Flanders. The cobbles and bergs come into play on a lumpy route which saps the legs and creates epic finishes.
Kwaremont-Paterberg time
The Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg double punch has become one of the most iconic locations in cycling, with the Tour of Flanders’ organisers turning the two climbs into an arena. The men do the Kwaremont three times and the Paterberg twice, with the women doing both once. It often provides the launch pad for decisive attacks, and is where many of the VIPs hang out too, hence the repeated passes of the same climbs.
Records to fall?
Mathieu van der Poel or Lotte Kopecky could become the record holder for wins with a fourth victory at De Ronde, men’s or women’s, rather than tied on three with Johan Museeuw, Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen, and a few more. If Tadej Pogačar wins, then he will join Van der Poel, and possibly Kopecky et al, on three.
Equal prizes
Flanders Classics, the organisers, give equal prize money out at all their road events, with €50,000 in prize money for the men and the women at the Tour of Flanders; the winner gets €20,000. This might be a drop in the ocean compared to the differing salaries, but it is a step in the right direction. Also to note, the women’s race follows the men’s, with research showing there are more viewers and fans sticking around that way.
Festival time
The Ronde is a bit like a cross between the FA Cup Final and Glastonbury for Belgium. There are beers and frites for sale everywhere, along with a lot of Europop blaring out. The Kwaremont beer itself - 6.6% - is readily available, as is the bog-standard lager Jupiler. However, get your other Belgian beers in, whether that’s the amusingly-named Bolleke, Orval, or a Westvleteren.
Antwerpen party
The start of the men’s Tour of Flanders flips between Antwerp and Bruges every year, and this year it’s the turn of the former, home to one of the biggest ports in Europe, and also the heart of the diamond trade. It’s a properly big city, but the riders roll out in the picturesque Grote Markt. The women’s race begins in Oudenaarde, south of Ghent.
Remco chaos
Just days before the race, it was announced that Remco Evenepoel will be taking part in his first ever Tour of Flanders. It remains to be seen whether the Belgian can make a mark on debut at the biggest Belgian race of them all, but even just his presence will raise the roof in Flanders. He couldn't, could he?
It might be just 550 metres long, but it averages over 11%, and it features some of the most horrific cobbles in the whole of the Tour of Flanders. Rainy editions often see some of the best riders in the world walking up it in their cleats, because as soon as one person stops, there is quite the domino effect. It comes very far out in both races, but often thins the pack down.
It is on TNT Sports in the UK and Ireland, accessible via a TV package or a HBO Max subscription. Read more in our in-depth guide on how to watch Tour of Flanders.
In the US and Canada, it's on Flobikes.
Men’s
1. Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
2. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
3. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Women’s
1. Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime)
2. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike)
3. Liane Lippert (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto)
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) *****
The Slovenian has ridden Flanders three times and won twice, and is the defending champion. If he decides to blast off on the Oude Kwaremont, as he has done before, it could be game over for everyone else. It seems a race suited to his characteristics.
Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) *****
The queen of Flanders, it is hard to look past Kopecky in the women’s race. Deals with the weight of a nation expertly, and knows these roads incredibly well. A record fourth title is not beyond her, and she looked good at Milan-San Remo in March; with Lorena Wiebes behind her in the bunch, hard to beat.
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) *****
On the cusp of history with a fourth win. The Dutchman has proved that he can beat Pogačar, as he did last year, but will he be able to stick with him on the climbs? This will be key if he wants to break the record. The great Classics rider of his generation.
Demi Vollering (FDJ United-SUEZ) *****
The Dutchwoman skipped Milan-San Remo, but will be back in action in Belgium this week. Surprisingly, she has only finished on the podium once at the Ronde in five attempts, despite seeming to have the perfect skillset for the race. Her victory at Omloop looks like the blueprint for success here.
Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) ****
Six tilts at Flanders, six heartbreaks for Belgium, including that sprint loss to Van der Poel in 2020. This year, though, Van Aert is looking good, even if he hasn’t got that win yet. He was 10th at Strade Bianche and third at Milan-San Remo, so is in form, and surely has to deliver on home soil eventually.
Marlen Reusser (Movistar) ****
The Swiss rider has only raced one Classic this season, Dwars door Vlaanderen, and she won it. Her record at De Ronde isn't the best, but she has finished in the top 10 four times. If she can escape, it will be difficult to bring her back.