(Oudenaarde) World champion Mathieu van der Poel was untouchable in difficult and rainy conditions on Sunday, as the Dutchman claimed a third victory at the Tour of Flanders, one of the toughest one-day races.
Elisa Longo Borghini triumphed among the ladies, signing a second victory at this event, after 2015. She won in the sprint, ahead of Kasia Niewiadoma and Shirin van Anrooij.
In the absence of several rivals, Van der Poel was favorite from the start. He met expectations in style, with a long-range attack in a brutal climb.
The Tour of Flanders is one of the “monuments” of cycling – the five most prestigious one-day events – along with Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Giro di Lombardia.
First held in 1913, the race features several short but grueling climbs. It is one of two classics with cobbled sections, along with Paris-Roubaix.
Van der Poel attacked among a group of contenders on the Koppenberg climb, with around 45km to go.
Ivan Garcia Cortina, the only escape, suffered a mechanical problem and was swallowed up on the cobblestones made slippery by the rain. Most riders had to climb the climb on foot while Van der Poel, firmly in the saddle, used his immense power to reach the top of the hill first, before dominating the peloton.
Cheered on by thousands of noisy fans lining the roads, Van der Poel didn’t look back and built himself a huge cushion, as he continued his incredible solo effort up the remaining climbs.
Van der Poel equaled the record of three Tour of Flanders victories, shared with Achiel Buysse, Fiorenzo Magni, Eric Leman, Johan Museeuw, Tom Boonen and Fabian Cancellara.
Luca Mozzato was the best pursuer to take second place, ahead of Nils Politt.
Reigning champion Tadej Pogacar has abandoned the race this year, focusing on his preparation for Liège-Bastogne-Liège on April 21 and the Giro d’Italia in May.
“I am more mature”
Italian Elisa Longo Borghini won the women’s Tour of Flanders on Sunday in the rain in Oudenaarde, nine years after her first victory in the Ronde.
PHOTO LAURIE DIEFFEMBACQ, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Elisa Longo Borghini
Already crowned in 2015, the 32-year-old Italian, racing for the Lidl-Trek team, beat the Polish Katarzyna Niewiadoma and her Dutch teammate Shirin van Anrooij in the sprint.
“This victory is very different from that of nine years ago. I’m more mature, I was still a child then. There, I will enjoy much more. The Tour of Flanders means a lot to me,” reacted the Italian champion.
“To be first and third in a race like this is a great performance for the team. I don’t like the rain but I have to believe that it works well for me,” she added.
As with the men, the race was largely played out on the wet cobbles of the Koppenberg where several favorites slipped and had to dismount.
Including Belgian world champion Lotte Kopecky, who was aiming for a third consecutive victory in the “Ronde” but who ultimately only finished in fifth place, nine seconds behind Borghini, just behind Dutch legend Marianne Vos.
With information from Agence France-Presse