\n30km to go<\/p>\n
Wout Van Aert leads the trio on the cobbled sector, with Wout driving the pace on the dirt edge of the road. His speed hurts Larsen, who is distanced.<\/p>\n
2026-04-01T13:20:28.142Z<\/p>\n
The peloton can see the WVA attack across the open Flemish fields but the gap is up to 35 seconds.<\/p>\n
Sheffield has been joined by Tim van Dijke (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) but they are stuck in the middle and suffering.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T13:13:48.721Z<\/p>\n The trio cross the Schelde river and we time them with a lead of 20 seconds. Magnus Sheffield is trying to bridge the gap but is fading.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T13:12:42.571Z<\/p>\n WVA is up front with Gr\u00e9goire and Larsen, while Gachignard was dropped on the climb. Perhaps this time he will want to finish alone, rather than risk anything in the sprint.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T13:11:19.723Z<\/p>\n Ganna has to change bikes after his cockpit loosened. His race is probably over.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T13:09:31.202Z<\/p>\n WVA powers over the pave and is away alone, chasing the attackers.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T13:08:38.090Z<\/p>\n Another problem for Ganna at the back of the group as Wout Van Aert goes on the attack.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T13:07:30.058Z The riders hit the Eikenberg cobbled climb. It’s short but will hurt and could spark attacks.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T13:06:01.083Z<\/p>\n Gr\u00e9goire, Gachignard, and Larsen are off the front but the big-names are cruelly letting them hang and suffer.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T13:02:30.627Z<\/p>\n Filippo Ganna needs a bike change and chases as the riders hit the cobbles.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T12:56:00.558Z We are about to start the final 50km or last hour of racing. Anything could still happen at this point as the rider climb the Hotond again. There is the Eikenberg in 10km but then roads flatten for the fast ride to the finish in Waregem. However, there are several cobbled sectors!<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T12:52:24.516Z<\/p>\n Wout Van Aert clearly does not want to and cannot wait for a sprint finish. He makes another surge to hurt the group.<\/p>\n Alpecin are playing a man to man marking strategy, with Tibor del Grosso chasing and marking him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-04-01T12:48:52.954Z<\/p>\n Alpecin are leading the chase and setting a fast pace to protect Jasper Philipsen. As the kilometres and climbs tick down, he has more and more chance of success.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T12:46:13.971Z<\/p>\n The eight-rider Bettiol group has a 10-second lead but the peloton of 50 or so riders is keeping them under control.<\/p>\n The Knokteberg-Trieu climb is coming up very soon.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-04-01T12:42:58.219Z<\/p>\n The Rockets view from the roadside.<\/p>\n \ud83e\udee8 Attack after attack, after attack, after attack.We\u2019re right in the mix! \ud83e\udee1\ud83c\udde7\ud83c\uddea #DDV26 pic.twitter.com\/w4SiwBys7oApril 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 2026-04-01T12:40:45.043Z We have a new attack on the fast main road. Alberto Bettiol (XDS-Astana) is amongst them.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T12:38:15.771Z<\/p>\n The attacks are hurting the sprinters, who had hopes of a controlled race and fast finish. Arnaud De Lie was dropped earlier and both Tobias Lund Andresen and Jonathan Milan are in the chase group.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T12:34:31.371Z<\/p>\n Former Australian rider and now a consultant with Red Bull, Allan Peiper was spotted on the climb of the Berg Ten Houte. G’day Allan!<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T12:33:02.948Z<\/p>\n The racing is ever-changing, with attacks, chasing and more attacks.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T12:31:55.379Z<\/p>\n Enjoying our live Classics coverage? <\/p>\n Subscribe to Cyclingnews for an all-access pass to our unrivalled reporting of WorldTour racing, bike tech and exclusive in-depth features. Plus, access to the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on-the-go! <\/p>\n Find out more.<\/a><\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Future) 2026-04-01T12:28:24.186Z<\/p>\n The race is back together but Per Strand Hagenes (Visma-Lease a Bike) blows the peloton apart yet again. He is strong and a vital asset for Van Aert.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T12:26:35.776Z<\/p>\n The riders will soon return to the Berg Ten Houte climb that split the peloton earlier. Van Aert’s surge sparked a 14.rider move but the gap is down to 10 seconds. This is pure Flemish racing.<\/p>\n I wonder if Remco Evenepoel is watching and regretting his decision to ride Sunday’s Tour of Flanders.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-04-01T12:20:44.742Z<\/p>\n The chase group is at 30 seconds. They may be losing contact for good.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T12:20:02.734Z<\/p>\n Sam Watson of Ineos makes a surge and so Wout Van Aert also hits out.<\/p>\n He wants to force a selection here and is making everyone behind him suffer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-04-01T12:17:17.429Z<\/p>\n After a section of cobbles, riders grab bidons, throw their gillet to team staff and keep racing hard in the lanes of the Flemish Ardennes.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T12:14:53.309Z As expected, the peloton caught the 18 attackers, creating a front peloton of 50 or so riders. The attacks were controlled for the opening 100km but the pace is high, with an average of 49.2km\/h.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T12:10:00.971Z The Hotond climb is next up and the gap is falling as Alpecin lead the chase. Edward Planckaert jumps across the gap to give Alpecin a rider in the attack. Will they now go clear again?<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T12:06:58.289Z<\/p>\n Some riders are dropping out of the back, including Arnaud De Lie (Lotto).<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T12:04:45.762Z<\/p>\n The peloton is lined out, in a race of pain, as the 18 attackers look at each other, then decide to push on. The gap is only 20 seconds.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T12:02:34.588Z<\/p>\n Josh Tarling is doing the work for Ineos now. He was a late selection for the race but is in the action.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T12:01:58.600Z<\/p>\n The riders hit the Knokteberg-Trieu (it climbs 1.1km \u00e0 7.9%), we can expect it to hurt and change the race.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T11:59:37.947Z<\/p>\n Ineos has five riders up front, with some help from Lotto and now Red Bull. The Visma riders are carefully following the moves. Brennan and Laporte are in the attack, with Van Aert in the peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T11:54:54.487Z<\/p>\n Ineos and Alpecin does not have any riders in the attack and so are leading the chase at high speed.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T11:53:35.303Z The elastic is slowly stretching as the 18-rider attack goes clear.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T11:50:48.432Z<\/p>\n The 18-rider attack includes sone big-name riders, including Brennan, Laporte, Magnier, Pedersen, Florian Vermeersch, Lund Andresen, and Abrahamsen. This is interesting.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T11:47:23.703Z<\/p>\n Alpecin-Premier Tech are also aggressive and the peloton has split on the Berg Ten Houte climb. There is a front group of 18 riders. Race on!<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T11:44:38.144Z<\/p>\n Lidl-Trek took control of the peloton and quickly closed down the two-rider attack. They have Mads Pedersen and Jonathan Milan in the team today and are keen to take a big result after a difficult early-season.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T11:39:33.170Z<\/p>\n This was the moment and place where Beno\u00eet Cosnefroy (UAE) made his attack.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T11:35:15.621Z Now Beno\u00eet Cosnefroy (UAE) and Alessandro Borgo (Bahrain-Victorious) try a move but the peloton is only ten or so seconds behind them.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T11:32:59.836Z<\/p>\n Four riders got away but a quick chase from the peloton brought them to heel. Gruppo compatto once again.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T11:31:25.261Z<\/p>\n The Volkegemberg climb and the first taste of cobbles has awoken the peloton. We have an attack!<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T11:18:13.820Z The Hellestraat didn’t spark any action but other riders are in the team cars for assistance. The speed is high, with the average for the first hour confirmed at 49.3 km\/h.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T11:14:08.873Z<\/p>\n The crash has raised the tension in the peloton. Jasper Philipsen and Wout van Aert need mechanical assistance from their team cars, while Jon Barrenetxea was the Movistar rider who went down.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T11:06:28.538Z<\/p>\n The peloton is lined out at speed.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T11:04:50.195Z<\/p>\n We’re hearing that Dylan Teuns has also abandoned the race. That’s blow for the Cofidis rider.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T11:03:39.853Z<\/p>\n Chute in the peloton. Several riders went down and Jenno Berkcmoes (Lotto Intermarch\u00e9) has abandoned the race.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T11:00:11.582Z<\/p>\n There is only a light, 10km\/h breeze from the south-east today and so the wind is unlikely to be a factor.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T10:57:29.303Z<\/p>\n This the official map of today’s men’s race.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Flanders Classics)<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T10:53:50.279Z After 35km of racing and few attacks, the peloton is still together. Perhaps the Hellestraat climb that comes in 10km will spark the first major attack.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T10:50:44.984Z<\/p>\n “Is it an April Fool\u2019s joke? Jasper Philipsen asked.<\/p>\n “I kind of saw it coming. Those rumours were already circulating some time ago. It is good for the organization and the race. Remco is a contender, alongside Pogacar and Van der Poel.”<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2026-04-01T10:48:22.024Z<\/p>\n As expected, the news that Remco Evenepoel will ride the Tour of Flanders has sparked reaction from his rivals as they were about to start Dwars door Vlaanderen.<\/p>\n Some riders seemed to already jknow the news, others, including Wout Van Aert welcomed him.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “It is a surprise for all of us. But it is good news.” Van Aert told VTM.<\/p>\n “If Remco starts, I assume he does so with a big goal. He is super strong in one-day races, so certainly a rider to watch out for. The Tour of Flanders deserves to have as many big names at the start as possible.”<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T10:40:25.342Z<\/p>\n No Belgian cobbled Classic worth its salt is lacking in climbs to pepper the route as well of course, and the first of the 12 in this year’s edition of Dwars door Vlaanderen is the Hellestraat (1.3 km \u00e0 3.7%) at km 47.8 of the 184.6 kilometres that make up this year’s race.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T10:32:40.255Z<\/p>\n We’re 15 kilometres into DDV 2026 and as yet nobody is getting out of the peloton’s clutches…when will the break of the day form?<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T10:28:32.532Z<\/p>\n Meantime announcement of one DNS: Pinarello-Q36.5’s Frederik Frison, never too far out of the action in the Belgian Classics, although in DDF he’s not got a great track record, with his best placing of five 40th overall last year<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T10:25:56.595Z Peloton is all together for now<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T10:24:18.915Z<\/p>\n Possibly a trending topic in Belgium right now…<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T10:20:21.305Z<\/p>\n And wherever that particular break goes and whoever wins Dwars door Vlaanderen in five hours time, here’s the big news of the day so far… 2026-04-01T10:17:44.910Z<\/p>\n As soon as the flag drops, Spanish Pro Conti squad Burgos Burpellet BH, doing honour to their debut in Dwars Door Vlaanderen, launch the first attack of the day.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T10:16:16.455Z<\/p>\n And racing in the 80th Dwars door Vlaanderen – A travers la Flandre ME (1.UWT) to give its full title and category is now officially underway<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T10:15:09.590Z<\/p>\n To read a full analysis of what went wrong last time round and how Visma plan to put it right in 2025, here’s my colleague James Moultrie’s deep dive into it all. 2026-04-01T10:13:43.556Z<\/p>\n Van Aert’s past history with Dwars door Vlaanderen is a chequered one, to say the least, with the massive crash and injuries back in 2024 followed by a second place last year after Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) managed to beat no less than three Visma-Lease a Bike riders to snatch the victory. So there’s plenty of unfinished business there.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T10:08:42.165Z<\/p>\n Some bike changes needed in the neutralised section, including one for Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike)<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T10:03:50.148Z<\/p>\n Meantime here’s another very atmospheric shot of the sign-on, with Soudal-QuickStep waving to the crowd. West Flanders is the heartland for this team, so expectations will be high to see if 2017 and 2018 winner and local hero Yves Lampaert can roll back the years one more time.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T09:59:15.710Z<\/p>\n The DDV start was buzzing with the will-he\/won’t he news about one potential starter in another, rather bigger, Belgian cobbled Classic, by the way, Remco Evenepoel’s strongly rumoured start in the Tour of Flanders next Sunday. More on that particular story very soon.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T09:57:41.008Z<\/p>\n The riders are now underway in the neutralised section of Dwars door Vlaanderen. Kick-off for real is in about 10 minutes’ time.<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T09:56:20.223Z<\/p>\n For a full analysis of the men’s and women’s top contenders, look no further than colleague Laura Weislo’s analysis here: 2026-04-01T09:53:25.568Z<\/p>\n Quite apart from Wout van Aert and Visma-Lease a Bike, keen to set the record straight after their debacle in last year’s race, there’s plenty of interest in what Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech), the winner of In Flanders Field last Sunday, can do, along with Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), back after skipping Sunday’s race with a cold, while sprinter Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Intermarch\u00e9) is still on the hunt for a win of any kind this spring…<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T09:49:51.219Z<\/p>\n Meantime, too, here’s a shot of a certain rider at the sign-on who’s generating a fair bit of media interest for some reason…<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-04-01T09:46:51.182Z<\/p>\n The race starts in Roeselare in West Flanders, home each eyar to the Grote Prijs Jean-Pierre Monser\u00e9 one-day race, which was won by Dylan Groenewegen earlier this spring. While we’re waiting for the start, you can read the full report here: 2026-04-01T09:43:30.053Z<\/p>\n Racing will start with the roll-out at 1155 CET<\/p>\n
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Remco Evenepoel will ride the Tour of Flanders in shock debut<\/a><\/p>\n
‘We’ll certainly not make that same mistake again’ \u2013 Can Wout van Aert and Visma take revenge at Dwars door Vlaanderen a year on from three-against-one tactical blunder?<\/a><\/p>\n![\"2026](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/LDwnQ7rw8utBXB4J2neMS6.jpg\")
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More than a Tour of Flanders warm-up \u2013 Analysing the contenders at Dwars door Vlaanderen<\/a><\/p>\n![\"2026](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/WJSFJeGG4JomUszFiTPgS8.jpg\")
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GP Jean-Pierre Monser\u00e9: Dylan Groenewegen blasts through final metres and denies breakaway for victory<\/a><\/p>\n