![\"Dutch](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/S47BvJ5MxQKQRzYgSXmdSW.jpg\")
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2026-03-29T10:33:04.966Z<\/p>\n
The eight riders in the break, who have built one of the biggest leads we’ve seen all season.<\/p>\n
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(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
2026-03-29T10:30:49.153Z<\/p>\n
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 Poga\u010dar that day, his absence means they are the two favourites for the victory today.<\/p>\n
‘I want to put up a fight’ – Wout van Aert in upbeat mood for In Flanders Fields<\/a><\/p>\n 2026-03-29T10:25:00.202Z 5:15 is the break’s lead now. There’s no urgency in the peloton yet to bring it back.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T10:18:42.887Z<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T10:17:23.786Z<\/p>\n Still the break’s lead grows, now up to 4:50 with 185km left to ride.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T10:16:48.938Z<\/p>\n As well as this race, it\u2019s 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!<\/p>\n Volta a Catalunya stage 7 LIVE: Race finale on the traditional Montju\u00efc circuit<\/a><\/p>\n 2026-03-29T10:07:58.310Z<\/p>\n One rider missing from the start today who had been set to ride is deafening champion Mads Pederen, who, despite being back in action following his early season crash, has been struck ill. As a three-time winner, Pedersen loves this race, and it\u2019s the only one in which he\u2019s had the beating both Wout van Aert and Van der Poel in recent years.<\/p>\n Defending champion Mads Pedersen, ill, will not start In Flanders Fields, loses chance to take record-breaking fourth win<\/a><\/p>\n 2026-03-29T10:02:58.947Z The break’s lead is still growing, and is now up to 4:20.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:57:15.290Z<\/p>\n It\u2019s not exactly warm in Flanders today, but the sky is blue and there\u2019s no sign of any rain.<\/p>\n Neither is it especially windy, but even a gentle breeze can cause damage on the notorious De Moeren section coming up later.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:53:36.154Z<\/p>\n A reminder of the eight riders in the break;<\/p>\n Dries De Bondt (Jayco-AlUla)<\/p>\n Julius Johansen (UAE Team Emirates – XRG)<\/p>\n Frits Biesterbos (Picnic PostNL)<\/p>\n Camille Charret (Cofidis)<\/p>\n Victor Vercouillie (Flanders – Baloise)<\/p>\n Jules Hesters (Flanders – Baloise)<\/p>\n Wessel Mouris (Unibet Rose Rockets)<\/p>\n Hartthijs de Vries (Unibet Rose Rockets)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:50:16.753Z 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.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:49:01.883Z<\/p>\n The breakaway in full, after the two groups came together.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:47:23.208Z<\/p>\n The four original breakaway riders, before they were joined by the other four.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:39:45.821Z<\/p>\n Jonas Rickaert has taken over at the front of the peloton and is riding tempo. His Alpecin team didn\u2019t want the gap to grow much more beyond the 3:15 it had already reached.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:35:44.761Z<\/p>\n The two groups have indeed come together, so we now have eight riders leading the race.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:34:39.660Z The first two groups will be together soon, while the peloton has sat up and is three minutes behind.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:33:27.953Z<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:31:20.670Z<\/p>\n And the four pursuers should be joining the four leaders before long – they\u2019ve only 15 seconds to make up.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:30:39.971Z<\/p>\n The peloton looks as though it’s happy to let all of these riders go. They’ve allowed the front group 1:20 already.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:28:35.417Z<\/p>\n Dries De Bondt, Frits Biesterbos, Hartthijs de Vries and Jules Hesters are the four pursuing riders.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:26:44.241Z<\/p>\n A new group of four has also formed ahead of the peloton and is chasing the four leaders.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:25:35.057Z These four riders look like they might be getting away. They’re about 30 seconds ahead of the peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:23:35.472Z<\/p>\n A Picnic-PostNL tried tried to join them but is back in the peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:20:56.403Z<\/p>\n Wessel Mouris and Camille Charret are the other two riders with them.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:20:12.210Z<\/p>\n Four riders, including Victor Vercouillie and Julius Johansen, are the latest to give it a go.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:16:35.234Z<\/p>\n A group of seven tried to go clear, but have not be allowed to by the peloton.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:13:31.962Z<\/p>\n Attacks are flying out of the peloton right from the off.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:12:46.638Z And they’re off!<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:06:50.576Z<\/p>\n Wout van Aert is here today, and ready to take on his great rival Mathieu van der Poel once again.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:05:04.919Z<\/p>\n The riders are in the neutralised section and will be racing any moment now.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T09:03:26.957Z<\/p>\n Mathieu van der Poel at the start, seeking his third consecutive cobbled classic viceroy this spring.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T08:58:39.016Z<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T08:56:18.892Z<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 2026-03-29T08:51:33.667Z<\/p>\n For those who don\u2019t know, and are confused as to what today’s race is, \u2018In Flanders Fields\u2019 is the new name given to Gent-Wevelgem, which has been rebranded this year.<\/p>\n
\n180KM TO GO<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/brVWDBKAvf6HN49imZ8ETX.jpg\")
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\n200KM TO GO<\/p>\n![\"MIDDELKERKE,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/NN3qcZjfFmAfAJQfNqmctW.jpg\")
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\n210KM TO GO<\/p>\n![\"WEVELGEM,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/DSSbYzMGT4aMATSHVhphkQ.jpg\")
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\n220KM TO GO<\/p>\n![\"MIDDELKERKE,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/dhWPxwMw723ecvuo5bsXrG.jpg\")
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\n230KM TO GO<\/p>\n
\nOFFICIAL START<\/p>\n![\"Belgian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/dkPWB5eENZYRE5gyjRA3NT.jpg\")
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