Pogacar, from the UAE Team Emirates-XRG team, and his great one-day classic rival Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) were the strongest in the pack. That proved too much for van der Poel, a three-time winner of the race, who lagged 15 seconds behind at the summit. Pogacar and van der Poel were mobbed by photographers and warmly hugged each other after the finish. Like Pogacar , she attacked in the Oude Kwaremont and finished 42 seconds ahead of Tour de France champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, with Puck Pieterse completing the podium. Also known as De Ronde (The Tour), the Tour of Flanders is one of cycling’s most challenging one-day races and was first held in 1913.

Source: Irish Examiner April 05, 2026 21:45 UTC