Tour of Flanders 2024: Van der Poel wins with 45-kilometre solo, Politt on the podium
Sebastian Lindner
· 31.03.2024
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) brought about the decision on the Koppenberg 45 kilometres before the finish: The world champion was one of the few riders who did not have to dismount on the wet cobblestones on the 20 per cent steep climb. He took advantage of the gap he tore between himself and his rivals to win the Tour of Flanders for the third time after 2020 and 2022. The Dutchman is also the first rider in history to finish on the podium five times in a row and the first winner in the rainbow jersey since Peter Sagan in 2016. With his third victory, he is now one of the seven record winners of the 'Ronde'.
Around a minute behind van der Poel, who dismounted directly after the finish line and raised his bike over his head, a group sprinted for second place. Surprisingly, the Italian Luca Mozzato (Arkea-B&B Hotels) came out on top ahead of Michael Matthews (Team Jayco-AlUla), while Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates) initially finished fourth after 270 kilometres in Oudenaarde.
Van der Poel after winning the Tour of Flanders: "Season already successful"
But Matthews was not allowed to keep his third place - Politt inherited it. The Australian rode a non-compliant wave in the sprint, pushing Politt to the side of the road. The UCI relegated him to the back of the group.
Meanwhile, a totally exhausted van der Poel was already at the winner's interview. "My season is already a success. Winning here in the world champion's jersey is a dream come true. I have to realise that first," said the 29-year-old, who didn't want to think about next weekend's Paris-Roubaix at all after winning his fifth Monument.
Van der Poel also spoke of the "hardest 'Ronde'" he had ever ridden. In addition to the weather - in the second half, the fine weather after the start in Antwerp turned into continuous rain - the 108th edition was also the fastest in history with an average speed of 45.5 km/h, although van der Poel also played his part in this, even though he slowed down a little in the final kilometres after the Paterberg in order to reach the finish safely.
The top 10 of the Tour of Flanders 2024
- Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) 6:05:17
- Luca Mozzato (Arkea-B&B Hotels) +1:02
- Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates) +1:02
- Mikkel Bjerg (UAE Team Emirates) +1:02
- Antonio Morgado (UAE Team Emirates) +1:02
- Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers) +1:02
- Oliver Nasen (Decathlon - AG2R La Mondiale) +1:02
- Dylan Teuns (Israel-Premier Tech) +1:02
- Alberto Bettiol (EF Education EasyPost) +1:02
- Toms Skujins (Lidl-Trek) +1:02
How the Tour of Flanders 2024 went
A group of eight dominated the first 150 kilometres of the day in dry conditions, with a maximum of four minutes being awarded to them by the favourites. David Dekker (Arkea-B&B Hotels), Stanislaw Aniolkowski (Cofidis), Bert Van Lerberghe (Soudal - Quick Step), Damien Touze (Decathlon - AG2R La Mondiale), Elmar Reinders, Luke Durbridge (both Team Jayco-AlUla), Lionel Taminiaux (Lotto-Dstny) and Jelle Vermoote (Bingoal WB) were able to let off steam in the flat part of the race.
The group was slowed down by a train, among other things, and there were crashes at the back, including Georg Zimmermann (Intermarche-Wanty) and Nico Denz (Bora-Hansgrohe), which slowed the pace.
Pedersen opens hot phase
The race really picked up speed when there were just under 100 kilometres to go. Rain had set in and at the Berendries slip road the lead of the breakaway group had shrunk to less than half a minute. Recognising the situation, a well-known group including Mads Pedersen, Nils Politt, Dylan van Baarle, Tiesj Benoot, Oliver Naesen and Ben Turner closed the gap to the original breakaway.
World champion van der Poel was missing, but he used the Valkenberg to close the gap with a violent attack. Pedersen didn't like that at all. While the rainbow jersey opened up, the Dane attacked. Only Alpecin helper Gianni Vermeersch was able to follow. The duo quickly built up a 20-second lead.
The situation remained constant until kilometre 55 before the finish, when the race went up the Oude Kwaremont for the second time. There, Oier Lazkano (Movistar) closed the gap to Pedersen, then van der Poel attacked over it. He tore the gap, but it was Lazkano who rode back with Pedersen, Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates), Laurence Pithie (Groupama-FDJ) and Dylan Teuns (Israel-Premier Tech).
Only Van der Poel, Jorgenson and Pedersen ride on the Koppenberg
Until the Paterberg shortly afterwards, a lot came together again, but in the descent with aquaplaning everything dissolved again. While Ben Turner (Ineos Grenadiers) was the first on the crest, Ivan Cortina (Movistar) came out of the descent in the lead. Up to the Koppenberg, he built up a lead of around 20 seconds on a group of around 15 riders, which included all the favourites.
Cortina's chain came off his bike on the extremely steep Koppenberg. Van der Poel was the first to pass him, followed by Matteo Jorgenson (Visma | Lease a Bike) and then Pedersen. All the others slid back and forth on the cobbles, lost their balance and had to dismount. There were still 45 kilometres to the finish.
Van der Poel clearly pulls away
In the Maria-Borrestraat, van der Poel significantly extended his lead over Jorgenson, while a group formed around Pedersen with Laurenz Rex (Intermarche-Wanty), Alberto Bettiol (EF Education EasyPost), Wellens, Teuns and Cortina. Going into the Taaienberg, Jorgenson was caught, while Pedersen had to fight to catch up. Van der Poel already had a 1:20 minute lead there.
On the Oude Kruisberg, the Verfogler group split up. Bettiol and Teuns formed the first duo, Wellens and Cortina a second behind them. Pedersen, Jorgenson and Rex rode behind them. But when the Oude Kwaremont was crossed for the last time 18 kilometres before the finish, only Teuns and Bettiol were left as chasers. All the others were gradually rolled up from behind by a larger group.
Politt inherits third place from Matthews
Teuns and Bettiol made it to the finishing straight, but it wasn't enough. The duo's legs fell asleep 200 metres before the finish. While the group behind them sprinted on, the other two were unable to get out of the saddle. Lucca Mozzato (Arkea-B&B Hotels) prevailed in a photo finish ahead of Matthews, with Politt finishing fourth. However, the UCI judged the Australian's sprint, who left his line in the final metres, as not compliant with the rules and relegated him to the back of the group, which meant that Politt still jumped onto the podium of the Tour of Flanders.
