As the defending champion, Pogačar launched his decisive move with around 18 km remaining, dropping Mathieu van der Poel before extending his advantage all the way to the finish for a commanding solo win. Van der Poel finished second, while Remco Evenepoel impressed on his debut with a strong third-place result.
The race’s key moment came with approximately 57 km to go, when Pogačar, van der Poel, and Evenepoel accelerated on the third ascent of Oude Kwaremont. On the following Paterberg, Evenepoel was dropped, leaving the two main contenders to battle it out. They rode together for nearly 40 km until the final ascent of the Oude Kwaremont, where Pogačar delivered the decisive attack.
This victory not only saw Pogačar match the race record with three titles, but also brings his total to 12 Monument wins, placing him second on the all-time list behind Eddy Merckx with 19.
Pogačar has been in outstanding form this season, already winning several major races including Milan–San Remo. He will next target Paris–Roubaix, where he could move closer to completing a full set of Monument victories.
In the women’s race, Demi Vollering claimed victory.
The race started in Antwerp, featuring an exceptionally strong lineup including Pogačar, van der Poel, Evenepoel, and Wout van Aert, making the 110th edition of the Tour of Flanders one of the most highly anticipated in recent years.
UPVINE Performance Insight: Efficiency on Cobbles and Climbs
Races like the Tour of Flanders are defined not only by tactics and fitness, but by how effectively a rider can convert power into forward speed over cobbles, steep gradients, and rapidly changing race conditions.
Power Transfer & Stiffness: On climbs like the Oude Kwaremont, high lateral stiffness ensures minimal energy loss during repeated accelerations.
Vibration Damping: Cobbled sectors demand controlled compliance to maintain traction and reduce rider fatigue over long distances.
High-Speed Stability : At high speeds and under aggressive positioning, wheel stability is critical for maintaining line choice and confidence.
For performance-focused systems like UPVINE wheelsets, optimizing the balance between stiffness, compliance, and structural integrity is essential. In decisive moments—such as Pogačar’s winning move—the difference is not just raw power, but how efficiently that power is sustained and delivered under extreme conditions.
