Kopecky, Longo Borghini and Van der Poel chasing the record
On Sunday, April 6, all cycling eyes will once again be on Flanders. Mathieu van der Poel could become the sole record holder with a fourth victory in the Tour of Flanders, but he will have to get past Tadej Pogačar and Wout van Aert to do so. The women’s record will also fall with a third victory from Lotte Kopecky or Elisa Longo Borghini. Discover the provisional start lists for Flanders’ Finest below.
This year, it is again Bruges' turn to host the Tour of Flanders. The programme on the Markt starts at 8:15 with the presentation of all the riders. At 10:00, the peloton will leave the historic city center and head towards the Flemish Ardennes, covering a total distance of 268 km. Before the riders face the 16 climbs and 7 cobbled sectors, they will pass through three Villages of the Ronde: Beernem, Aalter, and Zulte.
Audenarde will be the epicenter of the women's race this year. The women's team presentation starts at 11:30, after which the race will kick off at 13:10 on the Markt. The women will face a 168 km race with 12 climbs and 7 cobbled sectors. A few hours later, the winners of Flanders' Finest will be crowned on Minderbroedersstraat.
Participants men
At the top of the provisional start list is the name of three-time winner Mathieu van der Poel. The Dutchman will face world champion Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) and a strong block from Team Visma | Lease a Bike with Wout van Aert, Matteo Jorgenson, and Dylan van Baarle. Lidl-Trek also has several key riders: Mads Pedersen, Jasper Stuyven, and Mathias Vacek.
Also present are Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility) and Alberto Bettiol (XDS Astana Team), winners in 2015 and 2019, respectively. Further down the provisional start list, we also find the names of Biniam Girmay (Intermarché – Wanty), Neilson Powless (EF Education – EasyPost), Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious), Dylan Teuns (Cofidis), Michael Matthews (Team Jayco AlUla), Oier Lazkano (Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe), Belgian champion Arnaud De Lie (Lotto), and Julian Alaphilippe (Tudor Pro Cycling Team).
Participants women
In the women's race, Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) will wear the number one bib this year. The Italian champion will join forces with Silvia Persico. Her main competitors will come from Team SD Worx – Protime: Lotte Kopecky and Anna van der Breggen. Lidl-Trek is counting on Shirin van Anrooij, as well as former winners Ellen van Dijk and Elizabeth Deignan, while Canyon//SRAM zondacrypto puts forward Tour de France winner Katarzyna Niewiadoma.
On the provisional start list, we also find former winner Marianne Vos (Team Visma | Lease a Bike). Movistar Team will head to Oudenaarde with Marlen Reusser and Liane Lippert. Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck), Letizia Paternoster (Liv-AlUla-Jayco), and Alison Jackson (EF Education – Oatly) will also be part of the race.
Mobility
Anyone who wants to follow the Tour of Flanders from the front row can head to one of the official fan zones along the route:
> Oude Kwaremont (10:00 – 19:00)
> Paterberg (10:00 – 19:00)
> Koppenberg (10:00 – 19:00)
> Kruisberg (10:00 – 19:00)
> Finish Oudenaarde (13:00 – 19:00)
To find out how you, as a fan, can get to your favorite destination most easily, discover it via the button below.
