Among the esteemed Monument races in the World Tour calendar, none resonates with a nation quite like the Tour of Flanders. This iconic event, also known as ‘De Ronde van Vlaanderen‘ in Flemish, stands apart as a testament to the spirit of Flanders.
Set to take place on Sunday, March 31st, the Tour of Flanders calls upon the world’s elite male and female cyclists to conquer its challenging cobbled climbs.
Tour of Flanders is a race of survival to win; riders must cast aside foresight and rely solely on instinct. It’s a race where bravery is richly rewarded.
While the route may evolve from year to year, one thing remains constant: the hellingen, those formidable climbs that etch themselves into the fabric of the region, shaping the very essence of the race. In the Ronde, only the most resilient emerge victorious. Here is everything you need to know about the Tour of Flanders 2024:
Where to Watch Tour of Flanders 2024?
| Available on | Countries/Regions Covered |
|---|---|
| RTBF & VRT | Belgium |
| SBS | Australia |
| RAI | Italy, San Marino, Vatican City |
| NOS | Netherlands |
| Czech TV | Czech Republic |
| RTVS | Slovakia |
| SRG | Switzerland |
| TV2 Denmark | Denmark |
| TV2 Norway | Norway |
| FloBikes | USA, Canada, Australia |
| ESPN | South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. |
| Sky | New Zealand |
| Supersport | Various African countries |
| Eurosport/Discovery | Pan-Europe, Asia-Pacific |
Tour of Flanders Men’s Race:
The Tour of Flanders Men’s Race, established in 1913, stands as the youngest among the five Monuments of cycling. However, its relative youth does not diminish its prestige; it holds a position of equal importance alongside renowned races like Paris-Roubaix and the World Championships. A victory in this race secures a rider’s place in cycling’s Hall of Fame.
Distinct from other Monuments and Classics, the Tour of Flanders route has undergone numerous alterations over the years. Start and finish towns have frequently changed, and the roster of climbs is adjusted slightly for each edition, adding to the race’s dynamic and ever-evolving nature.
Men’s Tour of Flanders 2024 Route:
- Start: Antwerp
- Distance: 270.8km
- Terrain: Mostly major roads with 17 climbs, predominantly cobbled
- Midway Point: Intensification with iconic Oude Kwaremont climb at 136km mark
- Subsequent Challenges: Kapelleberg, Wolvenberg, Molenberg, Valkenberg
- Key Climbs: Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg (at 55km and 20km remaining)
- Paterberg: Short but steep climb with 12.9% average gradient
- Finish: Flat run-in to Oudenaarde, likely decisive for race victory
Previous Men’s Winners
| Year | Men’s Winner | Nationality | Team |
| 2023 | Tadej Pogačar | SVN | UAE Team Emirates |
| 2022 | Mathieu van der Poel | NED | Alpecin-Fenix |
| 2021 | Kasper Asgreen | DEN | Deceuninck-QuickStep |
| 2020 | Mathieu van der Poel | NED | Alpecin-Fenix |
| 2019 | Alberto Bettiol | ITA | Education First |
2024 Men’s Tour of Flanders Teams:
List of Teams for the 2024 Men’s Tour of Flanders:
- Alpecin-Deceuninck
- Intermarché-Wanty
- Soudal–Quick-Step
- Visma-Lease a Bike
- Arkéa-B&B Hotels
- Astana Qazaqstan Team
- Bahrain-Victorious
- Bora-Hansgrohe
- Cofidis
- Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Team
- EF Education-EasyPost
- Groupama-FDJ
- Ineos Grenadiers
- Lidl-Trek
- Movistar
- Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL
- Jayco Alula
- UAE Team Emirates
- Israel-Premier Tech
- Lotto Dstny
- Uno-X Mobility
- Bingoal WB
- Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
- Team Flanders-Baloise
- Tudor Pro Cycling Team
Riders to Watch in the 2024 Men’s Tour of Flanders:
- Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
- Favorable position with top form and previous wins
- Strong performances in recent races, including victories and podium finishes
- Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
- Experienced contender with previous top finishes
- Demonstrated ability to challenge van der Poel
- Matteo Jorgenson (Visma-Lease a Bike)
- Emerged as a strong contender despite team setbacks
- Notable performances in recent races, showcasing the potential for a podium finish
Tour of Flanders Women’s Race
The Tour of Flanders Women’s Race, which debuted in 2004, covers a route spanning 94km, marking the shortest distance in the race’s history. Coinciding with the men’s event, the women’s race concludes approximately one hour after the men’s, with both concluding in Oudenaarde. While the women’s route shares much of its course with the men’s, it commences from a different starting point.
In the previous edition, Belgian cyclist Lotte Kopecky secured her second consecutive victory with a remarkable solo attack launched 20km before the finish line, crossing the finish line ahead of her teammate Demi Vollering by a margin of 36 seconds.
Women’s Tour of Flanders 2024 Route:
- Start and Finish: Oudenaarde
- Distance: 163km
- Terrain: 12 climbs and seven cobbled sections
- Early Challenges: Lippenhovestraat and Paddestraat within the first 50km
- Mid-Race Climbs: Wolvenberg at 72km, followed by Molenberg, Marlboroughstraat, Valkenberg, Kapelleberg, Koppenberg, Steenbeekdries, Taaienberg, and Oude Kruisberg
- Key Climbs: Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg (less than 20km from the finish)
- Paterberg: Final challenging climb with a flat run-in to Oudenaarde for the finish
Previous Women’s Winners
| Year | Women’s Winner | Nationality | Team |
| 2023 | Lotte Kopecky | BEL | SD Worx |
| 2022 | Lotte Kopecky | BEL | SD Worx |
| 2021 | Annemiek van Vleuten | NED | Movistar |
| 2020 | Chantal van den Broek-Blaak | NED | Boels–Dolmans |
| 2019 | Marta Bastianelli | ITA | Virtu |
2024 Women’s Tour of Flanders Teams:
- SD Worx-Protime
- AG Insurance-Soudal Team
- Canyon//SRAM Racing
- Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team
- FDJ-Suez
- Fenix-Deceuninck
- Human Powered Health
- Lidl-Trek
- Liv Alula Jayco
- Movistar
- Roland
- Team dsm-firmenich PostNL
- Visma-Lease a Bike
- UAE Team ADQ
- Cofidis Women Team
- Arkéa-B&B Hotels Women
- Chevalmeire
- EF Education-Cannondale
- Lifeplus Wahoo
- Lotto Dtsny Ladies
- Proximus-Cyclis CT
- Team Coop-Repsol
- VolkerWessels Women’s Pro Cycling Team
Riders to Watch in the 2024 Women’s Tour of Flanders:
- Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime)
- Two-time defending champion
- Consistent success in major one-day races this season
- Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike)
- Impressive win at Dwars door Vlaanderen
- Previous victory in Tour of Flanders and strong performances this season
- Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek)
- Strategic contender with a winning formula
- Strong team support and past success in the Tour of Flanders
2024 Tour of Flanders Start Times
Sunday, March 31, 2024 (All times local CEST)
- Men’s race begins (Starting from Antwerp) – 10:00 AM
- Women’s race begins (Starting from Oudenaarde) – 1:25 PM
- Estimated finish time for the men’s race (conclude in Oudenaarde) – 4:29 PM
- Estimated finish time for the women’s race (conclude in Oudenaarde) – 5:44 PM
Weather Forecast for the Tour of Flanders:
Expect rainy conditions throughout the weekend, starting Saturday and continuing into Sunday. Antwerp will see a wet start to the race with temperatures around 7°C (44°F). The rain will persist throughout the day, reaching Oudenaarde where temperatures may rise to 14°C (58°F) in the afternoon. Despite lower winds compared to previous races, around 18 kph (11mph) from the east, the wet conditions will pose challenges on the course. Although Wout van Aert will be absent, the presence of the reigning world champion and other strong contenders promises an exciting 2024 Tour of Flanders.
Tour of Flanders 2024 Results
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mathieu van der Poel (NED) | Alpecin–Deceuninck | 6h 05′ 17″ |
| 2 | Luca Mozzato (ITA) | Arkéa–B&B Hotels | + 1′ 02″ |
| 3 | Nils Politt (GER) | UAE Team Emirates | + 1′ 02″ |
| 4 | Mikkel Bjerg (DEN) | UAE Team Emirates | + 1′ 02″ |
| 5 | António Morgado (POR) | UAE Team Emirates | + 1′ 02″ |
| 6 | Magnus Sheffield (USA) | Ineos Grenadiers | + 1′ 02″ |
| 7 | Oliver Naesen (BEL) | Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale | + 1′ 02″ |
| 8 | Dylan Teuns (BEL) | Israel–Premier Tech | + 1′ 02″ |
| 9 | Alberto Bettiol (ITA) | EF Education–EasyPost | + 1′ 02″ |
| 10 | Toms Skujiņš (LAT) | Lidl–Trek | + 1′ 02″ |
