Race Report: The 107th Tour of Flanders was gained by Tadej Pogačar. The Slovenian rode away from Mathieu van der Poel the final time up the Oude Kwaremont. He caught and handed Mads Pedersen after which soloed to his first victory in Flanders. A robust Van der Poel was second and Pedersen edged out Wout van Aert for third.
Tadej Pogačar Takes Spectacular Solo Victory In The Tour Of Flanders 2023 | Eurosport-GCN
A surprising experience by Tadej Pogačar
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At the moment was billed as the subsequent spherical of the duel between the ‘Huge Three’ – Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Tadej Pogačar, though there have been many extra riders that would shock. The race began early in Brugge for the primary time since 2017 for a tricky 273.4 kilometres over the Oude Kwaremont, Koppenberg and the Paterberg.
The massive sq. in Brugge for the beginning
Flanders’23 map
# See the total ‘PEZ Flanders Preview’ HERE. #
Flanders’23 profile
In a lightning-fast begin the wind was full on the riders’ backs, however there was an extended look forward to an early break. All of the assault makes an attempt had been quickly nipped within the bud. The tempo was extremely excessive within the first hour of racing (50kph), in order that the riders had been forward of the quickest race schedule. With 230 kilometres to go it was all fingers on deck within the peloton. Bahrain Victorious tried to separate the race and a few necessary names had been shocked.
Birthday cake for Biniam Girmay
The group’s signing on
The largest identify to overlook the cut up was Mathieu van der Poel. Final 12 months’s winner was in the back of the peloton on the time and located himself in a dropped group. Valentin Madouas, third in 2022, Søren Kragh Andersen, Sep Vanmarcke, Biniam Girmay, Michael Matthews, Peter Sagan and Caleb Ewan additionally needed to chase. Their groups noticed the hazard and needed to unite forces. Alpecin-Deceuninck, Groupama-FDJ and Israel-Premier Tech succeeded, however had to make use of loads of vitality.
The followers had been out to see the peloton off
Loopy quantity of followers on the street
After a loopy chase of 20 kilometres, Van der Poel was again with the bunch, however it was a primary warning for Alpecin-Deceuninck. Quickly after there was a crash, together with Danny van Poppel and Oier Lazkano. For Van Poppel it was the top of his Tour of Flanders. After two hours of racing at a mean of 49.3kph, 5 riders managed to flee: Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bingoal WB), Daan Hoole (Trek-Segafredo), Jasper De Buyst (Lotto Dstny), Filippo Colombo (Q36.5) and Elmar Reinders (Jayco-AlUla). They’d 15 seconds on the first cobbles of the day, the Huisepontweg. This primary break was not long-lived, as there was one other counter-reaction within the peloton.
Van der Poel missed the early cut up and his group had chase again on
There have been fairly just a few early crashes
Tim Merlier went after the 5 leaders and the Belgian champion of Soudal Fast-Step, along with Jonas Rutsch (EF Training-EasyPost), managed to make the crossing, as did the Canadian Hugo Houle for Israel-Premier Tech a bit later. The peloton determined to allow them to go and took a ‘pure break’. The lead of the eight entrance riders elevated to five minutes. At 140 kilometres from the end, there was an enormous pile-up within the peloton.
UAE Staff Emirates additionally needed to shut a niche for Pogačar
It took a very long time coming, however finally there was a break
Filip Maciejuk was the reason for the crash and was disqualified. The Pole of Bahrain Victorious tried to maneuver up within the run-up to the Oude Kwaremont for the primary time, however ended up within the grass and shot again into the peloton, inflicting an enormous crash. The harm was huge and several other prime riders had been concerned. Wout van Aert, Julian Alaphilipe, Mads Pedersen and Jasper Stuyven had been held up, however had been un harmed. The information was not good for Tim Wellens, the Belgian of UAE Staff Emirates, Pogačar’s most necessary teammate, was taken to hospital.
Daan Hoole, Guillaume Van Keirsbulck, Jasper De Buyst and Elmar Reinders had been a part of the ‘early’ break
A number of groups tried to anticipate the battle midway via the race. Pedersen attacked, as did Matteo Trentin, Yves Lampaert and Nathan Van Hooydonck. This transfer was pulled in, however a second try was profitable. After the cobbles of the Molenberg, a robust group managed to flee the bunch: Van Hooydonck, Florian Vermeersch, Pedersen, Trentin, Jhonatan Narvaez, Kasper Asgreen, Neilson Powless, Fred Wright and Stefan Küng.
Tim Wellens was taken out by an unlimited pile-up
This group labored properly and shortly joined forces. For UAE Staff Emirates and Jumbo-Visma this was an ideal scenario, as they’d Trentin and Van Hooydonck within the chasing group, however not for Alpecin-Deceuninck. The Belgian group had nobody on the entrance of the race and so Xandro Meurisse needed to chase for his chief, Van der Poel within the thinned peloton. With simply over 90 kilometres to go, every thing was nonetheless hanging by a thread and will nonetheless go in any path.
The peloton was getting smaller
The distinction between the chasing group, which now included Benoît Cosnefroy and Matteo Jorgenson, and the peloton grew within the following kilometres. Half a minute quickly turned a minute and a half. They began the subsequent hills: Berg Ten Houte-Kanarieberg-Oude Kwaremont-Paterberg with a really good lead. The eight entrance riders had been caught, in order that we began the final 80 kilometres with seventeen within the break.
Hugo Houle crossed to the break
The peloton was nonetheless ready for an actual acceleration, however the massive males had been taking a look at one another, which suited the break. The leaders noticed their benefit develop to three minutes and there was one other an enormous crash within the peloton. Within the centre of the peloton, Biniam Girmay, crashed onerous and took a number of riders with him. Matej Mohorič was additionally taken out. Because of the crash, the escapees took extra time, though the distinction was decreased in the beginning of the Oude Kwaremont.
DSM and INEOS Grenadiers closed the race going over the Kwaremont
On the second time up this cobbled climb, the race utterly exploded, each on the entrance and within the peloton. Trentin determined to go from the break, as Pogačar attacked the peloton, together with Van der Poel and Van Aert. The Dutchman and Belgian weren’t completed and with the assistance of Christophe Laporte and Tom Pidcock they tried to struggle again to Pogačar’s wheel. The Slovenian was not going to ease up on the brief however steep Paterberg.
A cut up crossed to the break
Within the main group, Asgreen took the initiative on the Paterberg, whereas Pogačar got here excessive with 15 seconds on the Van der Poel/Van Aert/Pidcock group. On the flat kilometres after the Paterberg, and in direction of the Koppenberg, Pogačar did take it simpler and waited for Van der Poel and Van Aert, though Jumbo-Visma had different plans. The Dutch group needed to play out its scenario of getting probably the most riders within the closing and so Laporte jumped throughout to the Slovenian. Van Aert sat on the again and so it was as much as Van der Poel to shut the hole.
Nils Politt needed to be a part of the motion
Van der Poel crossed to Laporte and Pogačar with a giant effort, however they had been nonetheless 1:30 down on the entrance riders. On the Koppenberg, we had an analogous image. Asgreen once more pushed onerous within the main group, whereas Pogačar harm his rivals with an extended assault. Van Aert and Van der Poel needed to pull every thing out to observe the two-time Tour winner, however did handle to carry his wheel.
Possibly not Van Aert’s day
It was too quick for Pidcock and Laporte on the Koppenberg, so there have been three riders chasing the main group: Pogačar, Van der Poel and Van Aert. The three prime favourites now labored collectively and shortly bought nearer to the leaders. Thirty kilometres from the end, the distinction between the 2 teams was nonetheless 40 seconds. Fatigue, nevertheless, started to take its toll on a lot of the riders, though Pedersen had one thing left. The Dane attacked and was the primary on the prime of the Kruisberg.
The BIG 3 begin to race
On this Kruisberg, the time had come for Van der Poel to place in his transfer. With a formidable assault, he managed to drop Van Aert. Pogačar additionally gave the impression to be in hassle, however managed to drag himself as much as Van der Poel. For Van Aert it was clearly going too quick. The Jumbo-Visma rider needed to take a breather and noticed his two largest rivals experience additional away. Van der Poel and Pogačar nonetheless needed to catch Pedersen. The previous World Champion was wanting good.
Van der Poel ended and hope for Van Aert
Pedersen’s lead continued to fluctuate round 20 and 30 seconds within the run-up to the Oude Kwaremont. Van der Poel and Pogačar joined the pursuers earlier than the climb, after which it was as much as Trentin to utterly empty himself for Pogačar. Van Aert now had the assistance of Van Hooydonck, who had dropped again, however they had been properly down on the Oude Kwaremont and it turned out to be an excessive amount of. Pogačar determined to place in his final assault.
Pogačar threw the gauntlet down
Pedersen regarded good for the solo win, however…
The Slovenian set a hellish tempo, which was an excessive amount of for Van der Poel, who misplaced floor to an impressively sturdy Pogačar. The UAE rider had 10 seconds after the Oude Kwaremont, however a tricky Van der Poel didn’t quit simply and remained at 15 seconds for a very long time. On the prime of the Paterberg, the distinction had shrunk to 12 seconds, however Pogačar was in time trial mode and wasn’t going to be caught. There was now solely two riders who may win the race, the chasers may solely have third place.
Pogačar was on his method to the win
The win for Pogačar
Van der Poel tried every thing to get to Pogačar, however couldn’t get any nearer to the Slovenian. In actual fact, Pogačar was getting additional forward of Van der Poel. Within the final kilometres it was onerous work for Pogačar, however the win was sure. The Slovenian had sufficient time to rejoice his win within the end straight. Pogačar is the third rider to have gained the Tour of Flanders and the Tour de France together with Louison Bobet and Eddy Merckx. Van der Poel needed to accept second place, his fourth podium place in 5 participations. The dash for third place was gained by Pedersen, simply forward of Van Aert and Powless.
Second place to Van der Poel
Fourth went to Pedersen from Van Aert, simply
Flanders’23 winner, Tadej Pogacar (UAE Staff Emirates): “Essentially the most troublesome Monuments to win stay, however I’m going to attempt. It was nice. It is a day I’ll always remember. To win, I knew I needed to go solo on the Kwaremont. Then I gave every thing. I actually needed to give every thing. And on the Paterberg I virtually cracked. It was actually so onerous. After I retire now, I may be very pleased with my profession. However I’m going to attempt to win all of them. San Remo is the toughest, I feel. I’ve been near it quite a lot of occasions, however you must be fortunate there too. And about Roubaix… Then I’ll have to realize just a few kilos. We’ll attempt, however will probably be very troublesome.”
the 2023 Flanders podium
*** Extra Flanders information and rider quotes in EUROTRASH and the Race Wrap on Monday. ***
Tour of Flanders – De Ronde van Vlaanderen End result:
1. Tadej Pogačar (Slo) UAE Staff Emirates in 6:12:07
2. Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Alpecin-Deceuninck at 0:16
3. Mads Pedersen (Den) Trek-Segafredo at 1:12
4. Wout van Aert (Bel) Jumbo-Visma
5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Training-EasyPost
6. Stefan Küng (Sui) Groupama-FDJ
7. Kasper Asgreen (Den) Soudal Fast-Step
8. Fred Wright (GB) Bahrain Victorious
9. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) Movistar at 1:19
10. Matteo Trentin (Ita) UAE Staff Emirates at 2:49.
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