Already winner in 2020, the Alcin-Fenix rider advanced his compatriot Dylan Van Baarle and French Valentin Madouas. Slovenian Tadej Pogacar took fourth place.
Le Monde with AFP
The Dutch Mathieu van der Poel (Alcin) won, Sunday, April 3, for the second time in his career the Tour des Flanders, one of the “monuments” of the cyclist season at the end of a panting final.
Already winner in 2020, Van der Poel preceded the sprint in this 106 e edition his compatriot Dylan van Baarle and the French Valentin Madouas. The Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, the title winner of the Tour de France, took the fourth place in terms of the 273 kilometers of a race that attracted the big crowd after two editions in camera.
Pogacar, impressive throughout the race, has timed in the last hectometers to force Van der Poel to launch the sprint. But the duo has seen the return of the first pursuers launched at full pace and the Slovenian ended up, without being able to compete.
The victory for Mathieu van der Poel, Valentin Madouas 🇫🇷 on the podium !! After a panting end, … https://t.co/3a86keg45l “/p>- eurosport_en (@Eurosport France)
Pogacar caused a first selection to 55 kilometers from the arrival, in the second of the three climbs of the old Quartemont. Relayed by Van der Poel, he continued the skimming in the following climbs to keep with him only four other runners, Van der Poel and Madouas as well as Van Baarle and the British Fred Wright that had anticipated.
“Pogacar was the strongest”
The winner of the Tour de France forced the pace in the third rise of the old Quartemont, keeping at his side that Van der Poel at the entrance of the last 18 kilometers. But he could not distance him in the last coast, the Patenberg, and the duo moved to Audenaarde to dispute the victory.
“I was at the limit of letting go to the summit of Paterberg, acknowledged Van der Poel. It’s a shame that Pogacar is not on the podium, he was the strongest today.”
At 27, the quadruple Cyclo-Cross World Champion now has two victories in a “monument”, the name of the largest races of one day. He ranked third of the last two to his program before the Tour des Flanders, Paris-Roubaix in October 2021 and Milan-Sanremo on March 19th for his first round of the year 2022.
The grandson of Raymond Poulidor also counts his palmares of major successes, such as the Amstel Gold Race 2019 and the Strade Bianche 2021. Last year, for his debut in the Tour de France, he won a Step and worn six days during the yellow jersey who had always refused to his grandfather.
For his part, Valentin Madouas becomes the first French to climb on the podium of the Tour des Flanders since 2011 and Sylvain Chavanel, who had finished 2 e .