Preview Tour of Flanders 2024 | Major teams disbanded, what are the implications for Van der Poel?

Here it is: the High Mass of cycling! The date of the Tour of Flanders is circled on the calendar of many cycling fans, and the 2024 edition is no exception, even though it falls on Easter Sunday. IDLProCycling.com brings you everything you need to know heading into "De Ronde"!

You don't even need to look at the list of past winners to know that only the greatest of the sport claim victory here. While the Tour of Flanders was once the hunting ground for Tom Boonen and Fabian Cancellara in the early tens, recent years have seen it become a playground for Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar. The Dutchman has been the main protagonist over the last five years, but last season, like everyone else, he had to concede to the Slovenian.

One thing is certain: none of the recent winners have stolen their victory on the grueling course around Oudenaarde. Alberto Bettiol was perhaps the biggest surprise in 2019, but even he was simply the strongest that day.

Practical information Tour of Flanders 2024

• Sunday, March 31, 2024
• Participants
  
• Classification: WorldTour

In this article

• Most recent winners
• Course, weather and times
• Favorites
• TV coverage information

Most recent winners of the Tour of Flanders

2023 Tadej Pogacar
2022 Mathieu van der Poel
2021 Kasper Asgreen
2020 Mathieu van der Poel
2019 Alberto Bettiol
2018 Niki Terpstra
2017 Philippe Gilbert
2016 Peter Sagan
2015 Alexander Kristoff
2014 Fabian Cancellara

Course, weather and times Tour of Flanders 2024

The course of the Tour of Flanders is notoriously difficult. This edition starts in Antwerp, a city that has been sharing the start location with Bruges for some time. Some 260 kilometers later, the race finishes in Oudenaarde, which has also been a staple finish location for a while.

From Antwerp, the riders have enough time to settle in, as there are no serious climbs in the first 130 kilometers. This gives some riders an opportunity to break away early in the day, with the secret hope of making it into the (pre)finale of this Monument.

The first major obstacle comes after 136 kilometers: the Oude Kwaremont, a climb the riders will face three times in total. From the Kwaremont, the race heads towards the Kortekeer and Wolvenberg, after which the climbs start coming thick and fast. The Molenberg, Marlboroughstraat, Berendries, and Valkenberg are also on the horizon.

By the 200-kilometer mark, many riders' legs are starting to feel heavy, but then Berg ten Houte and the Hotond introduce a new set of climbs. The second pass of the Oude Kwaremont and the first pass of the Paterberg are up next, followed by the dreaded Koppenberg. A misstep on this steep cobbled climb could end your race.

Is there a breather after the Koppenberg? Hardly. The Steenbeekdries and Taaienberg follow within ten kilometers, leading the riders towards the last two climbs of the race. The Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg push the riders to their limits one last time, after which there are thirteen kilometers left to the finish in Oudenaarde.

Climbs
136.2 km: Oude Kwaremont (2200 meters at 4%)
155.7 km: Kortekeer (1100 meters at 5.9%)
158.9 km: Wolvenberg (645 meters at 7.9%)
171.3 km: Molenberg (463 meters at 7%)
175.3 km: Marlboroughstraat (2040 meters at 3%)
179.3 km: Berendries (940 meters at 7%)
184.7 km: Valkenberg (550 meters at 8.2%)
197.1 km: Berg ten Houte (1100 meters at 6%)
206.6 km: Hotond (1000 meters at 7.7%)
216.5 km: Oude Kwaremont (2200 meters at 4%)
219.9 km: Paterberg (360 meters at 12.9%)
226.2 km: Koppenberg (600 meters at 11.6%)
231.6 km: Steenbeekdries (700 meters at 5.3%)
234.0 km: Taaienberg (530 meters at 6.6%)
244.3 km: Kruisberg-Hotond (2500 meters at 5%)
254.1 km: Oude Kwaremont (2200 meters at 4%)
257.6 km: Paterberg (360 meters at 12.9%)

Cobblestone lanes
104.2 km: Lippenhovestraat (1300 meters)
105.6 km: Paddestraat (1500 meters)
156.3 km: Holleweg (1500 meters)
162.5 km: Kerkgate (2500 meters)
165.1 km: Jagerij (800 meters)
230.2 km: Mariaborrestraat (2400 meters)
232.1 km: Stationsberg (600 meters)

Weather
Prime weather conditions for a Tour of Flanders. Temperatures will be between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius, precipitation is not to be feared - so far - and the wind is not too strong either.

Times
Start: 10 AM
Finish: 4:45 PM

Favorites for the Tour of Flanders 2024

The Tour of Flanders is notoriously tough, narrowing down the list of true favorites. In such a race, everyone ends up in their rightful place, which for Mathieu van der Poel often means the podium. 'De Ronde' is his favorite race, and it just so happens to be where he can fully unleash his capabilities. After his performances in the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem, he starts as the clear favorite, with Jasper Philipsen, Gianni Vermeersch, and Soren Kragh Andersen also in the mix.

Visma | Lease a Bike is the challenger, but not with Wout van Aert, who broke his collarbone and several ribs. Christophe Laporte, usually the second or third man, is not in top condition at the start after his illness, which often proves to be a disadvantage in a race of 270 kilometers. Dylan van Baarle can often still make use of his qualities in the final hours of such a race (but had a fever), while Jan Tratnik is also struggling with knee problems. Matteo Jorgenson could well become the leader, after winning Dwars door Vlaanderen, with Tiesj Benoot by his side...

Meanwhile, Lidl-Trek has taken over the reins in the Flemish races. For the Tour of Flanders, the German-American formation is only fielding Mads Pedersen as their leader, after Jasper Stuyven was sidelined with a collarbone fracture in Dwars door Vlaanderen. Toms Skujins will also be vital in the hills, though the six-hour Ronde might be a stretch for Jonathan Milan.

Looking beyond, riders like Matej Mohoric (Bahrain Victorious), Stefan Küng, Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ), Matteo Trentin (Tudor), and Tim Wellens (UAE-Team Emirates) have shown they can handle such endeavors. Normally we would also include the names of Kasper Asgreen and Julian Alaphilippe of Soudal Quick-Step, though not this year.

Former winner Alberto Bettiol (EF Education-EasyPost) and Jhonatan Narváez (INEOS Grenadiers) were showing good form, but a recent crash set them back. Oier Lazkano (Movistar) just showed that he has recovered well from illness, so we also include the number three from Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne without a doubt.

In the race's earlier stages, expect to see action from Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla), Rasmus Tiller (Uno-X), Victor Campenaerts (Lotto-Dstny), Oliver Naesen (Decathlon AG2R), Nils Politt (UAE), Dylan Teuns (Israel-Premier Tech), Iván Garcia Cortina (Movistar), Ben Turner (INEOS), Fred Wright (Bahrain), and Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), who might just secure a top ten finish.

Who are the favorites for the Tour of Flanders 2024, according to IDLProCycling.com?

Top favorites: Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)

Data powered by FirstCycling.com

TV coverage of the Tour of Flanders 2024

The race will be broadcast on Sporza, NOS, and Eurosport. The Belgians start their coverage at 9:15 AM, perfect for breakfast viewing, while the Dutch will join in the afternoon. Eurosport offers full coverage starting at 9:45 AM.