The second Monument of the 2026 season arrives this Sunday at the Tour of Flanders, with the stars of the sport aligning for an all-out battle over 278km from Antwerp to Oudenaarde, where the iconic bergs of the Flemish Ardennes come into focus.
Brutal cobbles and typical dreary Belgian spring weather are certain, and the racing will surely match it when it comes to difficulty. With all of the vital warm-up races completed at E3, In Flanders Fields and Dwars door Vlaanderen, the build-up of anticipation for the 110th edition of the Ronde van Vlaanderen is nearing its crescendo.
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There will be a mix of former winners on the start line on Easter Sunday morning, but also willing challengers, with defending champion Tadej Pogačar the favourite to add a third Flanders title to his Milan-San Remo crown from earlier this year.
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG)
Where else to start but Tadej Pogačar? The defending champion and a two-time winner, Pogačar has completely dominated the Tour of Flanders on his past two appearances, scorching away from everyone on the final of three ascents up the Oude Kwaremont, after blowing up the race completely on the second time up the longest cobbled climb on the route.
Tour de France winners aren’t always suited to the short, sharp climbs that decide this iconic race, but Pogačar’s punch has turned the cobbled roads into his playground, where even the best…
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