Paul Magnier, Jasper Stuyven and Dylan van Baarle will all be at the start of the longest edition in 36 years.

One of the hardest races of the season, a 278.2km sufferfest, the Ronde van Vlaanderen is back this Sunday with its 110th edition, which starts in Antwerp and finishes in Oudenaarde. The course packs 16 climbs, all of them coming in the second half of the day, and positioning will be key there.

Since the course was changed 14 years ago, Oude Kwaremont and the Paterberg have become the defining combo of the race and the last two hurdles that those vying for a good result will have to overcome.  But these aren’t the only difficulties of this relentless course, which will feature some of Flanders’ most iconic climbs, including Molenberg, Taaienberg, and Koppenberg (with its insane 22% gradients), which can play a crucial role in the way things will look in Oudenaarde, after six hours of racing.

A top ten finisher at De Ronde three times, Jasper Stuyven will start a cobbled Monument for the 22nd time in his career this weekend. The Belgian has had a solid Classics campaign so far, coming home seventh in Milano-Sanremo and tenth at In Flanders Fields, and will be keen to show his good form also here. Jasper will be joined by Dylan van Baarle, runner-up at the race in 2022, Paul Magnier, Pepijn Reinderink, Fabio Van den Bossche, Dries Van Gestel, and neo-pro Jonathan Vervenne, who will make his debut in a Monument.

Flanders is never an easy race, and this year could be even more difficult, as they predict a lot of wind, especially headwind, that can change things a lot.

“We will see how it goes and what we can achieve on Sunday, but we are confident we can do a good race. Dylan and Jasper will lead the team and can rely on a strong supporting cast. We also have several young guys, like Jonathan, who has shown since the start of the year he is made for these races and deserves to be on the squad, Paul – who can also gain more experience, which should be of great help in the years to come – but also Pepijn, who rode incredibly in Harelbeke and Waregem and could show himself again in a breakaway”, said Soudal Quick-Step sports director Tom Steels.

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