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In the background Tadej Pogačar (r.) is angry, in the foreground Mathieu van der Poel is jubilant
Photo: IMAGO/Peter De Voecht / IMAGO/Panoramic International
Mathieu van der Poel has won the Tour of Flanders for the second time since 2020.
His big opponent Tadej Pogačar threw up his arms and cursed furiously after an unfortunate end of the race for him.
The anger was probably mainly aimed at himself.
The two cycling stars went into the final kilometers with a big lead.
But instead of forcing the decision early on, van der Poel reduced the speed to almost walking pace.
Pogačar, who is at a disadvantage in the sprint compared to the Dutchman, hesitated.
The pursuers used the standing attempts and caught up, the two leaders threatened to have gambled, but van der Poel ultimately prevailed, Pogačar only finished fourth, as Dylan van Baarle and Valentin Madouas passed him.
Pogačar puts pressure on, van der Poel pulls along
“I worked so hard for this race.
It's unbelievable," said Dutchman van der Poel, who triumphed after 272.5 kilometers between Antwerp and Oudenaarde.
For a long time, an escape group, which also included the German Max Kanter, determined what was happening.
In the increasing momentum over the last 100 kilometers, however, the lead shrank steadily.
The pressure from the peloton was too great for a surprise win.
On the second of three crossings over the famous Oude Kwaremont, Pogačar increased the pace with only a few drivers able to follow.
Pogačar used the following climbs for further attacks and thus reduced the competition.
On the last climb in Paterberg, only van der Poel was at his side.
Spectators at the cobblestone classic again for the first time
The twelve German starters around hopeful Nils Politt had nothing to do with the decision, but showed an active race as helpers and in escape groups.
The only German winners of the Tour of Flanders remain Rudi Altig (1964) and Steffen Wesemann (2004).
For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, spectators were allowed to gather on the side of the road again at the largest Belgian cycle race.
The fans came in droves, the »Ronde« became a well-known folk festival in mostly sunny but cool weather - only the absence of Belgium's flagship driver Wout van Aert caused a little disillusionment among the hosts.
The Tour of Flanders, which was held for the first time in 1913, is the cobblestone highlight of spring, alongside the Paris-Roubaix planned for April 17th.
The second Belgian monument - Liège-Bastogne-Liège - forms the traditional conclusion of the great one-day classics of the first half of the year on April 24th.
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