The classic season continues full steam ahead! Following the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem, it's time for Dwars door Vlaanderen, traditionally the last appetizer before Sunday's grand event. Nonetheless, Wednesday's race consistently attracts a strong field of participants. IDLProCycling.com tells you all you need to know!
Dwars door Vlaanderen, a more recent addition to the WorldTour, has been gaining prestige over the years. While it's a race where less prominent names have a shot at victory, this dynamic has shifted slightly in recent editions. Riders like Jens Debusschere and Jelle Wallays (twice) claimed victories in the tens, but starting from 2019, a shift, led by Mathieu van der Poel, has been noticeable.
Van der Poel broke through with a commanding win here, setting off a string of Dutch triumphs including Dylan van Baarle and Van der Poel himself. Christophe Laporte, riding for the Dutch team Visma | Lease a Bike, continued this trend last year. The Frenchman broke away in the final kilometers and didn't see his competitors again until after the finish.
Practical information Dwars door Vlaanderen 2024
- Wednesday, March 27, 2024
- Participants
- Classification: WorldTour
In this article
- Most recent winners
- Course, weather and times
- Favorites
- TV information
Most recent winners Dwars door Vlaanderen
2023 Christophe Laporte
2022 Mathieu van der Poel
2021 Dylan van Baarle2020 Did not run
2019 Mathieu van der Poel
2018 Yves Lampaert
2017 Yves Lampaert
2016 Jens Debusschere
2015Jelle Wallays
2014 Niki Terpstra
Course, weather and times Dwars door Vlaanderen 2024
This season's Dwars door Vlaanderen sticks to its well-known formula, meaning the famous climbs from the Flemish Ardennes - like the Paterberg, Oude Kwaremont, the Muur, and Koppenberg - are not included. This often opens opportunities for riders who might not be in contention on Sunday.
The race kicks off in Roeselare and finishes 188 kilometers later in Waregem. The pre-finale typically begins with the last hundred kilometers to go, featuring a rapid succession of the Hotond-Knokteberg-Kortekeer trio. After a brief respite, the Berg ten Houte and Kanarieberg combo adds some extra lactic acid to the legs around seventy kilometers from the end.
Around fifty kilometers from the finish, the race revisits the Knokteberg and the Hotond, where the selection is expected to be made. Following are Ladeuze, Nokereberg, and Nokere, as well as the cobblestone sections of Doorn, Huisepontweg, and twice the Herlegemstraat, eventually leading to the finish in Waregem.
Climbs
52.0 km: Hellestraat (1500 m at 3.8%, maximum 10.0%)
71.2 km: Volkegemberg (1100 m at 4.8%, maximum 10.0%)
88.1 km: Hotond (800 m at 5.4%, maximum 10.0%)
95.9 km: Knokteberg - Trieu (1100 m at 7.0%, maximum 11.8%)
103.2 km: Kortekeer (900 m at 6.5%, maximum 9.8%)
117.0 km: Berg Ten Houte (1100 m at 6.0%, maximum 21.0%)
122.7 km: Kanarieberg (900 m at 7.7%, maximum 14.0%)
135.7 km: Knokteberg - Trieu (1100 m at 7.0%, maximum 11.8%)
139.3 km: Hotond (1200 m at 3.1%, maximum 6.5%)
150.5 km: Ladeuze (1200 m at 5.6%, maximum 16.0%)
166.8 km: Nokereberg (500 m at 5.7%, maximum 6.7%)
179.4 km: Nokere (750 m at 5.7%, maximum 6.7%)
Cobblestone lanes
55.1 km: Varentstraat (2000 meters)
71.7 km: Holleweg (600 meters)
105.4 km: Mariaborrestraat (2400 meters)
145.8 km: Mariaborrestraat (2400 meters)
159.2 km: Thorn (900 meters)
161.7 km: Huisepontweg (1600 meters
169.5 km: Herlegemstraat (800 meters)
182.3 km: Herlegemstraat (800 meters)
Weather
Spring has sprung, yet Wednesday's forecast is a modest 12 degrees Celsius. There's no rain expected, but with a strong wind from the south, teams will need to be wary of echelons!
Times
Start: 12:15 PM
Finish: 4:41 PM
Favorites Dwars door Vlaanderen 2024
Last year, the Flemish series was dominated by Jumbo-Visma (now Visma | Lease a Bike), but heading into this edition of Dwars door Vlaanderen, the team is dealing with a string of bad luck. Defending champion Christophe Laporte is out with illness, while intended starters Per Strand Hagenes, Wout van Aert, Tiesj Benoot, Jan Tratnik, Matteo Jorgenson, and Dylan van Baarle all (!) hit the ground last weekend.
Despite this, we're counting Van Aert, who fell on the Paterberg, among the top favorites. Jorgenson and Van Baarle are also expected to be contenders, with Benoot and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad winner Tratnik likely taking on support roles. Thus, the team still boasts several strong riders, albeit with some battle scars.
Meanwhile, Lidl-Trek has taken the mantle in the Flemish races, dictating the pace in both the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem, with leaders Jasper Stuyven (second on Friday) and Mads Pedersen (winner on Sunday) delivering results. Add to that a formidable second line with Jonathan Milan, Toms Skujins, and now Tim Declercq and Edward Theuns back in action, and you have a powerhouse team, despite Alex Kirsch's fall on Sunday.
Against these super teams, it's a tough fight, but squads like Groupama-FDJ (Stefan Küng, Laurence Pithie, and Valentin Madouas), INEOS Grenadiers (Ben Turner), Intermarché-Wanty (Biniam Girmay), and UAE-Team Emirates (Tim Wellens and Nils Politt) have been holding their own. Solo riders like Alberto Bettiol (EF Education-EasyPost) and Oier Lazkano (Movistar), last year's surprise second-place finisher in Waregem, also stand out.
With a less challenging course than other Flemish races, sprinters have a shot at victory. Jasper Philipsen, leading Alpecin-Deceuninck in Mathieu van der Poel's absence, and Gent-Wevelgem podium finisher Jordi Meeus, supported by the strong Danny van Poppel, who also proved his form on the Kemmelberg, come to mind.
Soudal Quick-Step hasn't made an impact yet, but with Julian Alaphilippe, Kasper Asgreen, Luke Lamperti, Gianni Moscon, and Casper Pedersen, they might turn the tide in this 188-kilometer race. Still, we don't see them as top contenders, just like riders such as Luca Mozzato (Arkéa - B&B Hotels), Oliver Naesen (Decathlon AG2R), Axel Zingle (Cofidis), John Degenkolb (dsm-firmenich PostNL), Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny), Corbin Strong, Krists Neilands (Israel-Premier Tech), Rasmus Tiller (Uno-X), and Anthony Turgis (TotalEnergies).
Who are the favorites for Dwars door Vlaanderen 2024, according to IDLProCycling.com?
Top favorites: Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
TV coverage Dwars door Vlaanderen 2024
Dwars door Vlaanderen can, of course, be followed on Wednesday via Sporza and Eurosport. On VRT 1, the broadcast begins at 2 p.m., while Eurosport switches on at 2:15 p.m. on its main channel and online platforms.
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