In the picturesque town of Oudenaarde, Belgium, Tadej Pogacar showcased a remarkable performance by clinching his second Tour of Flanders title. The Slovenian champion added yet another memorable win to his cycling career, in one of the sport’s most challenging and celebrated classics.
Pogacar’s victory was marked by a powerful solo breakaway on the final ascent of Oude Kwaremont. The three-time Tour de France winner launched his decisive attack on the penultimate climb, approximately 18 kilometers from the finish line, leaving defending champion Mathieu van der Poel and other competitors in his dust. This year, Pogacar raced in the world champion’s jersey and expressed immense joy upon triumphing in this prestigious event. “I’m so happy to win in this jersey this race,” said Pogacar from UAE Team Emirates, crediting a well-executed strategy, despite some team setbacks during the race.
Concluding his stellar performance, Pogacar crossed the finish line one minute and one second ahead of his nearest competitor, Mads Pedersen, who outpaced Van der Poel in a sprint for second. Wout van Aert and Jasper Stuyven also put in strong performances, closely following the leaders.
Known locally as De Ronde, the Tour of Flanders was first organized in 1913 and has since become a cornerstone of cycling’s competitive season. This year’s grueling 268.9-kilometer (167-mile) route navigated 16 demanding climbs and several rough cobblestone sections. The race is recognized as one of cycling’s five “monuments,” lauded for its intensity and historical significance.
The rivalry between Pogacar and Van der Poel was a focal point of this year’s competition. Van der Poel, fresh from a victorious Milan-San Remo, valiantly battled against Pogacar. Despite a crash early in the race, Van der Poel demonstrated resilience, managing to maintain pace before Pogacar decisively broke away.
Reflecting on his performance, Van der Poel acknowledged both the challenge and the outcomes. “I was already on the limit from quite far,” he admitted, satisfied with his podium finish despite the setback of an early fall. “The crash was not ideal, but I think we put up a good fight.”
Meanwhile, in the women’s race, Belgian world champion Lotte Kopecky etched her name in history books by winning her third Tour of Flanders. She surpassed her closest rivals, including Pauline Ferrand-Prevot, Liane Lippert, and Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney, in a thrilling sprint finish.
Kopecky, having claimed victories in both 2022 and 2023, became the first woman to achieve three wins in the event’s history. Elisa Longo Borghini also pursued a third title but was forced to withdraw after a crash early in the race.
While Pogacar has tasted victory at Flanders, he has set his sights on conquering other monumental races such as Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix, which is set to present even more daunting cobblestone challenges next Sunday. “It’s a completely different race, but I will accept the challenge and try to do my best,” Pogacar remarked, hinting at his upcoming ambitions.