{"id":1861613,"date":"2026-04-02T12:20:52","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T09:20:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1861613"},"modified":"2026-04-02T12:20:52","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T09:20:52","slug":"van-der-poel-van-aert-lead-challenge-against-pogacar-but-can-debutant-evenepoel-spoil-the-party-in-rare-matchup-analysing-the-favourites-for-the-mens-tour-of-flanders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1861613","title":{"rendered":"Van der Poel, Van Aert lead challenge against Poga\u010dar, but can debutant Evenepoel spoil the party in rare matchup? \u2013 Analysing the favourites for the men&#8217;s Tour of Flanders"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-1600-80.png&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRacing\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRoad\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTour of Flanders\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>Van der Poel, Van Aert lead challenge against Poga\u010dar, but can debutant Evenepoel spoil the party in rare matchup? \u2013 Analysing the favourites for the men&#8217;s Tour of Flanders<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"byline\">\n<div class=\"text-[13px]\"><span><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nJames Moultrie <\/span><span><br \/>\npublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-04-02T12:20:52Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n2 April 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">The top riders to look out for at Sunday&#8217;s 278km Monument from Antwerp to Oudenaarde<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"mx-auto mb-4 flex items-center justify-start mx-0 my-5 p-0\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-700 mb-2 text-[12px] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-gray-700 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-widget-type=\"contentparsed\" id=\"content\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-contentparsed widget-content widget-contentparsed-content widget-content-parsed widget-content-parsed-content_document \">\n<div class=\"wcp-item-content\">\n<section class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"box less-space hero-image-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-1600-80.png.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-1200-80.png.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-1024-80.png.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-970-80.png.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-480-80.png.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 600px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><figcaption class=\"mt-2\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Poga\u010dar and Wout van Aert are among the leading favourites for the 2026 Tour of Flanders<\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component-name=\"Article:JumpTo\" class=\"contents\" data-only-inline=\"0\">\n<div class=\"visible flex flex-row flex-nowrap sticky max-lg:-ml-5 top-[60px] sm:top-0 z-[9994] w-screen lg:w-full h-[50px] bg-white p-0 mb-5 border-neutral-200 border border-solid xl:hidden\" data-component-name=\"Article:JumpTo:Variants:Inline\" data-analytics-id=\"sticky-nav\" id=\"sticky-nav--inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"sticky-nav\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-row w-full h-full overflow-x-scroll overflow-y-hidden tracking-normal overscroll-x-contain\" id=\"sticky-nav__scroll-container\"><span class=\"pl-4 my-auto text-base font-semibold font-article-heading lg:pl-3 lg:text-sm whitespace-nowrap uppercase\">Jump to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-row w-auto border-y-0\">\n<li class=\"inline-flex after:content-[''] after:inline-block after:relative after:h-3\/6 after:w-px after:bg-neutral-200 after:top-1\/4\nborder-b-[3px] border-b-[var(--jumpto-underline-color)] border-solid font-semibold \" data-component-name=\"Article:JumpTo:Inline:Link\">\n<p>Tadej Poga\u010dar<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"inline-flex after:content-[''] after:inline-block after:relative after:h-3\/6 after:w-px after:bg-neutral-200 after:top-1\/4\n\" data-component-name=\"Article:JumpTo:Inline:Link\">\n<p>Mathieu van der Poel<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"inline-flex after:content-[''] after:inline-block after:relative after:h-3\/6 after:w-px after:bg-neutral-200 after:top-1\/4\n\" data-component-name=\"Article:JumpTo:Inline:Link\">\n<p>Wout van Aert<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"inline-flex after:content-[''] after:inline-block after:relative after:h-3\/6 after:w-px after:bg-neutral-200 after:top-1\/4\n\" data-component-name=\"Article:JumpTo:Inline:Link\">\n<p>Mads Pedersen<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"inline-flex after:content-[''] after:inline-block after:relative after:h-3\/6 after:w-px after:bg-neutral-200 after:top-1\/4\n\" data-component-name=\"Article:JumpTo:Inline:Link\">\n<p>Remco Evenepoel<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"inline-flex after:content-[''] after:inline-block after:relative after:h-3\/6 after:w-px after:bg-neutral-200 after:top-1\/4\n\" data-component-name=\"Article:JumpTo:Inline:Link\">\n<p>The chasing pack<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" 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id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div role=\"dialog\" class=\"hidden fixed inset-0 z-[999999999999999999] bg-[#33333370] flex items-center justify-center p-6 newsletter-modal\" data-batch-endpoint=\"https:\/\/newsletter-subscribe.futureplc.com\/v2\/submission\/submit_batch\" data-batch-source=\"302\" data-component-name=\"Newsletter:Modal\">\n<div class=\"bg-neutral-100 rounded-xl shadow-xl w-full lg:w-2\/3 xl:w-1\/2 p-6 relative max-h-[95vh] overflow-y-auto\">\n<div id=\"newsletter-capture-modal\">\n<div class=\"sm:text-xl text-base font-bold text-black mb-3 p-0 bg-inherit font-ui-heading\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<p class=\"text-gray-600 mb-4 text-sm sm:text-base font-article-copy\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<div data-component-name=\"Newsletter:NewsletterForm\">\n<hr class=\"modal_hr mt-3 mb-4 h-px bg-gray-300 border-0\">\n<div class=\"modal_footer block text-left opacity-80 text-[.8em] leading-[1.3em] mt-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-article-copy\">\nBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-modal-confirmation\" class=\"hidden\">\n<p class=\"sm:text-xl text-base font-bold text-black mb-3 p-0\">You are now subscribed<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-gray-600 mb-4 text-sm sm:text-base\">Your newsletter sign-up was successful<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsletter-modal-confirmation__userlogin\" class=\"hidden\">\n<hr class=\"my-5 h-px bg-gray-300 border-0\">\n<div class=\"items-start flex flex-col h-full justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flcw-text pb-5 pt-2 leading-[1.3]\"> An account already exists for this email address, please log in.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-c3ca8a61-6ec0-4d6b-bdbe-3b9fecd5df41\">The second Monument of the 2026 season arrives this Sunday at the Tour of Flanders, with the stars of the sport aligning for an all-out battle over 278km from Antwerp to Oudenaarde, where the iconic bergs of the Flemish Ardennes come into focus.<\/p>\n<p>Brutal cobbles and typical dreary Belgian spring weather are certain, and the racing will surely match it when it comes to difficulty. With all of the vital warm-up races completed at E3, In Flanders Fields and Dwars door Vlaanderen, the build-up of anticipation for the 110th edition of the Ronde van Vlaanderen is nearing its crescendo.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-c3ca8a61-6ec0-4d6b-bdbe-3b9fecd5df41-2\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">The opening 100km of racing will serve as the preamble to the absolute chaos, with six flat cobbled sectors and 16 cobbled climbs, &#8216;hellingen&#8217;, set to separate the best from the chasers. The Paterberg, Oude Kwaremont and viciously steep Koppenberg will take the headlines as the most essential climbs. However, there are several opportunities to make your rivals feel the pain across Sunday&#8217;s iconic route.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"article-continues-below block py-2 text-sm\">Article continues below <\/span><\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/isP3PbU6FdHrUojBNey3wF-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/isP3PbU6FdHrUojBNey3wF-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Why Poga\u010dar and Van Aert&#8217;s teams aren&#8217;t sensing weakness for the Tour of Flanders despite Mathieu van der Poel&#8217;s near-miss at E3 Saxo Classic<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Why Remco Evenepoel is right to make his Tour of Flanders debut now, and how he could challenge Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Tadej Poga\u010dar has changed E3 Saxo Classic&#8217;s status but it remains the best Flanders form guide \u2013 A closer look at the contenders for Friday&#8217;s race<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p>There will be a mix of former winners on the start line on Easter Sunday morning, but also willing challengers, with defending champion Tadej Poga\u010dar the favourite to add a third Flanders title to his Milan-San Remo crown from earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Practically all of the top Classics specialists are here to try and defeat him, from Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert, to Mads Pedersen and the wildcard surprise entry of Remco Evenepoel, who is making his debut at the race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">With that in mind, here are <em>Cyclingnews<\/em>&#8216; top contenders to conquer the roads of De Ronde and be named the 2026 men&#8217;s Tour of Flanders champion in Oudenaarde.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-tadej-pogacar-uae-team-emirates-xrg\"><span>Tadej Poga\u010dar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-34d77cab-8b7f-4d01-a8a8-a5b5a30f24e5\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7r8kbwuZqxxMPtMPwWXfuj-1200-80.png.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7r8kbwuZqxxMPtMPwWXfuj-1024-80.png.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7r8kbwuZqxxMPtMPwWXfuj-970-80.png.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7r8kbwuZqxxMPtMPwWXfuj-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7r8kbwuZqxxMPtMPwWXfuj-480-80.png.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7r8kbwuZqxxMPtMPwWXfuj-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Poga\u010dar is taking aim at Flanders after finally winning Milan-San Remo <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-6ea23010-f241-44a2-b8b6-ac8ce03ee1b1\">Where else to start but Tadej Poga\u010dar? The defending champion and a two-time winner, Poga\u010dar has completely dominated the Tour of Flanders on his past two appearances, scorching away from everyone on the final of three ascents up the Oude Kwaremont, after blowing up the race completely on the second time up the longest cobbled climb on the route.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-VsGySB5HVeiU8uLvXj3YaD\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-VsGySB5HVeiU8uLvXj3YaD slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Tour de France winners aren&#8217;t always suited to the short, sharp climbs that decide this iconic race, but Poga\u010dar&#8217;s punch has turned the cobbled roads into his playground, where even the best Classics operators can&#8217;t match his brutal accelerations.<\/p>\n<p>He does have a target on his back, as is the case at every race he starts, and his main rivals know that working with him to arrive at the foot of the Kwaremont together is likely setting themselves up for failure.<\/p>\n<p>But Poga\u010dar can often nullify any tactical headaches with his incredible ability to attack alone from range, so don&#8217;t be surprised if he goes even longer at Flanders to reduce the risks, even at just his third race of 2026.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have the makings of a great Tour of Flanders team, but is Remco Evenepoel the missing piece for taking on Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel?<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gP29mn4RkYirG5ckB2QqdQ-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gP29mn4RkYirG5ckB2QqdQ-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Super talents and former winners, but can anyone really challenge Tadej Poga\u010dar? \u2013 Analysing the men&#8217;s favourites for Strade Bianche 2026<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">The Poga\u010dar followers, the fast finishers and the outsiders \u2013 Analysing the Milan-San Remo contenders<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p>UAE Team Emirates-XRG have also impressed in his absence these past Flemish races, especially Florian Vermeersch, who should play a vital role in positioning and potentially leading out Poga\u010dar on one of the climbs.<\/p>\n<p>A big contender for the top five himself, Poga\u010dar is in good hands with Vermeersch, making a repeat victory and record-equalling third victory at Flanders seem even more likely. He&#8217;s equal on Monument titles with the great Roger De Vlaeminck, but he should move ahead of him as the next best behind Eddy Merckx on Sunday if he arrives at the key climbs safely.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-mathieu-van-der-poel-alpecin-premier-tech\"><span>Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech)<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-5208e16a-71cd-4e4a-b62a-0f137210fbc0\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AVbQwQiUEJyFg4CjGUdKe-1200-80.png.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AVbQwQiUEJyFg4CjGUdKe-1024-80.png.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AVbQwQiUEJyFg4CjGUdKe-970-80.png.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AVbQwQiUEJyFg4CjGUdKe-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AVbQwQiUEJyFg4CjGUdKe-480-80.png.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AVbQwQiUEJyFg4CjGUdKe-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Van der Poel has been preparing in Spain after he and Van Aert were caught in the final kilometres of In Flanders Fields <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-8952fc5c-2ba0-4e57-b65b-b7c974138e3b\">Mathieu van der Poel has proved the biggest challenge for Poga\u010dar both at the Tour of Flanders and throughout the spring, but the Slovenian has proved too strong up the climbs even for the three-time winning Dutchman in 2023 and 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Van der Poel outfoxed Poga\u010dar on his debut at Flanders in 2022, just staying with him over the climbs before easily outsprinting him to the title in Oudenaarde. However, he hasn&#8217;t had the climbing legs to match him up the repeated Kwaremont attempts at their past two Flanders face-offs.<\/p>\n<p>Obviously wanting the outright record, Van der Poel will be expected to switch up his tactics to try and take a fourth victory, knowing that just trying to follow Poga\u010dar when he makes his inevitable huge attack is often a stretch too far, even for him.<\/p>\n<p>Alpecin-Premier Tech are the experts in these races, and while the Dutchman has lost some of that firepower in Gianni Vermeersch heading to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, he and the savvy Roodhooft brothers are surely hatching a plan.<\/p>\n<p>Coming off the back of a close but successful E3 Saxo Classic solo win, and an impressive performance at In Flanders Fields, where teammate Jasper Philipsen took victory, this does appear to be the very best Van der Poel, and not the rider we saw get dropped on the Poggio at Milan-San Remo.<\/p>\n<p>He also has the benefit of knowing that an early crash in the race and sickness in the build-up last year impacted his shape, but he&#8217;s been able to relax in Spain ahead of Sunday&#8217;s race, so he should arrive at 100% and be raring to go.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-wout-van-aert-visma-lease-a-bike\"><span>Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike)<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-b105880d-2eb3-4a44-b963-6b070c084551\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EeaNzBFmFR3Fij9Hijyai5-1200-80.png.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EeaNzBFmFR3Fij9Hijyai5-1024-80.png.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EeaNzBFmFR3Fij9Hijyai5-970-80.png.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EeaNzBFmFR3Fij9Hijyai5-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EeaNzBFmFR3Fij9Hijyai5-480-80.png.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EeaNzBFmFR3Fij9Hijyai5-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Van Aert narrowly lost out at Dwars after attacking away from the bunch with 40km to go <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-f0281569-a330-40db-b2e6-41ceb9f0d7b4\">Wout van Aert and the Tour of Flanders, an eternal goal that he may never get to in the face of the likes of Van der Poel and Poga\u010dar, but one that he and Visma-Lease a Bike will continue to pursue.<\/p>\n<p>Despite showing great form in recent weeks, at Milan-San Remo and his two warm-up races on the Flemish cobbles, In Flanders Fields and Dwars door Vlaanderen, neither ended in a victory, and on both occasions, one in a duo with Van der Poel and one on his own, he ended up getting caught in the final kilometres.<\/p>\n<p>The second at Dwars was more heartbreaking, as it was his third bad day there in a row \u2013 crashing brutally in 2024, losing an unlosable Visma three-against-one to Neilson Powless in 2025, and getting caught and passed by Filippo Ganna in the final kilometre in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s cursed here,&#8221; he said at the finish.<\/p>\n<p>But while another defeat could dampen his morale, don&#8217;t forget that he attacked away with 40km to go and looked every bit the Van Aert of old, before his crash-ruined 2024, and seems to be peaking just in time for the big appointment at Flanders.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, he&#8217;s been no match for Pog\u010dar and Van der Poel in recent seasons, getting dropped on the key climbs and fighting to finish fourth in the most recent edition. But this is the best he has looked in a while, and perhaps the tactical battle between the winners of the past four editions could benefit the Visma man.<\/p>\n<p>He also has his former Classics right-hand man Christophe Laporte back in support, after illness kept him out of De Ronde last year, and Visma have impressed as a whole this spring. However, they would need to produce something really special on Sunday to do it.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-mads-pedersen-lidl-trek\"><span>Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-4e633026-6d97-44eb-8e99-e34f4022fc2a\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PtgfUnLJeLvuoL6K2XyyA9-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PtgfUnLJeLvuoL6K2XyyA9-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PtgfUnLJeLvuoL6K2XyyA9-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PtgfUnLJeLvuoL6K2XyyA9-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PtgfUnLJeLvuoL6K2XyyA9-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PtgfUnLJeLvuoL6K2XyyA9-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Pedersen has not yet been at his best since returning from two fractures <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-e1de6256-a94c-4121-8944-f1fafb17c787\">Last year&#8217;s runner-up, Mads Pedersen, remains one of the superstars able to compete with Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel over the toughest cobbled terrains, but he has only just returned from two fractures at Milan-San Remo; his standing ahead of Flanders is slightly lower.<\/p>\n<p>He&#8217;s still been impressive since he came back, finishing fourth in San Remo, ninth at E3 and 10th at Dwars door Vlaanderen. He hasn&#8217;t yet been the world-beating Pedersen we saw beat Van der Poel in a sprint at Gent-Wevelgem in 2024 and ride 70km solo to defend that title a year ago in the lead-up to Flanders.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s his usual incredible sprint after a hard day, and some of that punchy accelerating power that he said he is missing after Dwars, but that isn&#8217;t to say he won&#8217;t still be in the mix when the big favourites start kicking things off fully on the climbs.<\/p>\n<p>He&#8217;s also anticipated before at Flanders, knowing that getting ahead of Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel can sometimes be the best way to challenge them. Expect the Dane to still be well among the top five on Sunday, but he may be missing the few percentage points required to really go for victory \u2013 perhaps that will return to him fully at Paris-Roubaix a week later.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-remco-evenepoel-red-bull-bora-hansgrohe\"><span>Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-1a740f08-ff82-4bfb-b809-8b95ae7fd570\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n4i22VoPyCvCRjEb49nVWC-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n4i22VoPyCvCRjEb49nVWC-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n4i22VoPyCvCRjEb49nVWC-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n4i22VoPyCvCRjEb49nVWC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n4i22VoPyCvCRjEb49nVWC-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n4i22VoPyCvCRjEb49nVWC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Evenepoel completed a recon of the course on Thursday <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-6af8b27e-1766-4373-989f-8280b67d8219\">Remco Evenepoel is the surprise package for Sunday&#8217;s Monument, as he is finally making his debut and taking on his home nation&#8217;s most prestigious race. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe kept it secret for almost three months but told the world it was indeed no April Fool&#8217;s joke that he would be participating, announcing the news on the morning of Dwars door Vlaanderen.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to actually competing, few riders can be considered a top favourite without having fully experienced the cobbles of Flanders first; even Poga\u010dar had to get a lesson from Van der Poel in his first edition, finishing fourth almost impossibly from a two-up sprint.<\/p>\n<p>Evenepoel adds a different element to how things should be raced on Sunday, as he, like Poga\u010dar, is a much lighter climber than the Classics specialists of Van der Poel and Van Aert. He may be lacking in the positioning front, and of course, crashes are very possible on the hectic, dangerous Flanders course, but Red Bull have decided it&#8217;s a risk worth taking.<\/p>\n<p>He&#8217;s long been a better one-day racer than stage race, too, shown in his Olympic and World road race titles, and he&#8217;s got every bit of the punch and absolute power that should, in theory, make him a more than capable Flanders contender.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s certainly going to be exciting seeing how Evenepoel changes the racing dynamic, if at all. But those riders listed above definitely won&#8217;t want to let him get away up the road solo at any point, nor will they want him to be leading a chasing effort. It&#8217;s going to be a debut to remember, for sure, good or bad.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-the-chasing-pack\"><span>The chasing pack<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-68962fae-f832-40d4-b444-93a92772cf15\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7qbgt8z489ecGfQn7THQva-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7qbgt8z489ecGfQn7THQva-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7qbgt8z489ecGfQn7THQva-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7qbgt8z489ecGfQn7THQva-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7qbgt8z489ecGfQn7THQva-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7qbgt8z489ecGfQn7THQva-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Magnier and Stuyven are among the options for Soudal-QuickStep on Sunday <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-995c5565-9ecb-447d-a4e7-3b135d360ab5\">The difficulty of a course like Flanders makes it hard to imagine anyone but the absolute best riders can really contend for victory, but surprises aren&#8217;t impossible, and we&#8217;ve seen several attacks either come unstuck or just survive in the warm-up races, so those behind will believe.<\/p>\n<p>But Flanders is a different beast entirely, both in the unrelenting difficulty of its 280 kilometres and in the quality of the startlist. With both Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel starting, it reduces the number of riders who can win significantly, so here are some dark horse contenders who could challenge the top five, or indeed the podium.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Alec Segaert<\/strong> has impressed massively since joining Bahrain Victorious and has proved to be a real threat as a late attacker, almost winning In Flanders Fields and managing to hold off those behind to take victory at the GP de Denain.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Arnaud De Lie<\/strong> (Lotto-Inermarch\u00e9) and <strong>Paul Magnier<\/strong> (Soudal-QuickStep) represent the unlikely potentials for a sprint final, and both have shown signs that they may one day be Flanders contenders. But bad legs and bad luck have followed the pair of them, so a top result on Sunday would be a shock.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Jonas Abrahamsen<\/strong> (Uno-X Mobility) has been one of the most consistent riders in the spring and continues to improve, finishing fifth at E3 and ninth at In Flanders Fields. The climbs on Sunday may be a stretch too far for him, though.<\/p>\n<p>In a similar vein, it would be a huge surprise not to see <strong>Matteo Trentin<\/strong> towards the front in the final, as the experienced Tudor leader has shown his expert knowledge and ever-present form is enough to compete just a step behind the top guys.<\/p>\n<p>Returning to their status as a pure Classics team, Soudal-QuickStep also have the dual threat of <strong>Jasper Stuyven<\/strong> and <strong>Dylan van Baarle<\/strong> to try and follow or anticipate the top favourites&#8217; attacks, while Magnier waits in the wings, but the Belgian squad still look a distance from their previous glories of the 2000s and 2010s.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, two other former winners are taking the start. Neither <strong>Kasper Asgreen<\/strong> (EF Education-EasyPost) nor <strong>Alberto Bettiol<\/strong> (XDS Astana) look like they will threaten for a second victory in Oudenaarde on Sunday, though.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-bd4cda64-3bcb-433f-a32f-6cbe11ededfa\"><em><strong>Get unlimited access to our unrivalled 2026 Spring Classics coverage with a Cyclingnews subscription. We&#8217;ll bring you breaking news, reports, and analysis from some of the biggest races on the calendar, including Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders. <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-VsGySB5HVeiU8uLvXj3YaD\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-VsGySB5HVeiU8uLvXj3YaD slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__avatar-block\">\n<figure class=\"image-wrapped__wrapper\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__widthsetter\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__aspect-padding\">\n<div><source class=\"author__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5kc8nsofmMWAQECTbzYYw9-140-80.jpg.webp 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5kc8nsofmMWAQECTbzYYw9.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5kc8nsofmMWAQECTbzYYw9.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5kc8nsofmMWAQECTbzYYw9.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">James Moultrie<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__social\">\n<nav class=\"button-social-group author__social-buttons\" aria-labelledby=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">\n<div id=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">Social Links Navigation<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__role\">News Writer<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>James Moultrie is a gold-standard NCTJ journalist who joined\u00a0Cyclingnews\u00a0as a News Writer in 2023 after originally contributing as a freelancer for eight months, during which time he also wrote for Eurosport, Rouleur and Cycling Weekly. Prior to joining the team he reported on races such as Paris-Roubaix and the Giro d\u2019Italia Donne for Eurosport and has interviewed some of the sport\u2019s top riders in Chlo\u00e9 Dygert, Lizzie Deignan and Wout van Aert. Outside of cycling, he spends the majority of his time watching other sports \u2013 rugby, football, cricket, and American Football to name a few.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"mt-6 lg:px-0 relative max-w-[1070px] mx-auto viafoura-twig-component px-4\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class='vfcustom-community-guidelines'&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 !text-lg\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 !text-sm\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/isP3PbU6FdHrUojBNey3wF-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/isP3PbU6FdHrUojBNey3wF-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/isP3PbU6FdHrUojBNey3wF-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/isP3PbU6FdHrUojBNey3wF-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/isP3PbU6FdHrUojBNey3wF-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Why Poga\u010dar and Van Aert&#8217;s teams aren&#8217;t sensing weakness for the Tour of Flanders despite Mathieu van der Poel&#8217;s near-miss at E3 Saxo Classic<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Why Remco Evenepoel is right to make his Tour of Flanders debut now, and how he could challenge Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Tadej Poga\u010dar has changed E3 Saxo Classic&#8217;s status but it remains the best Flanders form guide \u2013 A closer look at the contenders for Friday&#8217;s race<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have the makings of a great Tour of Flanders team, but is Remco Evenepoel the missing piece for taking on Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gP29mn4RkYirG5ckB2QqdQ-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gP29mn4RkYirG5ckB2QqdQ-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gP29mn4RkYirG5ckB2QqdQ-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gP29mn4RkYirG5ckB2QqdQ-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gP29mn4RkYirG5ckB2QqdQ-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Super talents and former winners, but can anyone really challenge Tadej Poga\u010dar? \u2013 Analysing the men&#8217;s favourites for Strade Bianche 2026<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">The Poga\u010dar followers, the fast finishers and the outsiders \u2013 Analysing the Milan-San Remo contenders<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Racing<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GMrwZqS9fLnzeiGxBhwg5R-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GMrwZqS9fLnzeiGxBhwg5R-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GMrwZqS9fLnzeiGxBhwg5R-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GMrwZqS9fLnzeiGxBhwg5R-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GMrwZqS9fLnzeiGxBhwg5R-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Mick Rogers out, Fr\u00e4nk Schleck in as Lidl-Trek carry out major shake-up of senior management<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ik3zkfcMqVF82P3Tgv3UoJ-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ik3zkfcMqVF82P3Tgv3UoJ-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ik3zkfcMqVF82P3Tgv3UoJ-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ik3zkfcMqVF82P3Tgv3UoJ-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ik3zkfcMqVF82P3Tgv3UoJ-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I just don&#8217;t feel the best&#8217; \u2013 Lingering illness continues to disrupt Elisa Longo Borghini with time running out to recover fully for Tour of Flanders<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rvJ5YSwVaD8FcdVZnz3TcD-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rvJ5YSwVaD8FcdVZnz3TcD-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rvJ5YSwVaD8FcdVZnz3TcD-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rvJ5YSwVaD8FcdVZnz3TcD-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rvJ5YSwVaD8FcdVZnz3TcD-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Mads Pedersen definitely on the up but his sprint is  &#8216;the part missing from the injury&#8217; ahead of Tour of Flanders<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/DUyVFyZQHFfw4JrZh8xkQL-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/DUyVFyZQHFfw4JrZh8xkQL-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/DUyVFyZQHFfw4JrZh8xkQL-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/DUyVFyZQHFfw4JrZh8xkQL-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/DUyVFyZQHFfw4JrZh8xkQL-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;For me it was perfect&#8217; \u2013 Marlen Reusser profits from Demi Vollering breakaway and post-injury strength to grab Dwars door Vlaanderen victory<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zce5G3DYsHjGfsRMTdjQpF-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zce5G3DYsHjGfsRMTdjQpF-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zce5G3DYsHjGfsRMTdjQpF-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zce5G3DYsHjGfsRMTdjQpF-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zce5G3DYsHjGfsRMTdjQpF-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I told him for so many years to do it, and he didn&#8217;t&#8217; \u2013 Patrick Lefevere reacts to Remco Evenepoel&#8217;s Tour of Flanders debut, having failed to convince him at Soudal-QuickStep<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kkBVa5xY7v7FGodaUXSuoc-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kkBVa5xY7v7FGodaUXSuoc-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kkBVa5xY7v7FGodaUXSuoc-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kkBVa5xY7v7FGodaUXSuoc-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kkBVa5xY7v7FGodaUXSuoc-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I have mixed feelings&#8217; &#8211; Late-race gamble falls short for Demi Vollering at Dwars door Vlaanderen<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-articletype\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Previews<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Rk3esFqRGQfMaCDXoZMm9W-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Rk3esFqRGQfMaCDXoZMm9W-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Rk3esFqRGQfMaCDXoZMm9W-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Rk3esFqRGQfMaCDXoZMm9W-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Rk3esFqRGQfMaCDXoZMm9W-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">More than a Tour of Flanders warm-up \u2013 Analysing the contenders at Dwars door Vlaanderen<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Tadej Poga\u010dar has changed E3 Saxo Classic&#8217;s status but it remains the best Flanders form guide \u2013 A closer look at the contenders for Friday&#8217;s race<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6XgwMzKqsbMp4hZaKL6Ri4-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6XgwMzKqsbMp4hZaKL6Ri4-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6XgwMzKqsbMp4hZaKL6Ri4-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6XgwMzKqsbMp4hZaKL6Ri4-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6XgwMzKqsbMp4hZaKL6Ri4-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Sprinters vs attackers on the Kemmelberg \u2013\u00a0Analysing the contenders for In Flanders Fields<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/SENYq3cAranrr2cSVGCWi4-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/SENYq3cAranrr2cSVGCWi4-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/SENYq3cAranrr2cSVGCWi4-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/SENYq3cAranrr2cSVGCWi4-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/SENYq3cAranrr2cSVGCWi4-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">New name, new route, new winners? \u2013 Analysing the contenders for the men&#8217;s and women&#8217;s Ronde Van Brugge<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tdMM9USiVzeJJ9QkhvYSBE-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tdMM9USiVzeJJ9QkhvYSBE-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tdMM9USiVzeJJ9QkhvYSBE-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tdMM9USiVzeJJ9QkhvYSBE-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tdMM9USiVzeJJ9QkhvYSBE-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Crunch time in the Pyrenees for Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and Tom Pidcock \u2013 Analysing the contenders for the 2026 Volta a Catalunya<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">The Poga\u010dar followers, the fast finishers and the outsiders \u2013 Analysing the Milan-San Remo contenders<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"widgetArea17\" class=\"widget-area md:basis-1\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-1-3 page-widget-area-17\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"dynamic\" id=\"popular-data\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-dynamic widget-popular-data widget-dynamic-popular-data widget-dynamic-fter-popular-box\">\n<div class=\"wdn-fte-pb pos-relative space-t20\n\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-popularBox\" class=\"slice-container popular-box-slice popularBox slice-container-popularBox\">\n<section data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"popular-box\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">LATEST ARTICLES<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div><source class=\"popular-box__article-list__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-320-80.png.webp 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-640-80.png.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-720-80.png.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-1280-80.png.webp 1280w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA.png\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA.png\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA.png\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Van der Poel, Van Aert lead challenge against Poga\u010dar, but can debutant Evenepoel spoil the party in rare matchup? \u2013 Analysing the favourites for the men&#8217;s Tour of Flanders<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">2<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;Even easier than a Playstation&#8217; \u2013 Peter Sagan says Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s dominance is amazing but &#8216;boring in a certain way&#8217;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">3<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;We lost three experienced riders, and replaced them with really young riders&#8217; \u2013 Can Lidl-Trek&#8217;s revamped Classics core do enough for Mads Pedersen at the Tour of Flanders?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">4<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Pinarello responds after Filippo Ganna&#8217;s handlebar snaps mid-race en route to victory at Dwars door Vlaanderen<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Mick Rogers out, Fr\u00e4nk Schleck in as Lidl-Trek carry out major shake-up of senior management<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRacing\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRoad\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTour of Flanders\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>Van der Poel, Van Aert lead challenge against Poga\u010dar, but can debutant Evenepoel spoil the party in rare matchup? \u2013 Analysing the favourites for the men&#8217;s Tour of Flanders<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"byline\">\n<div class=\"text-[13px]\"><span><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nJames Moultrie <\/span><span><br \/>\npublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-04-02T12:20:52Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n2 April 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">The top riders to look out for at Sunday&#8217;s 278km Monument from Antwerp to Oudenaarde<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"mx-auto mb-4 flex items-center justify-start mx-0 my-5 p-0\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-700 mb-2 text-[12px] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-gray-700 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-widget-type=\"contentparsed\" id=\"content\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-contentparsed widget-content widget-contentparsed-content widget-content-parsed widget-content-parsed-content_document \">\n<div class=\"wcp-item-content\">\n<section class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"box less-space hero-image-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-1600-80.png.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-1200-80.png.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-1024-80.png.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-970-80.png.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-480-80.png.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 600px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><figcaption class=\"mt-2\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Poga\u010dar and Wout van Aert are among the leading favourites for the 2026 Tour of Flanders<\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component-name=\"Article:JumpTo\" class=\"contents\" data-only-inline=\"0\">\n<div class=\"visible flex flex-row flex-nowrap sticky max-lg:-ml-5 top-[60px] sm:top-0 z-[9994] w-screen lg:w-full h-[50px] bg-white p-0 mb-5 border-neutral-200 border border-solid xl:hidden\" data-component-name=\"Article:JumpTo:Variants:Inline\" data-analytics-id=\"sticky-nav\" id=\"sticky-nav--inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"sticky-nav\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-row w-full h-full overflow-x-scroll overflow-y-hidden tracking-normal overscroll-x-contain\" id=\"sticky-nav__scroll-container\"><span class=\"pl-4 my-auto text-base font-semibold font-article-heading lg:pl-3 lg:text-sm whitespace-nowrap uppercase\">Jump to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-row w-auto border-y-0\">\n<li class=\"inline-flex after:content-[''] after:inline-block after:relative after:h-3\/6 after:w-px after:bg-neutral-200 after:top-1\/4\nborder-b-[3px] border-b-[var(--jumpto-underline-color)] border-solid font-semibold \" data-component-name=\"Article:JumpTo:Inline:Link\">\n<p>Tadej Poga\u010dar<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"inline-flex after:content-[''] after:inline-block after:relative after:h-3\/6 after:w-px after:bg-neutral-200 after:top-1\/4\n\" data-component-name=\"Article:JumpTo:Inline:Link\">\n<p>Mathieu van der Poel<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"inline-flex after:content-[''] after:inline-block after:relative after:h-3\/6 after:w-px after:bg-neutral-200 after:top-1\/4\n\" data-component-name=\"Article:JumpTo:Inline:Link\">\n<p>Wout van Aert<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"inline-flex after:content-[''] after:inline-block after:relative after:h-3\/6 after:w-px after:bg-neutral-200 after:top-1\/4\n\" data-component-name=\"Article:JumpTo:Inline:Link\">\n<p>Mads Pedersen<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"inline-flex after:content-[''] after:inline-block after:relative after:h-3\/6 after:w-px after:bg-neutral-200 after:top-1\/4\n\" data-component-name=\"Article:JumpTo:Inline:Link\">\n<p>Remco Evenepoel<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"inline-flex after:content-[''] after:inline-block after:relative after:h-3\/6 after:w-px after:bg-neutral-200 after:top-1\/4\n\" data-component-name=\"Article:JumpTo:Inline:Link\">\n<p>The chasing pack<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" 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class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-c3ca8a61-6ec0-4d6b-bdbe-3b9fecd5df41\">The second Monument of the 2026 season arrives this Sunday at the Tour of Flanders, with the stars of the sport aligning for an all-out battle over 278km from Antwerp to Oudenaarde, where the iconic bergs of the Flemish Ardennes come into focus.<\/p>\n<p>Brutal cobbles and typical dreary Belgian spring weather are certain, and the racing will surely match it when it comes to difficulty. With all of the vital warm-up races completed at E3, In Flanders Fields and Dwars door Vlaanderen, the build-up of anticipation for the 110th edition of the Ronde van Vlaanderen is nearing its crescendo.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-c3ca8a61-6ec0-4d6b-bdbe-3b9fecd5df41-2\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">The opening 100km of racing will serve as the preamble to the absolute chaos, with six flat cobbled sectors and 16 cobbled climbs, &#8216;hellingen&#8217;, set to separate the best from the chasers. The Paterberg, Oude Kwaremont and viciously steep Koppenberg will take the headlines as the most essential climbs. However, there are several opportunities to make your rivals feel the pain across Sunday&#8217;s iconic route.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"article-continues-below block py-2 text-sm\">Article continues below <\/span><\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/isP3PbU6FdHrUojBNey3wF-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/isP3PbU6FdHrUojBNey3wF-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Why Poga\u010dar and Van Aert&#8217;s teams aren&#8217;t sensing weakness for the Tour of Flanders despite Mathieu van der Poel&#8217;s near-miss at E3 Saxo Classic<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Why Remco Evenepoel is right to make his Tour of Flanders debut now, and how he could challenge Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Tadej Poga\u010dar has changed E3 Saxo Classic&#8217;s status but it remains the best Flanders form guide \u2013 A closer look at the contenders for Friday&#8217;s race<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p>There will be a mix of former winners on the start line on Easter Sunday morning, but also willing challengers, with defending champion Tadej Poga\u010dar the favourite to add a third Flanders title to his Milan-San Remo crown from earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Practically all of the top Classics specialists are here to try and defeat him, from Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert, to Mads Pedersen and the wildcard surprise entry of Remco Evenepoel, who is making his debut at the race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">With that in mind, here are <em>Cyclingnews<\/em>&#8216; top contenders to conquer the roads of De Ronde and be named the 2026 men&#8217;s Tour of Flanders champion in Oudenaarde.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-tadej-pogacar-uae-team-emirates-xrg\"><span>Tadej Poga\u010dar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-34d77cab-8b7f-4d01-a8a8-a5b5a30f24e5\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7r8kbwuZqxxMPtMPwWXfuj-1200-80.png.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7r8kbwuZqxxMPtMPwWXfuj-1024-80.png.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7r8kbwuZqxxMPtMPwWXfuj-970-80.png.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7r8kbwuZqxxMPtMPwWXfuj-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7r8kbwuZqxxMPtMPwWXfuj-480-80.png.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7r8kbwuZqxxMPtMPwWXfuj-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Poga\u010dar is taking aim at Flanders after finally winning Milan-San Remo <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-6ea23010-f241-44a2-b8b6-ac8ce03ee1b1\">Where else to start but Tadej Poga\u010dar? The defending champion and a two-time winner, Poga\u010dar has completely dominated the Tour of Flanders on his past two appearances, scorching away from everyone on the final of three ascents up the Oude Kwaremont, after blowing up the race completely on the second time up the longest cobbled climb on the route.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-VsGySB5HVeiU8uLvXj3YaD\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-VsGySB5HVeiU8uLvXj3YaD slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Tour de France winners aren&#8217;t always suited to the short, sharp climbs that decide this iconic race, but Poga\u010dar&#8217;s punch has turned the cobbled roads into his playground, where even the best Classics operators can&#8217;t match his brutal accelerations.<\/p>\n<p>He does have a target on his back, as is the case at every race he starts, and his main rivals know that working with him to arrive at the foot of the Kwaremont together is likely setting themselves up for failure.<\/p>\n<p>But Poga\u010dar can often nullify any tactical headaches with his incredible ability to attack alone from range, so don&#8217;t be surprised if he goes even longer at Flanders to reduce the risks, even at just his third race of 2026.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have the makings of a great Tour of Flanders team, but is Remco Evenepoel the missing piece for taking on Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel?<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gP29mn4RkYirG5ckB2QqdQ-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gP29mn4RkYirG5ckB2QqdQ-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Super talents and former winners, but can anyone really challenge Tadej Poga\u010dar? \u2013 Analysing the men&#8217;s favourites for Strade Bianche 2026<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">The Poga\u010dar followers, the fast finishers and the outsiders \u2013 Analysing the Milan-San Remo contenders<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p>UAE Team Emirates-XRG have also impressed in his absence these past Flemish races, especially Florian Vermeersch, who should play a vital role in positioning and potentially leading out Poga\u010dar on one of the climbs.<\/p>\n<p>A big contender for the top five himself, Poga\u010dar is in good hands with Vermeersch, making a repeat victory and record-equalling third victory at Flanders seem even more likely. He&#8217;s equal on Monument titles with the great Roger De Vlaeminck, but he should move ahead of him as the next best behind Eddy Merckx on Sunday if he arrives at the key climbs safely.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-mathieu-van-der-poel-alpecin-premier-tech\"><span>Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech)<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-5208e16a-71cd-4e4a-b62a-0f137210fbc0\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AVbQwQiUEJyFg4CjGUdKe-1200-80.png.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AVbQwQiUEJyFg4CjGUdKe-1024-80.png.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AVbQwQiUEJyFg4CjGUdKe-970-80.png.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AVbQwQiUEJyFg4CjGUdKe-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AVbQwQiUEJyFg4CjGUdKe-480-80.png.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AVbQwQiUEJyFg4CjGUdKe-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Van der Poel has been preparing in Spain after he and Van Aert were caught in the final kilometres of In Flanders Fields <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-8952fc5c-2ba0-4e57-b65b-b7c974138e3b\">Mathieu van der Poel has proved the biggest challenge for Poga\u010dar both at the Tour of Flanders and throughout the spring, but the Slovenian has proved too strong up the climbs even for the three-time winning Dutchman in 2023 and 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Van der Poel outfoxed Poga\u010dar on his debut at Flanders in 2022, just staying with him over the climbs before easily outsprinting him to the title in Oudenaarde. However, he hasn&#8217;t had the climbing legs to match him up the repeated Kwaremont attempts at their past two Flanders face-offs.<\/p>\n<p>Obviously wanting the outright record, Van der Poel will be expected to switch up his tactics to try and take a fourth victory, knowing that just trying to follow Poga\u010dar when he makes his inevitable huge attack is often a stretch too far, even for him.<\/p>\n<p>Alpecin-Premier Tech are the experts in these races, and while the Dutchman has lost some of that firepower in Gianni Vermeersch heading to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, he and the savvy Roodhooft brothers are surely hatching a plan.<\/p>\n<p>Coming off the back of a close but successful E3 Saxo Classic solo win, and an impressive performance at In Flanders Fields, where teammate Jasper Philipsen took victory, this does appear to be the very best Van der Poel, and not the rider we saw get dropped on the Poggio at Milan-San Remo.<\/p>\n<p>He also has the benefit of knowing that an early crash in the race and sickness in the build-up last year impacted his shape, but he&#8217;s been able to relax in Spain ahead of Sunday&#8217;s race, so he should arrive at 100% and be raring to go.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-wout-van-aert-visma-lease-a-bike\"><span>Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike)<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-b105880d-2eb3-4a44-b963-6b070c084551\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EeaNzBFmFR3Fij9Hijyai5-1200-80.png.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EeaNzBFmFR3Fij9Hijyai5-1024-80.png.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EeaNzBFmFR3Fij9Hijyai5-970-80.png.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EeaNzBFmFR3Fij9Hijyai5-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EeaNzBFmFR3Fij9Hijyai5-480-80.png.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EeaNzBFmFR3Fij9Hijyai5-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Van Aert narrowly lost out at Dwars after attacking away from the bunch with 40km to go <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-f0281569-a330-40db-b2e6-41ceb9f0d7b4\">Wout van Aert and the Tour of Flanders, an eternal goal that he may never get to in the face of the likes of Van der Poel and Poga\u010dar, but one that he and Visma-Lease a Bike will continue to pursue.<\/p>\n<p>Despite showing great form in recent weeks, at Milan-San Remo and his two warm-up races on the Flemish cobbles, In Flanders Fields and Dwars door Vlaanderen, neither ended in a victory, and on both occasions, one in a duo with Van der Poel and one on his own, he ended up getting caught in the final kilometres.<\/p>\n<p>The second at Dwars was more heartbreaking, as it was his third bad day there in a row \u2013 crashing brutally in 2024, losing an unlosable Visma three-against-one to Neilson Powless in 2025, and getting caught and passed by Filippo Ganna in the final kilometre in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s cursed here,&#8221; he said at the finish.<\/p>\n<p>But while another defeat could dampen his morale, don&#8217;t forget that he attacked away with 40km to go and looked every bit the Van Aert of old, before his crash-ruined 2024, and seems to be peaking just in time for the big appointment at Flanders.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, he&#8217;s been no match for Pog\u010dar and Van der Poel in recent seasons, getting dropped on the key climbs and fighting to finish fourth in the most recent edition. But this is the best he has looked in a while, and perhaps the tactical battle between the winners of the past four editions could benefit the Visma man.<\/p>\n<p>He also has his former Classics right-hand man Christophe Laporte back in support, after illness kept him out of De Ronde last year, and Visma have impressed as a whole this spring. However, they would need to produce something really special on Sunday to do it.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-mads-pedersen-lidl-trek\"><span>Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-4e633026-6d97-44eb-8e99-e34f4022fc2a\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PtgfUnLJeLvuoL6K2XyyA9-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PtgfUnLJeLvuoL6K2XyyA9-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PtgfUnLJeLvuoL6K2XyyA9-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PtgfUnLJeLvuoL6K2XyyA9-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PtgfUnLJeLvuoL6K2XyyA9-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PtgfUnLJeLvuoL6K2XyyA9-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Pedersen has not yet been at his best since returning from two fractures <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-e1de6256-a94c-4121-8944-f1fafb17c787\">Last year&#8217;s runner-up, Mads Pedersen, remains one of the superstars able to compete with Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel over the toughest cobbled terrains, but he has only just returned from two fractures at Milan-San Remo; his standing ahead of Flanders is slightly lower.<\/p>\n<p>He&#8217;s still been impressive since he came back, finishing fourth in San Remo, ninth at E3 and 10th at Dwars door Vlaanderen. He hasn&#8217;t yet been the world-beating Pedersen we saw beat Van der Poel in a sprint at Gent-Wevelgem in 2024 and ride 70km solo to defend that title a year ago in the lead-up to Flanders.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s his usual incredible sprint after a hard day, and some of that punchy accelerating power that he said he is missing after Dwars, but that isn&#8217;t to say he won&#8217;t still be in the mix when the big favourites start kicking things off fully on the climbs.<\/p>\n<p>He&#8217;s also anticipated before at Flanders, knowing that getting ahead of Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel can sometimes be the best way to challenge them. Expect the Dane to still be well among the top five on Sunday, but he may be missing the few percentage points required to really go for victory \u2013 perhaps that will return to him fully at Paris-Roubaix a week later.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-remco-evenepoel-red-bull-bora-hansgrohe\"><span>Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-1a740f08-ff82-4bfb-b809-8b95ae7fd570\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n4i22VoPyCvCRjEb49nVWC-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n4i22VoPyCvCRjEb49nVWC-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n4i22VoPyCvCRjEb49nVWC-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n4i22VoPyCvCRjEb49nVWC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n4i22VoPyCvCRjEb49nVWC-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n4i22VoPyCvCRjEb49nVWC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Evenepoel completed a recon of the course on Thursday <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-6af8b27e-1766-4373-989f-8280b67d8219\">Remco Evenepoel is the surprise package for Sunday&#8217;s Monument, as he is finally making his debut and taking on his home nation&#8217;s most prestigious race. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe kept it secret for almost three months but told the world it was indeed no April Fool&#8217;s joke that he would be participating, announcing the news on the morning of Dwars door Vlaanderen.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to actually competing, few riders can be considered a top favourite without having fully experienced the cobbles of Flanders first; even Poga\u010dar had to get a lesson from Van der Poel in his first edition, finishing fourth almost impossibly from a two-up sprint.<\/p>\n<p>Evenepoel adds a different element to how things should be raced on Sunday, as he, like Poga\u010dar, is a much lighter climber than the Classics specialists of Van der Poel and Van Aert. He may be lacking in the positioning front, and of course, crashes are very possible on the hectic, dangerous Flanders course, but Red Bull have decided it&#8217;s a risk worth taking.<\/p>\n<p>He&#8217;s long been a better one-day racer than stage race, too, shown in his Olympic and World road race titles, and he&#8217;s got every bit of the punch and absolute power that should, in theory, make him a more than capable Flanders contender.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s certainly going to be exciting seeing how Evenepoel changes the racing dynamic, if at all. But those riders listed above definitely won&#8217;t want to let him get away up the road solo at any point, nor will they want him to be leading a chasing effort. It&#8217;s going to be a debut to remember, for sure, good or bad.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-the-chasing-pack\"><span>The chasing pack<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-68962fae-f832-40d4-b444-93a92772cf15\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7qbgt8z489ecGfQn7THQva-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7qbgt8z489ecGfQn7THQva-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7qbgt8z489ecGfQn7THQva-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7qbgt8z489ecGfQn7THQva-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7qbgt8z489ecGfQn7THQva-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7qbgt8z489ecGfQn7THQva-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Magnier and Stuyven are among the options for Soudal-QuickStep on Sunday <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-995c5565-9ecb-447d-a4e7-3b135d360ab5\">The difficulty of a course like Flanders makes it hard to imagine anyone but the absolute best riders can really contend for victory, but surprises aren&#8217;t impossible, and we&#8217;ve seen several attacks either come unstuck or just survive in the warm-up races, so those behind will believe.<\/p>\n<p>But Flanders is a different beast entirely, both in the unrelenting difficulty of its 280 kilometres and in the quality of the startlist. With both Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel starting, it reduces the number of riders who can win significantly, so here are some dark horse contenders who could challenge the top five, or indeed the podium.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Alec Segaert<\/strong> has impressed massively since joining Bahrain Victorious and has proved to be a real threat as a late attacker, almost winning In Flanders Fields and managing to hold off those behind to take victory at the GP de Denain.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Arnaud De Lie<\/strong> (Lotto-Inermarch\u00e9) and <strong>Paul Magnier<\/strong> (Soudal-QuickStep) represent the unlikely potentials for a sprint final, and both have shown signs that they may one day be Flanders contenders. But bad legs and bad luck have followed the pair of them, so a top result on Sunday would be a shock.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Jonas Abrahamsen<\/strong> (Uno-X Mobility) has been one of the most consistent riders in the spring and continues to improve, finishing fifth at E3 and ninth at In Flanders Fields. The climbs on Sunday may be a stretch too far for him, though.<\/p>\n<p>In a similar vein, it would be a huge surprise not to see <strong>Matteo Trentin<\/strong> towards the front in the final, as the experienced Tudor leader has shown his expert knowledge and ever-present form is enough to compete just a step behind the top guys.<\/p>\n<p>Returning to their status as a pure Classics team, Soudal-QuickStep also have the dual threat of <strong>Jasper Stuyven<\/strong> and <strong>Dylan van Baarle<\/strong> to try and follow or anticipate the top favourites&#8217; attacks, while Magnier waits in the wings, but the Belgian squad still look a distance from their previous glories of the 2000s and 2010s.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, two other former winners are taking the start. Neither <strong>Kasper Asgreen<\/strong> (EF Education-EasyPost) nor <strong>Alberto Bettiol<\/strong> (XDS Astana) look like they will threaten for a second victory in Oudenaarde on Sunday, though.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-bd4cda64-3bcb-433f-a32f-6cbe11ededfa\"><em><strong>Get unlimited access to our unrivalled 2026 Spring Classics coverage with a Cyclingnews subscription. We&#8217;ll bring you breaking news, reports, and analysis from some of the biggest races on the calendar, including Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders. <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-VsGySB5HVeiU8uLvXj3YaD\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-VsGySB5HVeiU8uLvXj3YaD slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__avatar-block\">\n<figure class=\"image-wrapped__wrapper\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__widthsetter\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__aspect-padding\">\n<div><source class=\"author__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5kc8nsofmMWAQECTbzYYw9-140-80.jpg.webp 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5kc8nsofmMWAQECTbzYYw9.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5kc8nsofmMWAQECTbzYYw9.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5kc8nsofmMWAQECTbzYYw9.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">James Moultrie<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__social\">\n<nav class=\"button-social-group author__social-buttons\" aria-labelledby=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">\n<div id=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">Social Links Navigation<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__role\">News Writer<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>James Moultrie is a gold-standard NCTJ journalist who joined\u00a0Cyclingnews\u00a0as a News Writer in 2023 after originally contributing as a freelancer for eight months, during which time he also wrote for Eurosport, Rouleur and Cycling Weekly. Prior to joining the team he reported on races such as Paris-Roubaix and the Giro d\u2019Italia Donne for Eurosport and has interviewed some of the sport\u2019s top riders in Chlo\u00e9 Dygert, Lizzie Deignan and Wout van Aert. Outside of cycling, he spends the majority of his time watching other sports \u2013 rugby, football, cricket, and American Football to name a few.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"mt-6 lg:px-0 relative max-w-[1070px] mx-auto viafoura-twig-component px-4\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class='vfcustom-community-guidelines'&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 !text-lg\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 !text-sm\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/isP3PbU6FdHrUojBNey3wF-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/isP3PbU6FdHrUojBNey3wF-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/isP3PbU6FdHrUojBNey3wF-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/isP3PbU6FdHrUojBNey3wF-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/isP3PbU6FdHrUojBNey3wF-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Why Poga\u010dar and Van Aert&#8217;s teams aren&#8217;t sensing weakness for the Tour of Flanders despite Mathieu van der Poel&#8217;s near-miss at E3 Saxo Classic<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Why Remco Evenepoel is right to make his Tour of Flanders debut now, and how he could challenge Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Tadej Poga\u010dar has changed E3 Saxo Classic&#8217;s status but it remains the best Flanders form guide \u2013 A closer look at the contenders for Friday&#8217;s race<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have the makings of a great Tour of Flanders team, but is Remco Evenepoel the missing piece for taking on Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel?<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gP29mn4RkYirG5ckB2QqdQ-840-80.png.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gP29mn4RkYirG5ckB2QqdQ-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gP29mn4RkYirG5ckB2QqdQ-500-80.png.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gP29mn4RkYirG5ckB2QqdQ-450-80.png.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gP29mn4RkYirG5ckB2QqdQ-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Super talents and former winners, but can anyone really challenge Tadej Poga\u010dar? \u2013 Analysing the men&#8217;s favourites for Strade Bianche 2026<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">The Poga\u010dar followers, the fast finishers and the outsiders \u2013 Analysing the Milan-San Remo contenders<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Racing<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GMrwZqS9fLnzeiGxBhwg5R-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GMrwZqS9fLnzeiGxBhwg5R-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GMrwZqS9fLnzeiGxBhwg5R-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GMrwZqS9fLnzeiGxBhwg5R-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/GMrwZqS9fLnzeiGxBhwg5R-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Mick Rogers out, Fr\u00e4nk Schleck in as Lidl-Trek carry out major shake-up of senior management<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ik3zkfcMqVF82P3Tgv3UoJ-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ik3zkfcMqVF82P3Tgv3UoJ-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ik3zkfcMqVF82P3Tgv3UoJ-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ik3zkfcMqVF82P3Tgv3UoJ-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ik3zkfcMqVF82P3Tgv3UoJ-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I just don&#8217;t feel the best&#8217; \u2013 Lingering illness continues to disrupt Elisa Longo Borghini with time running out to recover fully for Tour of Flanders<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rvJ5YSwVaD8FcdVZnz3TcD-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rvJ5YSwVaD8FcdVZnz3TcD-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rvJ5YSwVaD8FcdVZnz3TcD-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rvJ5YSwVaD8FcdVZnz3TcD-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/rvJ5YSwVaD8FcdVZnz3TcD-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Mads Pedersen definitely on the up but his sprint is  &#8216;the part missing from the injury&#8217; ahead of Tour of Flanders<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/DUyVFyZQHFfw4JrZh8xkQL-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/DUyVFyZQHFfw4JrZh8xkQL-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/DUyVFyZQHFfw4JrZh8xkQL-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/DUyVFyZQHFfw4JrZh8xkQL-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/DUyVFyZQHFfw4JrZh8xkQL-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;For me it was perfect&#8217; \u2013 Marlen Reusser profits from Demi Vollering breakaway and post-injury strength to grab Dwars door Vlaanderen victory<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zce5G3DYsHjGfsRMTdjQpF-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zce5G3DYsHjGfsRMTdjQpF-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zce5G3DYsHjGfsRMTdjQpF-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zce5G3DYsHjGfsRMTdjQpF-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/zce5G3DYsHjGfsRMTdjQpF-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I told him for so many years to do it, and he didn&#8217;t&#8217; \u2013 Patrick Lefevere reacts to Remco Evenepoel&#8217;s Tour of Flanders debut, having failed to convince him at Soudal-QuickStep<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kkBVa5xY7v7FGodaUXSuoc-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kkBVa5xY7v7FGodaUXSuoc-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kkBVa5xY7v7FGodaUXSuoc-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kkBVa5xY7v7FGodaUXSuoc-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/kkBVa5xY7v7FGodaUXSuoc-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I have mixed feelings&#8217; &#8211; Late-race gamble falls short for Demi Vollering at Dwars door Vlaanderen<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-articletype\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Previews<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Rk3esFqRGQfMaCDXoZMm9W-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Rk3esFqRGQfMaCDXoZMm9W-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Rk3esFqRGQfMaCDXoZMm9W-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Rk3esFqRGQfMaCDXoZMm9W-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Rk3esFqRGQfMaCDXoZMm9W-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">More than a Tour of Flanders warm-up \u2013 Analysing the contenders at Dwars door Vlaanderen<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Tadej Poga\u010dar has changed E3 Saxo Classic&#8217;s status but it remains the best Flanders form guide \u2013 A closer look at the contenders for Friday&#8217;s race<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6XgwMzKqsbMp4hZaKL6Ri4-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6XgwMzKqsbMp4hZaKL6Ri4-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6XgwMzKqsbMp4hZaKL6Ri4-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6XgwMzKqsbMp4hZaKL6Ri4-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6XgwMzKqsbMp4hZaKL6Ri4-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Sprinters vs attackers on the Kemmelberg \u2013\u00a0Analysing the contenders for In Flanders Fields<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/SENYq3cAranrr2cSVGCWi4-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/SENYq3cAranrr2cSVGCWi4-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/SENYq3cAranrr2cSVGCWi4-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/SENYq3cAranrr2cSVGCWi4-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/SENYq3cAranrr2cSVGCWi4-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">New name, new route, new winners? \u2013 Analysing the contenders for the men&#8217;s and women&#8217;s Ronde Van Brugge<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tdMM9USiVzeJJ9QkhvYSBE-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tdMM9USiVzeJJ9QkhvYSBE-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tdMM9USiVzeJJ9QkhvYSBE-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tdMM9USiVzeJJ9QkhvYSBE-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/tdMM9USiVzeJJ9QkhvYSBE-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Crunch time in the Pyrenees for Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel and Tom Pidcock \u2013 Analysing the contenders for the 2026 Volta a Catalunya<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Racing<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">The Poga\u010dar followers, the fast finishers and the outsiders \u2013 Analysing the Milan-San Remo contenders<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"sponsored-post--placeholder max-w-full animate-pulse\"><span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"widgetArea17\" class=\"widget-area md:basis-1\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-1-3 page-widget-area-17\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"dynamic\" id=\"popular-data\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-dynamic widget-popular-data widget-dynamic-popular-data widget-dynamic-fter-popular-box\">\n<div class=\"wdn-fte-pb pos-relative space-t20\n\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-popularBox\" class=\"slice-container popular-box-slice popularBox slice-container-popularBox\">\n<section data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"popular-box\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">LATEST ARTICLES<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div><source class=\"popular-box__article-list__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-320-80.png.webp 320w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-640-80.png.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-720-80.png.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-1280-80.png.webp 1280w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA.png\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA.png\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA.png\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Van der Poel, Van Aert lead challenge against Poga\u010dar, but can debutant Evenepoel spoil the party in rare matchup? \u2013 Analysing the favourites for the men&#8217;s Tour of Flanders<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">2<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;Even easier than a Playstation&#8217; \u2013 Peter Sagan says Tadej Poga\u010dar&#8217;s dominance is amazing but &#8216;boring in a certain way&#8217;<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">3<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">&#8216;We lost three experienced riders, and replaced them with really young riders&#8217; \u2013 Can Lidl-Trek&#8217;s revamped Classics core do enough for Mads Pedersen at the Tour of Flanders?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">4<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Pinarello responds after Filippo Ganna&#8217;s handlebar snaps mid-race en route to victory at Dwars door Vlaanderen<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">Mick Rogers out, Fr\u00e4nk Schleck in as Lidl-Trek carry out major shake-up of senior management<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRacing\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRoad\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTour of Flanders\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>Van der Poel, Van Aert lead challenge against Poga\u010dar, but can debutant Evenepoel spoil the party in rare matchup? \u2013 Analysing the favourites for the men&#8217;s Tour of Flanders<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"byline\">\n<div class=\"text-[13px]\"><span><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nJames Moultrie <\/span><span><br \/>\npublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-04-02T12:20:52Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n2 April 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">The top riders to look out for at Sunday&#8217;s 278km Monument from Antwerp to Oudenaarde<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"mx-auto mb-4 flex items-center justify-start mx-0 my-5 p-0\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no 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Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"!m-0\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 sm:ml-1.5 font-base text-xs\">0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div role=\"dialog\" class=\"hidden fixed inset-0 z-[999999999999999999] bg-[#33333370] flex items-center justify-center p-6 newsletter-modal\" data-batch-endpoint=\"https:\/\/newsletter-subscribe.futureplc.com\/v2\/submission\/submit_batch\" data-batch-source=\"302\" data-component-name=\"Newsletter:Modal\">\n<div class=\"bg-neutral-100 rounded-xl shadow-xl w-full lg:w-2\/3 xl:w-1\/2 p-6 relative max-h-[95vh] overflow-y-auto\">\n<div id=\"newsletter-capture-modal\">\n<div class=\"sm:text-xl text-base font-bold text-black mb-3 p-0 bg-inherit font-ui-heading\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<p class=\"text-gray-600 mb-4 text-sm sm:text-base font-article-copy\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<div data-component-name=\"Newsletter:NewsletterForm\">\n<hr class=\"modal_hr mt-3 mb-4 h-px bg-gray-300 border-0\">\n<div class=\"modal_footer block text-left opacity-80 text-[.8em] leading-[1.3em] mt-2 [&amp;&gt;a]:underline font-article-copy\">\nBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"newsletter-modal-confirmation\" class=\"hidden\">\n<p class=\"sm:text-xl text-base font-bold text-black mb-3 p-0\">You are now subscribed<\/p>\n<p class=\"text-gray-600 mb-4 text-sm sm:text-base\">Your newsletter sign-up was successful<\/p>\n<div id=\"newsletter-modal-confirmation__userlogin\" class=\"hidden\">\n<hr class=\"my-5 h-px bg-gray-300 border-0\">\n<div class=\"items-start flex flex-col h-full justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flcw-text pb-5 pt-2 leading-[1.3]\"> An account already exists for this email address, please log in.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-c3ca8a61-6ec0-4d6b-bdbe-3b9fecd5df41\">The second Monument of the 2026 season arrives this Sunday at the Tour of Flanders, with the stars of the sport aligning for an all-out battle over 278km from Antwerp to Oudenaarde, where the iconic bergs of the Flemish Ardennes come into focus.<\/p>\n<p>Brutal cobbles and typical dreary Belgian spring weather are certain, and the racing will surely match it when it comes to difficulty. With all of the vital warm-up races completed at E3, In Flanders Fields and Dwars door Vlaanderen, the build-up of anticipation for the 110th edition of the Ronde van Vlaanderen is nearing its crescendo.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-c3ca8a61-6ec0-4d6b-bdbe-3b9fecd5df41-2\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">The opening 100km of racing will serve as the preamble to the absolute chaos, with six flat cobbled sectors and 16 cobbled climbs, &#8216;hellingen&#8217;, set to separate the best from the chasers. The Paterberg, Oude Kwaremont and viciously steep Koppenberg will take the headlines as the most essential climbs. However, there are several opportunities to make your rivals feel the pain across Sunday&#8217;s iconic route.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"article-continues-below block py-2 text-sm\">Article continues below <\/span><\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/isP3PbU6FdHrUojBNey3wF-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/isP3PbU6FdHrUojBNey3wF-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Why Poga\u010dar and Van Aert&#8217;s teams aren&#8217;t sensing weakness for the Tour of Flanders despite Mathieu van der Poel&#8217;s near-miss at E3 Saxo Classic<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bHLxGrWU2fCg4Mw43wZRES-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Why Remco Evenepoel is right to make his Tour of Flanders debut now, and how he could challenge Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/A8rsyrMGbAaRxUEhoGGAWF-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Tadej Poga\u010dar has changed E3 Saxo Classic&#8217;s status but it remains the best Flanders form guide \u2013 A closer look at the contenders for Friday&#8217;s race<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p>There will be a mix of former winners on the start line on Easter Sunday morning, but also willing challengers, with defending champion Tadej Poga\u010dar the favourite to add a third Flanders title to his Milan-San Remo crown from earlier this year.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Practically all of the top Classics specialists are here to try and defeat him, from Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert, to Mads Pedersen and the wildcard surprise entry of Remco Evenepoel, who is making his debut at the race.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">With that in mind, here are <em>Cyclingnews<\/em>&#8216; top contenders to conquer the roads of De Ronde and be named the 2026 men&#8217;s Tour of Flanders champion in Oudenaarde.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-tadej-pogacar-uae-team-emirates-xrg\"><span>Tadej Poga\u010dar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-34d77cab-8b7f-4d01-a8a8-a5b5a30f24e5\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7r8kbwuZqxxMPtMPwWXfuj-1200-80.png.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7r8kbwuZqxxMPtMPwWXfuj-1024-80.png.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7r8kbwuZqxxMPtMPwWXfuj-970-80.png.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7r8kbwuZqxxMPtMPwWXfuj-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7r8kbwuZqxxMPtMPwWXfuj-480-80.png.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7r8kbwuZqxxMPtMPwWXfuj-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Poga\u010dar is taking aim at Flanders after finally winning Milan-San Remo <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-6ea23010-f241-44a2-b8b6-ac8ce03ee1b1\">Where else to start but Tadej Poga\u010dar? The defending champion and a two-time winner, Poga\u010dar has completely dominated the Tour of Flanders on his past two appearances, scorching away from everyone on the final of three ascents up the Oude Kwaremont, after blowing up the race completely on the second time up the longest cobbled climb on the route.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-VsGySB5HVeiU8uLvXj3YaD\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-VsGySB5HVeiU8uLvXj3YaD slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Tour de France winners aren&#8217;t always suited to the short, sharp climbs that decide this iconic race, but Poga\u010dar&#8217;s punch has turned the cobbled roads into his playground, where even the best Classics operators can&#8217;t match his brutal accelerations.<\/p>\n<p>He does have a target on his back, as is the case at every race he starts, and his main rivals know that working with him to arrive at the foot of the Kwaremont together is likely setting themselves up for failure.<\/p>\n<p>But Poga\u010dar can often nullify any tactical headaches with his incredible ability to attack alone from range, so don&#8217;t be surprised if he goes even longer at Flanders to reduce the risks, even at just his third race of 2026.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5GZmJZf8qmx8Kyc3E4yqyX-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have the makings of a great Tour of Flanders team, but is Remco Evenepoel the missing piece for taking on Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel?<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gP29mn4RkYirG5ckB2QqdQ-250-80.png.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gP29mn4RkYirG5ckB2QqdQ-150-80.png.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">Super talents and former winners, but can anyone really challenge Tadej Poga\u010dar? \u2013 Analysing the men&#8217;s favourites for Strade Bianche 2026<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/bF4qY79KNbg9H54ddEqDJC-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"\n                            w-full font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2 text-base font-medium\">The Poga\u010dar followers, the fast finishers and the outsiders \u2013 Analysing the Milan-San Remo contenders<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p>UAE Team Emirates-XRG have also impressed in his absence these past Flemish races, especially Florian Vermeersch, who should play a vital role in positioning and potentially leading out Poga\u010dar on one of the climbs.<\/p>\n<p>A big contender for the top five himself, Poga\u010dar is in good hands with Vermeersch, making a repeat victory and record-equalling third victory at Flanders seem even more likely. He&#8217;s equal on Monument titles with the great Roger De Vlaeminck, but he should move ahead of him as the next best behind Eddy Merckx on Sunday if he arrives at the key climbs safely.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-mathieu-van-der-poel-alpecin-premier-tech\"><span>Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech)<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-5208e16a-71cd-4e4a-b62a-0f137210fbc0\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AVbQwQiUEJyFg4CjGUdKe-1200-80.png.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AVbQwQiUEJyFg4CjGUdKe-1024-80.png.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AVbQwQiUEJyFg4CjGUdKe-970-80.png.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AVbQwQiUEJyFg4CjGUdKe-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AVbQwQiUEJyFg4CjGUdKe-480-80.png.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/AVbQwQiUEJyFg4CjGUdKe-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Van der Poel has been preparing in Spain after he and Van Aert were caught in the final kilometres of In Flanders Fields <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-8952fc5c-2ba0-4e57-b65b-b7c974138e3b\">Mathieu van der Poel has proved the biggest challenge for Poga\u010dar both at the Tour of Flanders and throughout the spring, but the Slovenian has proved too strong up the climbs even for the three-time winning Dutchman in 2023 and 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Van der Poel outfoxed Poga\u010dar on his debut at Flanders in 2022, just staying with him over the climbs before easily outsprinting him to the title in Oudenaarde. However, he hasn&#8217;t had the climbing legs to match him up the repeated Kwaremont attempts at their past two Flanders face-offs.<\/p>\n<p>Obviously wanting the outright record, Van der Poel will be expected to switch up his tactics to try and take a fourth victory, knowing that just trying to follow Poga\u010dar when he makes his inevitable huge attack is often a stretch too far, even for him.<\/p>\n<p>Alpecin-Premier Tech are the experts in these races, and while the Dutchman has lost some of that firepower in Gianni Vermeersch heading to Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, he and the savvy Roodhooft brothers are surely hatching a plan.<\/p>\n<p>Coming off the back of a close but successful E3 Saxo Classic solo win, and an impressive performance at In Flanders Fields, where teammate Jasper Philipsen took victory, this does appear to be the very best Van der Poel, and not the rider we saw get dropped on the Poggio at Milan-San Remo.<\/p>\n<p>He also has the benefit of knowing that an early crash in the race and sickness in the build-up last year impacted his shape, but he&#8217;s been able to relax in Spain ahead of Sunday&#8217;s race, so he should arrive at 100% and be raring to go.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-wout-van-aert-visma-lease-a-bike\"><span>Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike)<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-b105880d-2eb3-4a44-b963-6b070c084551\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EeaNzBFmFR3Fij9Hijyai5-1200-80.png.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EeaNzBFmFR3Fij9Hijyai5-1024-80.png.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EeaNzBFmFR3Fij9Hijyai5-970-80.png.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EeaNzBFmFR3Fij9Hijyai5-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EeaNzBFmFR3Fij9Hijyai5-480-80.png.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/EeaNzBFmFR3Fij9Hijyai5-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Van Aert narrowly lost out at Dwars after attacking away from the bunch with 40km to go <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-f0281569-a330-40db-b2e6-41ceb9f0d7b4\">Wout van Aert and the Tour of Flanders, an eternal goal that he may never get to in the face of the likes of Van der Poel and Poga\u010dar, but one that he and Visma-Lease a Bike will continue to pursue.<\/p>\n<p>Despite showing great form in recent weeks, at Milan-San Remo and his two warm-up races on the Flemish cobbles, In Flanders Fields and Dwars door Vlaanderen, neither ended in a victory, and on both occasions, one in a duo with Van der Poel and one on his own, he ended up getting caught in the final kilometres.<\/p>\n<p>The second at Dwars was more heartbreaking, as it was his third bad day there in a row \u2013 crashing brutally in 2024, losing an unlosable Visma three-against-one to Neilson Powless in 2025, and getting caught and passed by Filippo Ganna in the final kilometre in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s cursed here,&#8221; he said at the finish.<\/p>\n<p>But while another defeat could dampen his morale, don&#8217;t forget that he attacked away with 40km to go and looked every bit the Van Aert of old, before his crash-ruined 2024, and seems to be peaking just in time for the big appointment at Flanders.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, he&#8217;s been no match for Pog\u010dar and Van der Poel in recent seasons, getting dropped on the key climbs and fighting to finish fourth in the most recent edition. But this is the best he has looked in a while, and perhaps the tactical battle between the winners of the past four editions could benefit the Visma man.<\/p>\n<p>He also has his former Classics right-hand man Christophe Laporte back in support, after illness kept him out of De Ronde last year, and Visma have impressed as a whole this spring. However, they would need to produce something really special on Sunday to do it.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-mads-pedersen-lidl-trek\"><span>Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-4e633026-6d97-44eb-8e99-e34f4022fc2a\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PtgfUnLJeLvuoL6K2XyyA9-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PtgfUnLJeLvuoL6K2XyyA9-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PtgfUnLJeLvuoL6K2XyyA9-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PtgfUnLJeLvuoL6K2XyyA9-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PtgfUnLJeLvuoL6K2XyyA9-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PtgfUnLJeLvuoL6K2XyyA9-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Pedersen has not yet been at his best since returning from two fractures <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-e1de6256-a94c-4121-8944-f1fafb17c787\">Last year&#8217;s runner-up, Mads Pedersen, remains one of the superstars able to compete with Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel over the toughest cobbled terrains, but he has only just returned from two fractures at Milan-San Remo; his standing ahead of Flanders is slightly lower.<\/p>\n<p>He&#8217;s still been impressive since he came back, finishing fourth in San Remo, ninth at E3 and 10th at Dwars door Vlaanderen. He hasn&#8217;t yet been the world-beating Pedersen we saw beat Van der Poel in a sprint at Gent-Wevelgem in 2024 and ride 70km solo to defend that title a year ago in the lead-up to Flanders.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s his usual incredible sprint after a hard day, and some of that punchy accelerating power that he said he is missing after Dwars, but that isn&#8217;t to say he won&#8217;t still be in the mix when the big favourites start kicking things off fully on the climbs.<\/p>\n<p>He&#8217;s also anticipated before at Flanders, knowing that getting ahead of Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel can sometimes be the best way to challenge them. Expect the Dane to still be well among the top five on Sunday, but he may be missing the few percentage points required to really go for victory \u2013 perhaps that will return to him fully at Paris-Roubaix a week later.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-remco-evenepoel-red-bull-bora-hansgrohe\"><span>Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-1a740f08-ff82-4bfb-b809-8b95ae7fd570\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n4i22VoPyCvCRjEb49nVWC-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n4i22VoPyCvCRjEb49nVWC-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n4i22VoPyCvCRjEb49nVWC-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n4i22VoPyCvCRjEb49nVWC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n4i22VoPyCvCRjEb49nVWC-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n4i22VoPyCvCRjEb49nVWC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Evenepoel completed a recon of the course on Thursday <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-6af8b27e-1766-4373-989f-8280b67d8219\">Remco Evenepoel is the surprise package for Sunday&#8217;s Monument, as he is finally making his debut and taking on his home nation&#8217;s most prestigious race. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe kept it secret for almost three months but told the world it was indeed no April Fool&#8217;s joke that he would be participating, announcing the news on the morning of Dwars door Vlaanderen.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to actually competing, few riders can be considered a top favourite without having fully experienced the cobbles of Flanders first; even Poga\u010dar had to get a lesson from Van der Poel in his first edition, finishing fourth almost impossibly from a two-up sprint.<\/p>\n<p>Evenepoel adds a different element to how things should be raced on Sunday, as he, like Poga\u010dar, is a much lighter climber than the Classics specialists of Van der Poel and Van Aert. He may be lacking in the positioning front, and of course, crashes are very possible on the hectic, dangerous Flanders course, but Red Bull have decided it&#8217;s a risk worth taking.<\/p>\n<p>He&#8217;s long been a better one-day racer than stage race, too, shown in his Olympic and World road race titles, and he&#8217;s got every bit of the punch and absolute power that should, in theory, make him a more than capable Flanders contender.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s certainly going to be exciting seeing how Evenepoel changes the racing dynamic, if at all. But those riders listed above definitely won&#8217;t want to let him get away up the road solo at any point, nor will they want him to be leading a chasing effort. It&#8217;s going to be a debut to remember, for sure, good or bad.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"article-body__section\" id=\"section-the-chasing-pack\"><span>The chasing pack<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-68962fae-f832-40d4-b444-93a92772cf15\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7qbgt8z489ecGfQn7THQva-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7qbgt8z489ecGfQn7THQva-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7qbgt8z489ecGfQn7THQva-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7qbgt8z489ecGfQn7THQva-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7qbgt8z489ecGfQn7THQva-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/7qbgt8z489ecGfQn7THQva-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Magnier and Stuyven are among the options for Soudal-QuickStep on Sunday <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-995c5565-9ecb-447d-a4e7-3b135d360ab5\">The difficulty of a course like Flanders makes it hard to imagine anyone but the absolute best riders can really contend for victory, but surprises aren&#8217;t impossible, and we&#8217;ve seen several attacks either come unstuck or just survive in the warm-up races, so those behind will believe.<\/p>\n<p>But Flanders is a different beast entirely, both in the unrelenting difficulty of its 280 kilometres and in the quality of the startlist. With both Poga\u010dar and Van der Poel starting, it reduces the number of riders who can win significantly, so here are some dark horse contenders who could challenge the top five, or indeed the podium.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Alec Segaert<\/strong> has impressed massively since joining Bahrain Victorious and has proved to be a real threat as a late attacker, almost winning In Flanders Fields and managing to hold off those behind to take victory at the GP de Denain.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Arnaud De Lie<\/strong> (Lotto-Inermarch\u00e9) and <strong>Paul Magnier<\/strong> (Soudal-QuickStep) represent the unlikely potentials for a sprint final, and both have shown signs that they may one day be Flanders contenders. But bad legs and bad luck have followed the pair of them, so a top result on Sunday would be a shock.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Jonas Abrahamsen<\/strong> (Uno-X Mobility) has been one of the most consistent riders in the spring and continues to improve, finishing fifth at E3 and ninth at In Flanders Fields. The climbs on Sunday may be a stretch too far for him, though.<\/p>\n<p>In a similar vein, it would be a huge surprise not to see <strong>Matteo Trentin<\/strong> towards the front in the final, as the experienced Tudor leader has shown his expert knowledge and ever-present form is enough to compete just a step behind the top guys.<\/p>\n<p>Returning to their status as a pure Classics team, Soudal-QuickStep also have the dual threat of <strong>Jasper Stuyven<\/strong> and <strong>Dylan van Baarle<\/strong> to try and follow or anticipate the top favourites&#8217; attacks, while Magnier waits in the wings, but the Belgian squad still look a distance from their previous glories of the 2000s and 2010s.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, two other former winners are taking the start. Neither <strong>Kasper Asgreen<\/strong> (EF Education-EasyPost) nor <strong>Alberto Bettiol<\/strong> (XDS Astana) look like they will threaten for a second victory in Oudenaarde on Sunday, though.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-bd4cda64-3bcb-433f-a32f-6cbe11ededfa\"><em><strong>Get unlimited access to our unrivalled 2026 Spring Classics coverage with a Cyclingnews subscription. We&#8217;ll bring you breaking news, reports, and analysis from some of the biggest races on the calendar, including Milan-San Remo, Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders. <\/strong><\/em><u><em><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/racing\/van-der-poel-van-aert-lead-challenge-against-pogacar-but-can-debutant-evenepoel-spoil-the-party-in-rare-matchup-analysing-the-favourites-for-the-mens-tour-of-flanders\/&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/Wz8StZaiG7VeLse2hVecQA-1600-80.png&#8221;] Pro Cycling Racing Road Tour of Flanders Van der Poel, Van Aert lead challenge against Poga\u010dar, but can debutant Evenepoel spoil the party in rare matchup? \u2013 Analysing the favourites for the men&#8217;s Tour of Flanders By James Moultrie published 2 April 2026 The top riders to look out for at Sunday&#8217;s [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,68],"class_list":["post-1861613","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-cyclingnews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1861613","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1861613"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1861613\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1861613"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1861613"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1861613"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}