Tour of Flanders Men LIVE – The first cobbles sections have been tackled
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Just 8km to the base of the Oude Kwaremont.
The gap drifts back up to over five minutes again as Ineos Grenadiers, once again, come to the front behind Bjerg and Oliveira.
Back in 1913, Oudenaarde had a very different relationship with the race. The first edition, won by Paul Deman, was stalled a bit as Oudenaarde refused to let the race pass through the town. How times change! Now, the town hosts the finish of the men’s race as well as the start and finish of the women’s race.
The break ride through the centre of Oudenaarde, passed the square and the Tour of Flanders Museum.
The rain begins to fall yet again. 15km to the first ascent of three on the Oude Kwaremont.
Just about 4km until the first look at Oudenaarde as the two pelotons come back together again. 4’42” up to the breakaway.
The second peloton is about 10 to 15 seconds behind the front part of the peloton.
Paul Magnier (Soudal-QuickStep) caught out of the back. He’s at the car but there’s no stress in the bunch.
Over a minute has been taken out of the breakaway since starting the Lippenhovestraat. 4’27” between the break and the peloton.
There’s a split in the peloton after the Padestraat. Bjerg continued a very high pace and there’s a huge group that has missed this split with Pinarello-Q36.5, Groupama-FDJ United and Movistar leading the chase.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG have complete control of the peloton on these early cobbled sections.
Van der Poel, Pogačar, Evenepoel, Van Aert, Pedersen and the other big names all moved to the front of the peloton as they begin the Lippenhovestraat. Bjerg leads the peloton onto the cobbles.
The break finishes the Lippenhovestraat and head onto the Padestraat shortly afterwards.
UAE Team Emirates-XRG have really powered on the pace led by Bjerg, of course.
The Kiwi added his thoughts on the day itself:
Laurence Pithie talking to James Moultrie before the start today about the inclusion of Evenepoel in the race:
“It is different when you have someone like Remco who can really change a race. His confidence, his motivation, it’s crazy to see the champion mindset like his.
“I think he is super enthusiastic to go full, and we’re also super enthusiastic to help him as much as we can. Arguably, you could say we have one of the strongest lineups just without the superstar. So, now Remco has come in, I think he’s set.”
Van Aert back at the car yet again getting rid of his wet weather gear.
The gap is stable at 5’13” for the race with the break riding so well at the front ahead of the peloton that is still led by Bjerg.
Two hours done and the average speed is still up to 45kph.
The time gap has dropped to just over five minutes. Bjerg is doing well but Oliveira has joined him in the chase.
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The peloton in one long line as Bjerg continues his pace setting.
Fortunately for the riders, the rain has stopped.
Lots of riders stopping to get wet weather gear.
Van Aert back at the car to get a rain jacket on.
It is raining! The roads are wet and this will add another layer of difficulty.
UAE come to the front en masse now and are pushing much harder as the break has 5’08” on the peloton.
The peloton has now lost a minute and a half on the break with over five minutes splitting them.
Evenepoel is in the group with Pogačar. But the peloton are coming back led by Alpecin-Premier Tech and Visma-Lease a Bike.
Race neutralised
The front part of the peloton has been neutralised after the level crossing closed. The UAE riders are not happy but Pogačar seems absolutely fine with it. As all of their riders have made it through. Van der Poel has been caught in the split.
The peloton has been split into two due to a level crossing closing!
Jasper Stuyven (Soudal-QuickStep) is hoping to take his rivals off guard and take a surprise win, just like he did a few years ago at Milan-San Remo.
The break are riding really well and the gap is up to 3’20” over the peloton.
It is interesting watching teams come and go from the front and you don’t really notice it happen. Ineos Grenadiers have disappeared and now XDS Astana and Picnic-PostNL are the teams up to the front with a rider from Tudor and TotalEnergies just behind Bjerg.
The first abandon of the day comes as a blow for Evenepoel as it is the Austalian leadout man, Jarrad Drizners (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) who had left the race before reaching the first cobbles of the day.
Bike change for Martijn Rasenberg (Unibet Rose Rockets).
Lamperti back at the car in the break for a new bidon and some gels. Maybe a bit of Easter egg as well?
Tadej Pogačar speaking before the start today…
Just over an hour done and the average speed is around 46kph. It has been a rapid start.
Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) comes back to the front again ahead of a large group of Groupama-FDJ United riders, interestingly. Romain Grégoire performed well at Dwars door Vlaanderen but couldn’t follow the attack of Van Aert on the Nokereberg.
De Pooter has finally got his overshoes off and he hands them back to the team car.
The gap grows to 2’20” on the peloton. Bjerg looking around and is on the radio as well.
Interestingly, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have a rider in second wheel behind Bjerg. Alpecin-Premier Tech, Lidl-Trek and Tudor also have a presence near the front.
The gap is continuing to grow for the 12 man break with a gap of 1’47” between them and the Bjerg led peloton.
Van der Poel before the start today…
De Pooter at the back of the break attempting to take his overshoes off but the pace is high so it he is having a bit of trouble.
It looks like the peloton is gone but Mikkel Bjerg (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) is on the front and still has the peloton rather strung out. However, lots of riders are taking the chance to have a natural break.
Dillier isn’t doing any work in the break.
The break now have over 40″ on the peloton.
Breakaway:
A break is forming! About 15 riders involved.
Van der Poel joins Van Aert in rejecting favourite status and pushes all the pressure on Pogačar…
Tomáš Kopecký (Unibet Rose Rockets) is the next lone rider to get a gap on the peloton as they ride into Sint-Niklaas. Kopecký is joined by a rider from Bahrain Victorious and Pinarello-Q36.5 but TotalEnergies is leading the string of riders that will bring the peloton back to them yet again.
Half an hour in and there is still no break. One Flanders-Baloise rider has a small gap but, yet again, it is swiftly closed down.
Van Aert gets back in with Stan Dewulf (Decathlon-CMA CGM) immediately starting up a conversation with him.
Van Aert rolling back into the peloton after a natural break and a quick chat at the car.
Evenepoel is making his debut at the race today…
There is a strong headwind which is killing any attacker’s momentum.
It’s wave after wave of attacks but the peloton don’t even seem to be trying and just manage to bring it back every time.
The moves continue to come bit they just aren’t getting the gap. Marco Haller (Tudor) involved in this latest move with Jon Barrenetxea (Movistar) and a few others. The Spaniard has been riding really well in this Classics season with a couple of 12th places in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and Dwars door Vlaanderen.
Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike) is at the team car with radio issues.
Simmons brought back but now Sam Welsford (Ineos Grenadiers) drags three other riders clear including Fredrik Frison (Pinarello-Q36.5) but Albert Torres (Movistar) closes things down again.
Colby Simmons (EF Education-EasyPost) launches clear and has a gap. Riders trying to join but the headwind is meaning that attackers just drag the rest of the peloton.
Puncture for Fabian Lienhard (Tudor).
Hugo de la Calle (Burgos-Burpellet-BH) is the next to try a move but nothing is going for the moment.
Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) begins to control the peloton.
Attack by Victor Vercouillie (Flanders-Baloise) but nothing is being allowed to go just yet.
No break for the moment.
Unibet Rose Rockets are the next to launch a move and he gets a gap but he’s dragged back.
The startlist is absolutely stacked! Tadej Pogačar, Mathieu van der Poel, Wout Van Aert, Mads Pedersen and Remco Evenepoel among a long list of super talents.
The riders have started the neutral zone. Rui Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) clipped a wheel as they started and hit the barriers. He is back riding.
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) seems very pleased that Evenepoel has decided to debut at the Ronde this year…
Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) refuses to be included in the discussion when it comes to the biggest names of the sport…
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) is, obviously, the big favourite for today. However, he is a bit concerned about the ability of Evenepoel and his unpredictability…
Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews‘ live report of the men’s Tour of Flanders/Ronde Van Vlaanderen 2026!
It was a surprise on April Fool’s Day that the announcement of Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) wasn’t a joke and very definitely is happening! Whether you like how they did the announcement or not, it captured the attention of the cycling world!
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