Cyclist Tour of Flanders gallery: Koppenbergcross spring edition The Tour of Flanders is over for another year, with the cobbled Classics set to conclude at Paris-Roubaix this weekend, so while we wallow in our grief for the one-day races that we won’t see again until 2025, it’s the perfect time to relive the 2024 Ronde van Vlaanderen through the medium of photography. We sent Xavier Peyreyron into the thick of the action to capture the men’s race and the end of the women’s race (because it would’ve been impossible to shoot both at once), here are his highlights from a monumental Easter Sunday. Related Posts Big Ride: Flanders vs Roubaix Cobble hoppers: How to watch Paris-Roubaix in person The best cobbled climbs in Flanders Xavier Pereyron This year’s race began in Antwerp. Xavier Pereyron And even featured a special edition EF kit, which some people liked. Xavier Pereyron Soudal-QuickStep boss Patrick Lefevere was more focussed on psyching out rival teams’ riders at the presentation. Xavier Pereyron Visma-Lease a Bike didn’t have Wout van Aert but did have some very cool jackets. Xavier Pereyron You don’t need a jacket to look cool when you’re Mathieu van der Poel, rainbows aplenty but no white shorts – probably for the best given the dirt. Xavier Pereyron The fans were of course out in force right from the start and several layers deep on the Oude Kwaremont. Xavier Pereyron Van der Poel’s Alpecin-Deceuninck team were understandably present at the front. Xavier Pereyron As were new cobbled Classics powerhouse Movistar. Xavier Pereyron Without Wout, Visma were a bit more open with their strategy. Xavier Pereyron Mads Pedersen was nursing some cuts and bruises from the crash that took out Van Aert as well as teammate Jasper Stuyven, but had to try to take this chance on a very lovely bike. Xavier Pereyron But there was only one clear favourite at the start of the day. Xavier Pereyron And who would’ve doubted him? Xavier Pereyron Here’s a brief interlude from the Van der Poel show to get a nice picture of Decathlon-AG2R’s very nice new kit. Xavier Pereyron The big talking point of the day was the Koppenberg, the hardest of Flanders’ cobbled climbs, that saw a decimation of the peloton, which was almost entirely reduced to walking. Xavier Pereyron At this point even trying to follow Van der Poel was a mistake. Xavier Pereyron Matteo Jorgenson gave it the best shot and stayed on the bike, but ended up 31st. Xavier Pereyron Ben Turner (left) quickly fell victim to the surface and gradient. He came 38th. Xavier Pereyron While those behind went sideways, was Van der Poel even out of zone two? Xavier Pereyron It certainly didn’t look like it. Xavier Pereyron Dismounting was a wise decision with the cobbles so slippy. Xavier Pereyron Oliver Naesen stretched his running legs and ended seventh. Xavier Pereyron Matej Mohorič didn’t finish the race and Tiesj Benoot came home 15th. Not the best day out. Xavier Pereyron Mads Pedersen was one of the favourites before his crash the other day, looking in fine form beating Van der Poel at Gent-Wevelgem, but he came in 22nd. Xavier Pereyron This looks like a glitch in the matrix but it’s actually Matteo Trentin and a man who had one of the days of his life – Arkéa-B&B’s Luca Mozzato came in second, winning the sprint from the group of ten. Xavier Pereyron Owain Doull should be pleased with 29th too. Xavier Pereyron All eyes for the future will be on this man though. UAE Team Emirates’ neo-pro António Morgado ended up fifth on his debut. Xavier Pereyron UAE had a good day all round, two of Morgado’s teammates finished ahead of him for a 3-4-5, including a podium for the man you see going sideways here. Xavier Pereyron Outside of Naesen there weren’t any high placed finishes for Decathlon, but any excuse for another shot of this kit. Xavier Pereyron Movistar’s cult hero Oier Lazkano has been looking strong but somehow finished down in 73rd. Xavier Pereyron Laurens De Plus ended up 71st and was probably wondering why he wasn’t in Sierra Nevada with Geraint Thomas and co. at altitude training. Xavier Pereyron No shame in walking. Xavier Pereyron Big points to Tim Merlier for representing cyclocross properly on the day. Xavier Pereyron And of course with a proper dismount, your champ. Xavier Pereyron With plenty of time to haul his bike in the air. Xavier Pereyron The lack of Van Aert and Pogačar doesn’t make the images and the feat any less special. Xavier Pereyron Some bloke. Xavier Pereyron Caption competition in the comments please… Xavier Pereyron Flanders is never an easy day out, but big John Degenkolb is better suited to Paris-Roubaix and will be looking to upset the Van der Poel party this weekend. Xavier Pereyron In the women’s race, the rain came crashing down but many fans stayed out to watch a thriller. With more cyclocross legends front and centre including Lidl-Trek’s Shirin van Anrooij. Xavier Pereyron And of course CX racer and MTB World Champ Puck Pieterse who closed out an impressive first Classics season with a strong sixth. Xavier Pereyron It came down to a three-up sprint between Van Anrooij, her teammate Elisa Longo Borghini and Kasia Niewiadoma, and it was the Italian who came out on top. Xavier Pereyron Ciclismo. Xavier Pereyron Not an SD Worx in sight, just people living in the moment. Xavier Pereyron After being all but invincible last year, SD Worx are certainly in a down patch. Xavier Pereyron But even the world’s best struggle in conditions like that. Hats off all round. Xavier Pereyron Who would’ve predicted that podium at the start of the day? Xavier Pereyron This guy would’ve guessed top spot anyway. Xavier Pereyron Now that is a stacked podium. Xavier Pereyron With a very worthy champion. The post Tour of Flanders gallery: Koppenbergcross spring edition appeared first on Cyclist.