He was the great favorite and fulfilled the predictions, Mathieu van der Poel has won the 2024 Tour of Flanders, that he has had Koppenberg as great protagonist. The Dutchman honored the world champion’s rainbow jersey with a marvelous display in the 108th edition of the Tour of Flanders held between Antwerp and Oudenaarde, with a route of 270.8 kilometers, a triplet for his fifth monument. With Tadej Pogacar absent and Wout Van Aert At the hospital, the way was clear for Mathieu van der Poel that has become the seventh runner in history to win for the third time, equaling Buysse, Magni, Leman, Museeuw, Boonen y Cancellara.
Summary of the Tour of Flanders 2024
True to his style, and drawing on a power within the reach of very few, the Dutchman raised his arms for the third time like a true “Lion of Flanders”. Exhibition In solitary in the last 40 km, intractable and brilliant, reducing his rivals to the fight for second place.
The ride allowed the king of cyclocross to achieve his fifth monument, since he also has the trophies of the Milan Sanremo y Paris Roubaix. He arrived at the finish line with time for personal delight, with a time of 6h.05.23at an average of 44.5 km/hour.
The pursuers finally arrived in a large group of 9 men, giving way to Alberto Bettiol and Dylan Teuns in the last meters. The Italian Luca Mozzato (Arkéa – B&B Hotels) came second and the Australian third Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla), 1.07 minutes behind the winner, although he was finally disqualified, completing the podium with the German Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates).
Escapes and falls waiting for the Kwaremont
The Flemish monument began with an 8-runner getaway without the favorites on the scene, but controlled by the peloton, despite the fact that the difference reached 4 minutes. This escape was surprised by a stoppage caused by a level crossing. Once the train passed, the bicycle van continued the march, recovering the difference it had before the rebels set foot on the ground.
This project gave up to give way to another escape with 13 menwhere runners were already dangerousas MerlierMads Pedersen oh from Baarle. Van der Poel was not worried about this initiative, but the men of the Alpecin controlled in the peloton so as not to lose the papers.
Lazkano and Cortina on the attack
The next adventurers were the Danish Pedersen and the Belgian Gianni Vermeersch, a man from Van der Poel’s Alpecin. The proximity of Viejo Kwaremont He began to upset the staff. Movistar moved to 56 minutes from the finish line with Oier Lazkanowhich aroused the voracious impetus of the Dutch champion, who put into gear that annulled the escape and opened the key phase of the race.
Van der Poel did the first tests leaving the Kwaremont and then in the Paterberg. selected a group of 9, with Lazkano and Cortina among them, and already with prominent names, such as Wellens, Political y Mohoric among others.
Curtain attacked until he opened a gap, but a fall on the wet cobblestones of the Peterberg forced him to put his foot down, like most of the runners, a circumstance that Van der Poel saved by the skill of a six-time cyclocross world champion.
Many were walking on the stones, Van der Poel was already flying. He reached the summit alone and began his particular adventure. He was only followed by the American Matteo Jorgenson in a handful of seconds. Behind a group of 6 with Cortina, Pedersen and Bettiol. A definitive race design.
The Koppenberg massacre: the 2024 Tour of Flanders was decided here and it is already the history of the race
Recital the Van der Poel
With 40 kilometers ahead and abundant rain, Van der Poel launched a particular time trial towards glory, straight to his third consecutive Tour of Flanders and fifth podium, a figure unmatched by anyone. A machine that when connected is unstoppable.
The escabechina increased. An outlier against 7 pursuersand all of them at a high level, with Cortina, Wellens, Teuns, Bettiol, Jorgenson, who was hit, all unable to lasso the Dutchman, at 1.33 minutes 33 km from the finish line.
The differences were increasing. He flew Alpecin – Fenix in the last chain of Old Kwaremont and Paterberg. On the first cobblestone I already had 2 minutes. Now they were chasing Bettiol Y Boysy Curtain was coming down with Wellens. Glory traveled alone, suffering was seen from afar.
At the Paterberg, 13 minutes from the finish line, the lead time was 1.47 minutes. It was the last difficulty and the die was cast. He had won and the excitement was focused on knowing the second prizes. The “fat man” had an owner, although practically before starting in Antwerp, the city of diamonds.
Unforgettable display by Van der Poel, who as soon as he crossed the finish line got off his bicycle, picked it up and showed it to the sky, like a special trophy. Not in vain was the fifth monument of him and the fifth consecutive podium in Flanders, a historical record. And the victory number 48 in his record. A runner who runs through history with giant steps.
Van der Poel succeeded the Slovenian in the list of winners Tadej Pogacarwinner in 2023 and absent this year.
Elisa Longo Borghini, champion of the women’s Tour of Flanders
The Italian champion Elisha Long Borghini (Lidl Trek) won the twenty-first edition of the Tour of Flanders, starting and finishing in Oudenaardeof 163 kilometers, completing the work of her entire team, which classified the Dutchwoman in third place Shreen Van Anrooij.
The Italian achieved her second victory in the Tour of Flanders, since in 2015 This ‘monument’ has already been awarded. A triumph carefully sculpted by Trek, which, after dismantling SD Worx from the world champion and favorite Lotte Kopeckyplaced two riders in the winning breakaway and finished off with the Italian champion. Eight years later won the monumental Tour of Flanders and He succeeded Kopecky in the list of winnerswinner in 2022 y 2023