“Racing in Flanders is and remains unique,” Boonen nods. “I follow cycling all year round and know perfectly well who won where and how everything unfolded, but for ‘our’ races, I happily settle down on the couch. To watch on television, because that gives you the best overview.”
At least 90 riders aim to win the Flanders
Despite the Dutch-Slovenian duo’s dominance, Tour of Flanders still attracts adventurers from across the cycling world. All with the ambition to stand on top of the podium in Oudenaarde.
“Of the 180 riders at the start, 90 actually think they can win. Or at least *want* to win,” Boonen assesses. “The nervousness hanging in the air, the high tension on the riders’ faces… In 2002, when I rode the Tour for the first time as a neo-pro with US Postal, I never would have dared to think that I would ever win it. Let alone three times. The race is bigger than life.”
Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar during 2025 Tour of Flanders
“It is so much more than a race. Over the past three decades, the race has grown so much, in every respect. It is also the climax of the Flemish Cycling Week, the day that cycling fans have been looking forward to for months. You have many races that draw a lot of fans, but during the Tour, there is literally not a single stretch where there aren’t supporters. And often they stand rows and rows deep.”
With both defending champion Pogacar and three-time champion Van der Poel at the starting line on April 5th, there’s no need to go the extra mile in search of a clear favourite. Boonen thinks so as well, but he still
“I don’t make predictions. If logic prevails, it will be between Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogacar. But in a race, you never know, right? That bit of luck… Do you know who I really wish it for? Wout van Aert. Just let him finally win his first Tour. He really deserves it,” Boonen believes.
But if the two superstars deliver a spectacle, Boonen won’t be angry with either Pogacar equaling, or Van der Poel surpassing his Tour of Flanders track record. “Just give me a great final and lots of excitement. A 50-kilometer solo like that? The ex-athlete in me thinks that’s great. But as a regular fan, what good is that?”, he concludes.