Cycling's 'Holy Sunday': five things to know about the Tour of Flanders

It's Easter come early: more than one million spectators are expected Sunday on the course of the Tour of Flanders, elevated to the rank of religion in the cobbled mountains of West Flanders where Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu Van der Poel advance as the big favorites of the 109th edition.

. Two giants for one Monument

The duel between Pogacar, crowned in 2023, and Van der Poel, defending champion, promises to be one of the highlights of the season before a rematch next Sunday at Paris-Roubaix. The two riders have won ten of the last twelve Monuments between them, leaving a gap behind. Their first confrontation this season at Milan-Sanremo, where Van der Poel resisted Pogacar's attacks before defeating him at the line, lived up to all its promises. On Sunday, Pogacar will want to avoid another sprint finish against the faster Dutchman. And the terrain is more suitable with sixteen climbs, mostly short but often very steep.

. Van der Poel for history

Winner in 2020, 2022, and 2024, the grandson of Raymond Poulidor can, at 30, become the first rider to win the 'Ronde' four times, surpassing Johan Museeuw, Tom Boonen, or Fabian Cancellara. "I never imagined myself in this situation but Sunday I'm just going to focus on racing and winning," he says. The leader of Alpecin can also become the second rider to win the first two Monuments of the season back-to-back, after Eddy Merckx in 1969 and 1975. The 'Ronde' is his race, and he presents an exceptional record there since he has finished 2nd (twice) and 4th in his three other participations. He arrives in good form after his victory in the E3 Grand Prix ten days ago.

. Pogacar to regain control

In 2023, the Slovenian became only the third Tour de France winner to win the 'Ronde' after Louison Bobet and Eddy Merckx before skipping last year. He intends to return to his good habits and regain the advantage over Van der Poel in the chase for Monuments – they are tied 7 apiece. The UAE leader plans to "make the race as difficult as possible." "It will be exhausting, very tactical. Maybe Mathieu will be more tired than me after six hours," notes the world champion who loves the "unique" atmosphere of the Tour of Flanders. He must then follow up with his first Paris-Roubaix, a new challenge in an already exceptional career.

. Pedersen and Van Aert to defy the odds

While Pogacar and Van der Poel monopolize attention, a third rider is in the form of his life: the Dane Mads Pedersen, who is still chasing his first Monument at 29. An impressive winner of Gent-Wevelgem, the Lidl-Trek leader presents as the main outsider. The Belgian Wout Van Aert dreams of a home triumph but has lost ground and is a long shot within the Visma-Lease a bike team, which also relies on the American Matteo Jorgenson. Filippo Ganna, Neilson Powless, Stefan Küng, or Michael Matthews dream of creating a surprise. On the French side, Valentin Madouas, third in 2022, represents the best card, while Julian Alaphilippe and Christophe Laporte are out, and Anthony Turgis' TotalEnergies team has not been invited. The young Paul Magnier will make his Monument debut with Soudal Quick-Step, where he has just extended until 2027, primarily to "learn."

. A course for the strong

After the start in Bruges at 10 a.m., the peloton will be able to warm up for about a hundred kilometers before the first cobbled sector of Doorn. Twenty kilometers further, riders will climb the Old Kwaremont for the first time. From there, the climbs, often narrow and cobbled, will follow one another. The most legendary are the Taaienberg, the Koppenberg, with a 22% passage, the Old Kwaremont, and the Paterberg, 360 terrible meters at an average of 13% whose last ascent is 13 km from the finish in Audenaarde. In 2023, Pogacar made a difference in the Old Kwaremont where caravans and VIP tents have been set up for days. The sunny weather should make the race faster than ever.