The Tour of Flanders will take place this Sunday, to close the series of Flemish bergs races with the one which is considered the most sought-after, and therefore will see all the top riders gather, including those who passed by all the previous flandriennes.
The race starts from Antwerp for 280 km; the first half leading to the bergs area is basically flat, until the first climb of the Old Kwaremont exactly mid-race. From there on, it goes up and down on asphalted or cobbled bergs, until the last flat section (less than 15 km) to the finish line in Oudenarde.
A Google Maps link to what I believe is the area of the huge beer marquees in Old Kwaremont
Last year's top-5 will be present : Pogatchar (๐ธ๐ฎ UAE), Pedersen (๐ฉ๐ฐ Lidl-Trek), Van der Poel (๐ณ๐ฑ Alpecin), Van Aert (๐ง๐ช Visma) and Stuyven (๐ง๐ช Lidl-Trek then, Soudal-QS now). And Evenepoel (๐ง๐ช Bora), who I think never rode a flandrienne of any sort, will join.
It seems that Ganna (๐ฎ๐น Ineos), who just won the little sister trial Across Flanders on Wednesday, is not expected to race on Sunday.
๐ There might be a tiny bit of rain on Saturday, but the road and cobbles should be mostly dry on Sunday (until gallons of beer and piss are poured over).
Last French winner was Jacky Durand, back in 1992, and there is no obvious sign that this 33 years long depression should stop this year. After all, the previous victories dated back to the fifties with Bobet and Forestier ๐
The women race is significantly lighter, with only 165 km and perhaps half the bergs.
L. Kopecky (๐ง๐ช SD-Worx) won 3 of the last 4 editions, and she will be there, after staying hidden in the peloton on Wednesday, while Reusser (๐จ๐ญ Movistar) and Vollering (๐ณ๐ฑ FDJ) were spending their strength at the front of Across Flanders.
So, whatโs everyoneโs guess?
I think Van Der Poel wins, Wout 2nd, Pogi 3rd
This year, it is hard to imagine a few decent outsiders, beside the 3+1 big favourites.
If I had to make a bet, I'd be very conservative and unimaginative, and say Pogatchar 1^st^, then Van der Poel, then either Van Aert or the Angry Chip. I'd add that I only see major crashes being able to change this. Perhaps a big echelon in the first could wear one of those out and even the field or let a couple of outsiders in, but otherwise...
I admit putting WVA 2nd is a patriotic choice (hell, I'd even put him 1ste but MVDP is something different, plus statistically he wins every even year haha). Pogi podium over Evenepoel is just realistic, really. Remco will have to be very good to top-5.
Rooting for Van Aert, mainly! Looked sharp at the start interviews as well