Vanmarcke And Gilbert Set To Feature In Brilliant 2018 Tour Of Flanders

Vanmarcke And Gilbert Set To Feature In Brilliant 2018 Tour Of Flanders
15:06, 31 Mar 2018

The Race

The Tour Of Flanders, one of the most exciting and important races on the calendar. A race with a rich history and famously brutal route, it has been a reward for some of all time greats.

Last Year

Philippe Gilbert took an extraordinary win, having made what was the first elite group on the Muur-Kapelmuur with 12 other riders. Peter Sagan and Greg Van Avaermaet missed that move but a concerted effort but the peloton to reel the pair in meant the race was in the balance coming to the Kwaremont second time round when Gilbert launched his extraordinary race winning attack to go for glory.

On the Taaienberg Sagan attacked, pulling Oliver Naesen and Van Avermaet with him, but Van Avermaet got his bike caught in a piece of clothing over the railings and went down, taking Sagan with him and ending their chances of catching the now flying Belgian, who would memorably slow down to carry his bike over the line.

The Route

Starts in Antwerp and takes a notable tour through the birthplace of Greg Van Avermaet, Hamme-Zogge, which is the most interesting thing to happen for 80 kilometres as after some rolling roads, we have the first sectors of pave in the race in the shape of the Lippenhovenstraat(1.3 km) and Paddestraat (1.5km).

They should not cause the peloton too much trouble and after a little lump and then a descent into Ouenaarde for the first time, ahead of the real fun that the race has to offer.

The Oude Kwaremont

The Oude Kwaremont is taken three times and is hugely influential for the second and the third time around.  The average is not as intimidating as many of the other climbs in this race at 4.4% but its collective challenge is what makes it unique.

At 2.2 kilometres it is a test of endurance second only in this race to the Kruisberg, and it is this, combined with one of the most difficult road surfaces of the season, that brings the challenge to the riders. The route is full of ridges and ruts in the road that make positioning extremely valuable on all three occasions here.

The Route (Part 2)

There’s 11 kilometres until the new climb of the Kortkeer, a bolt upright climb of a kilometre that averages 6.4% and has a maximum percentage of 17%. The new theme continues with the Edelareberg, a new 1.5km long climb this year that replaces what would have been the Eikenberg because of roadworks. 

The race heads down to the South East to take in the two cobbled climbs of the Wolveberg (645 meters at an average of 7.9% with a maximum of 17.3%), and Leberg (950 meters at an average of 4.2%, with a maximum of 13.8%). There’s barely a moment’s rest before the Berendries (940 meters at an average of 7%, with a maximum of 12.3%) and then the Tenbosse (540 meters at an average of 8.1% with a maximum of 12.8%).

The return of the Muur van Geraardsbergen will be met with joy by many purists here.  Just 475 meters long and taking in three turn, the percentages are agonising even by these standards. the average is 9.3% and the highest percentage is 19.8% and by this point in the race it will be no surprise if some riders are beginning to put on the hurt. 

There is what you might be able to call respite by this point as rolling roads will lead the riders towards the Pottelberg (1.3 kilometres at an average of 6.5% with a maximum of 7.5%) and then the Kanarieberg (1 kilometre at 7.7%, with a maximum of 14%) before the loop back west for the defining section of the race.

The Oude Kwaremont second time round will either see a forcing of the pace from a squad like Quick-Step or perhaps riders in exceptional form, and there is a perfect tactical launchpad coming just after in the shape of the Paterberg.

The Paterberg

350 meters but an average of 12.9% and a maximum of 20%. One crack here can end your race even over such a distance.

The Koppenberg

The Koppenberg is similar, and actually twice as long as the Patenberg with the riders taking on an average of 11.6% and a maximum of 22%. The big factor in this is the extremely narrow right hander the peloton will have to take to approach this – there is a descent before right hander that isn’t more than three or four bikes wide, and the cobbles are slipper than the Paterberg.

The Route (Part 3)

The climbing and cobbles are just coming relentlessly and just 3 kilometres after the Paterberg we have the 700 metre long Steenbeekdries, which is 5.3% and hits a 6.7% max, and then two kilometres later the riders will again rise for the Taaienberg, made famous for it’s 15.8% sweet spot in the middle of it’s 530 metre spike.

The Kruisberg is 1 kilometre long at 6%, with a maximum of 9%, but it drags after the official peak has been reached and anyone struggling behind can lose crucial wheels here before the closing stages.

The Finish

The third ascent of the Kwaremont will likely be contested by splintered groups full of the race favourites and will play a crucial role. Stamina, given the poor road surface, is sure to be vital. Attack here and you have the chance to put rivals out of the race given a second ascent of the Paterberg is the final chance for a cobbled attack.

There’s then 13 kilometres of flat road before what is a straight and flat finish once again – whether the chase can be brought back depends as much on the tactical makeup of the groups as it does how much time one has left.

The Favourites

This has to start with Quick-Step. They have dominated the season so far and have five potential winners were other teams can dream of only two. Working out who of their huge contingent is the chosen one is sometimes night on impossible but Philippe Gilbert’s performance was nothing short of exceptional and last year’s winner has already shown plenty this season including a second in E3 before driving the lead group home in Gent-Wevelgem before Viviani was beaten in a sprint. He knows this course like the back of his hand and must be confident of retaining his title.

Niki Terpstra was third behind Gilbert last year when on the heels of Greg Van Avermaet and he was extremely impressive when asked to go solo in E3 before setting up Tyes Lampaert for midweek victory in Dwars door Vlaanderen. He is likely to be at least joint second in command with Zednek Stybar, who has been ninth, eighth and sixth in E3, Gent-Wevelgem, and Dwars.

Lampaert has set up Niki Terpstra for victory in E3 and then had the favour returned in midweek, and is really coming into his own at just 26 (he was 24th here two years ago). Any of them could be the trump card although Stybar and Gilbert have given the sense they are building.

Peter Sagan’s win at Gent-Wevelgem, where he managed to play his cards right and outmanoeuvre Elia Viviani and Arnaud Demare in the sprint, showed the intelligence he has made his forte and he was right on the heels of Greg Van Avermaet when brought down last year. He must be favourite here as he will not fear anyone in a sprint and will have to be dropped although perhaps he is better riding solo than going with the rest of his Bora-Hansgrohe unit.

Greg Van Avaermaet has not yet managed to make it to a group without those who can sprint quicker than him but if ever a course will shake out the opposition this is it and he was probably unlucky not to get closer last year but for a stupid fan when he was making a move with Peter Sagan. His third in E3 shows he’s got legs in for a sprint still but he will invest in breaking the race with Stefan Kung, Jurgen Roelandts and Alberto Bettiol as backup from BMC.

Tiesj Benoot has looked like the strongest rider in E3 and Dwars, but he hasn’t yet had the right tactical cooperation to make his big moves stick although it’s likely he’ll be amongst the fastest to make it to a sprint. The young Belgian has proven he can do anything and his biggest obstacle is sure to be the lack of support in a Lotto unit missing  André Greipel, Jens Keukeleire and Nikolas Maes.

Sep Vanmarcke is going to win one of these someday and when he does EF Education First will have a party like never before and this, along with Roubaix, looks like the ideal territory for him. Expect to see him in the leading group over the Kwaremont second time round and a long range attack ought to suit.

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