In Flanders Fields Men LIVE: Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert facing off in the cobblestones of Flanders

The break are climbing the Moneberg now, the peloton 30 seconds behind them.

2026-03-29T13:05:12.844Z

This is a crucial moment in the race, as the Kemmelberg follows immediately after the Monteberg. Positioning ahead of that climb is essential.

The peloton is flying along now, with a tense battle for position ahead of the Monteberg.

2026-03-29T13:03:36.604Z

Magnier and Lampaert have both made their way back into the peloton. That’sa lot of energy used up, but Magnier remains in contention for the win.

2026-03-29T13:02:32.963Z

As the final climbs approach, all eyes turn towards Van der Poel. Will he go long again? Or will he be more cautious after what happened at E3 on Friday?

2026-03-29T12:58:34.080Z

Not too long until the riders will be climbing again, with the Monteberg just 5km away.

2026-03-29T12:57:38.205Z

More problems for Soudal, as Lampaert has needed to change bikes too. They’ve joined together and are chasing back.

2026-03-29T12:54:47.352Z

Better news for Magnier, as the pace is off in the peloton. He might be able to chase back on after all.

2026-03-29T12:54:01.516Z

Magnier has now changed bike, and is trying to chase back on.

2026-03-29T12:53:29.726Z

Rotten luck for Magnie, who appears to have a problem with the bike he took. He’s looking for assistance from the team car – it’ll be hard for him to get back into contention from here.

It doesn’t seem like it’ll be too long until the catch is made. The peloton is just 12 seconds behind.

2026-03-29T12:51:35.165Z

Magnier did indeed have a puncture, and is off the bike havin swapped bikes with his teammate Bert Van Lerberghe.

2026-03-29T12:50:25.481Z

Magnier is off the back of the peloton. He had looked great, so we assume he’s had some kind of mechanical.

2026-03-29T12:48:22.040Z

The peloton is off the second plugstreet, and have just one more to complete.

2026-03-29T12:47:27.182Z

A group that was dropped has dragged itself back to this group of favourites.

2026-03-29T12:46:40.685Z

Van Aert is also in this front group, as is Stuyven’s Soudal sprinting teammate Magnier.

2026-03-29T12:45:52.121Z

Van der Poel had to close one of the splits, and is now in the front group, which contains about 20 riders.

2026-03-29T12:45:22.682Z

Stuyven has the peloton stretched out, and there are splits.

2026-03-29T12:43:47.811Z

Jasper Stuyven accelerates.

The riders are on the dirt roads now.

2026-03-29T12:42:48.450Z

There has been another split in the peloton on the approach to the Plugstreets.

2026-03-29T12:42:07.775Z

The five-man group has been brought back, and the attacks in the peloton have ceased.

2026-03-29T12:40:04.319Z

We’re approaching a new phase of the race – the Plugstreets. These dirt roads have the capacity to cause damage in the peloton – especially if anyone is struck by a mechanical on them.

Ahead of all these attacks in the peloton, the break still lead the race, albeit by only about 30 seconds now.

2026-03-29T12:37:58.858Z

Sénéchal, Fedorov, Kluckers and De Pestel are the riders with G. Vermeersch.

2026-03-29T12:37:04.293Z

Now a group of five goes clear, featuring Gianni Vermeersch.

2026-03-29T12:34:51.669Z

They’ve been brought back, but more attacks keep coming.

2026-03-29T12:34:32.588Z

A group of about eight riders have clipped off the front of the peloton, with a gap of a couple of seconds.

2026-03-29T12:33:40.534Z

It seems Van Aert slipped a chain climbing the Kemmelberg, but wasn’t held up for long and managed to stick in the peloton.

2026-03-29T12:33:04.483Z

Now the Kemmelberg has been completed for the first time, the riders have a long flat section before the day’s fourth climb. That doesn’t mean there will be a cessation in the action, however, and the riders in the peloton are continuing to attack each other on this flat section.

2026-03-29T12:29:48.313Z

Turner has been brought back.

2026-03-29T12:29:29.764Z

Florian Vermeersch is leading the chase in the peloton.

2026-03-29T12:28:54.102Z

Turner has gone 15 seconds clear of the peloton, and just 25 seconds behind the break.

The peloton is over the Kemmelberg, with none of the favourites dropped.

2026-03-29T12:27:29.830Z

The concertina effect is happening in the peloton as the peloton bunches up on the climb.

2026-03-29T12:26:12.227Z

Attack from Turner out of the peloton on the Kemmelberg.

2026-03-29T12:25:35.646Z

Hesters is dropped out of the break on the lower slopes of the Kemmelberg

For the first time today, the riders are on the big one – the Kemmelberg.

They 8 breakway riders still lead the race, and are climbing the Monteberg.

2026-03-29T12:21:01.250Z

There’s still another smaller group that needs to bridge up to the peloton, but they’re nearly there.

2026-03-29T12:20:29.164Z

The race is coming back together! The Ineos-led second peloton has joined the front peloton.

2026-03-29T12:20:00.877Z

The second peloton split on the previous climb, with Ineos leading up it.

2026-03-29T12:19:22.903Z

The second peloton is making inroads on the front peloton.

2026-03-29T12:18:41.858Z

Laporte and Vermeersch are sitting up and waiting for the rest of the group.

2026-03-29T12:17:27.732Z

Laporte and Gianni Vermeersch have attacked out of the front peloton.

2026-03-29T12:15:29.640Z

Red Bull lead the front peloton on the climb. They have five riders in this group – Meeus, Pithie, Gianni Vermeersch and the Van Dijke brothers.

Time for the second climb of the day, the Baneberg, which climbs for 1km at 7%.

The second peloton is chasing hard, but falling further adrift. They’re 35 seconds behind the front peloton, who in turn are 50 seconds behind the leading breakaway.

2026-03-29T12:08:45.472Z

NSN are also joining in as their leader (and former Gent-Wevelgem winner) Biniam Girmay is also in the second peloton.

2026-03-29T12:07:35.190Z

Decathlon and Ineos are chasing fiercely, and have the front peloton within 25 seconds. They’re riding for their respective leaders Andresen, and Turner and Ganna.

2026-03-29T12:05:49.694Z

Another view of the front peloton.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-29T12:04:31.756Z

It seems that Jonathan Milan has missed the split.

Here we go, the break are climbing, as we enter the hilly phase of the race. It’s already in pieces and it’s only going to get more chaotic.

The front peloton is 1:40 behind the leading 8-man break, and 30 seconds ahead of the trailing peloton.

2026-03-29T11:58:22.399Z

In the second peloton, EF, Ineos and Decathlon are doing most of the chasing at the front.

2026-03-29T11:57:23.141Z

Red Bull are well represented in the front peloton, with Pithie and the Van Dijk brothers both here.

2026-03-29T11:56:26.451Z

One rider who has missed the split is Van Aert’s teammate Matthew Brennan.

2026-03-29T11:54:57.368Z

As well as Van der Poel, Van Aert and Philipsen, De Lie, Magnier, Trentin, Florian Vermeersch are all present in the front group.

2026-03-29T11:53:49.706Z

Here’s the front peloton. Visma-Lease a Bike’s Affini leads, so we assume Van Aert is there too.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

The gap between the two pelotons continues to hover at about 50 seconds, while the increase in pace has seen the lead group come back to within three minutes of the first peloton.

2026-03-29T11:48:31.621Z

Alpecin are leading the first peloton, indicating that their men Van der Poel and Philipsen have made the split.

2026-03-29T11:45:38.829Z

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-29T11:39:36.324Z

The front peloton is evidently working hard, and want this move to stick.

2026-03-29T11:38:54.343Z

Meanwhile the second peloton is 45 seconds adrift of the first. The race is very much on!

The pace is greatly up, and the break is now only 3:30 ahead of the front peloton.

2026-03-29T11:37:05.648Z

There’s been a development – it’s unclear how exactly, but there’s been a split in the peloton, with about 40 riders clear of the rest.

2026-03-29T11:32:53.461Z

Van der Poel, safely in the peloton.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-29T11:30:30.956Z

A reminder that the final stage of Volta a Catalunya is taking place, and it’s all kicking off.

It’s calm again, and the break’s lead has grown back to 5:20.

2026-03-29T11:18:48.322Z

Laurenz Rex has abandoned the race, following his fall earlier.

2026-03-29T11:18:03.902Z

Everyone is over the cobblestones, and the peloton remains together. The next obstacle the riders will be up against is the Scherpenberg, the first of four climbs in quick succession coming up in about 35km.

2026-03-29T11:14:08.666Z

The peloton passing through Moeren, were the race did not break apart.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Now the race has calmed down again, the pelotn have allowed the break’s lead to grow back to just over five minutes.

2026-03-29T11:08:52.475Z

The exposed section might be done, but now the riders have a couple of cobblestone sectors to contend with.

2026-03-29T11:07:24.440Z

The peloton are at De Moeren now, their defecit to the break having been reduced for the first time all day, to about 4:30.

2026-03-29T10:54:11.789Z

Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe are leading a much-sped up peloton as they ride towards De Moeren.

2026-03-29T10:51:40.146Z

The breakaway riders are at De Moeren, and the peloton will be there in a few minutes. The wind is not especially strong, but could still be enough for echelons on such an exposed section.

2026-03-29T10:47:15.662Z

Crash in the peloton, and some significant names are involved – sprinters Max Kanter and Laurenz Rex, plus Timo Kielich and Ferre Geeraerts.

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

Still the break’s lead gets bigger and bigger, now up to a huge 5:45.

2026-03-29T10:37:42.431Z

The race remains calm for now, but that will all change once they approach the De Moeren section, where this race more often than not blows to pieces in the wind.

2026-03-29T10:33:04.966Z

The eight riders in the break, who have built one of the biggest leads we’ve seen all season.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-29T10:30:49.153Z

Today sees the resumption of the rivalry between Van der Poel and Van Aert, for the second time this season following Milan-Sanremo. But whereas they were overshadowed by Tadej Pogačar that day, his absence means they are the two favourites for the victory today.

5:15 is the break’s lead now. There’s no urgency in the peloton yet to bring it back.

2026-03-29T10:18:42.887Z

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-29T10:17:23.786Z

Still the break’s lead grows, now up to 4:50 with 185km left to ride.

2026-03-29T10:16:48.938Z

As well as this race, it’s also the final stage of Volta a Catalunya today. Be sure to have another tab open to follow all the action with us there too!

The break’s lead is still growing, and is now up to 4:20.

2026-03-29T09:57:15.290Z

It’s not exactly warm in Flanders today, but the sky is blue and there’s no sign of any rain.

Neither is it especially windy, but even a gentle breeze can cause damage on the notorious De Moeren section coming up later.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-29T09:53:36.154Z

A reminder of the eight riders in the break;

Dries De Bondt (Jayco-AlUla)

Julius Johansen (UAE Team Emirates – XRG)

Frits Biesterbos (Picnic PostNL)

Camille Charret (Cofidis)

Victor Vercouillie (Flanders – Baloise)

Jules Hesters (Flanders – Baloise)

Wessel Mouris (Unibet Rose Rockets)

Hartthijs de Vries (Unibet Rose Rockets)

The break’s lead has gone up, to 3:50. There’s a lot of road from no until the first cobbled sections for the peloton to allow them leeway while keeping them controlled.

2026-03-29T09:49:01.883Z

The breakaway in full, after the two groups came together.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

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The four original breakaway riders, before they were joined by the other four.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-29T09:39:45.821Z

Jonas Rickaert has taken over at the front of the peloton and is riding tempo. His Alpecin team didn’t want the gap to grow much more beyond the 3:15 it had already reached.

2026-03-29T09:35:44.761Z

The two groups have indeed come together, so we now have eight riders leading the race.

The first two groups will be together soon, while the peloton has sat up and is three minutes behind.

2026-03-29T09:33:27.953Z

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-29T09:31:20.670Z

And the four pursuers should be joining the four leaders before long – they’ve only 15 seconds to make up.

2026-03-29T09:30:39.971Z

The peloton looks as though it’s happy to let all of these riders go. They’ve allowed the front group 1:20 already.

2026-03-29T09:28:35.417Z

Dries De Bondt, Frits Biesterbos, Hartthijs de Vries and Jules Hesters are the four pursuing riders.

2026-03-29T09:26:44.241Z

A new group of four has also formed ahead of the peloton and is chasing the four leaders.

These four riders look like they might be getting away. They’re about 30 seconds ahead of the peloton.

2026-03-29T09:23:35.472Z

A Picnic-PostNL tried tried to join them but is back in the peloton.

2026-03-29T09:20:56.403Z

Wessel Mouris and Camille Charret are the other two riders with them.

2026-03-29T09:20:12.210Z

Four riders, including Victor Vercouillie and Julius Johansen, are the latest to give it a go.

2026-03-29T09:16:35.234Z

A group of seven tried to go clear, but have not be allowed to by the peloton.

2026-03-29T09:13:31.962Z

Attacks are flying out of the peloton right from the off.

And they’re off!

2026-03-29T09:06:50.576Z

Wout van Aert is here today, and ready to take on his great rival Mathieu van der Poel once again.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-29T09:05:04.919Z

The riders are in the neutralised section and will be racing any moment now.

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Mathieu van der Poel at the start, seeking his third consecutive cobbled classic viceroy this spring.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

2026-03-29T08:58:39.016Z

Despite these changes, the character of the race remains very much the same. There will be eight climbs including three ascents of the Kemmelberg, and a 35km flat run-in to the finish for the sprinters to try and get back in contention for a bunch finish.

2026-03-29T08:56:18.892Z

As well as the name, the race has also changed its start location, with the riders currently in waiting to start not in Ypres as they have in recent years, nor, as the former title suggests, Gent, but rather Middelkerke.

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For those who don’t know, and are confused as to what today’s race is, ‘In Flanders Fields’ is the new name given to Gent-Wevelgem, which has been rebranded this year.