The Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) has won this Sunday for the third time the Tour of Flanders, the second ‘monument’ of the season that was held over 270.8 kilometers between Antwerp and Oudenaarde.
Wearing his world champion rainbow jersey, Van der Poel launched a devastating attack on the Koppenberg and marched alone the last 45 kilometers, entering the finish line with a time of 6:05:17, one minute and two seconds ahead of their pursuers. With this, he wins his third Tour of Flanders (2020, 2022 and 2024) and replaces the Slovenian Tadej Pogacar in the classic track record.
Neither the 2023 winner nor the Belgian Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike), who broke his collarbone and several ribs in a fall in Across Flanders, participated in a test that began with a breakaway of eight riders but without big names, surprised by a level crossing and neutralized as soon as the candidates took the initiative.
The platoon managed to control all the ‘adventurers’ before the cobblestones, although hostilities broke out when they approached Old Kwaremont, with Movistar promoting the attack of the Spanish Oier Lazkano. Van der Poel responded in the Paterberg, taking men like Lazkano himself, Iván García Cortina (Movistar) or the Belgian Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates).
It was raining in the Flemish region and the cobblestone section became a trap that forced almost all the cyclists to put their feet on the ground, except for the king of cyclocross, who flew over the cobblestones. With 45 kilometers to go, Van der Poel launched himself into the adventure and no one could follow his wheel.
He vigorously climbed the Paterberg, the last obstacle just 13 kilometers from the finish line, and crossed the finish line alone, lifting his bicycle, to celebrate his third victory in Flanders. The Italian Luca Mozzatto (Arkea-B&B Hotels) and the German Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates) completed the podium of the day.
In this way, Van der Poel thus conquers the fifth ‘monument’ of his career, after previously being crowned champion twice in Flanders (2020 and 2022), once in Milan-San Remo (2023) and another in Paris- Roubaix (2023).