cycling: 101st Tour of Flanders: Philippe Gilbert fulfills his dream

Cycling: what a race! As every year, the Tour of Flanders kept what it promised. Philippe Gilbert (Quick-Step Floors) won a tactical Tour of Flanders with a 55km solo. Second was Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) ahead of Niki Terpstra (Quick-Step Floors). Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) went down, as did Sep Vanmarcke (Cannondale-Drapac). Tom Boonen (Quick-Step Floors) played an important role in his team's tactics but then suffered a breakdown. John Degenkolb (Trek-Segafredo) finished seventh as the best German.

Eight drivers with the early escape

The drivers gathered on Antwerp's Grote Markt before 11 a.m. today and started the 260-kilometre one-day race. There wasn't much fighting for the breakaway of the day. The teams quickly agreed that the eight drivers Julien Duval (Ag2r), Oliveiro Troia (UAE), Mark McNally (Wanty), Stef van Zummeren & Michael Goolaerts (Vérandas Willems-Crelan), Julien Morice (Direct Energie), Andre Looij (Roompot) and Baptiste Planckaert (Katusha-Alpecin) are dropped. The top teams gave them a lead of just over ten minutes. Occasionally other drivers tried to break away from the field, but this endeavor was hopeless.

Sky & Quick-Step Floors try it in the wall of Geraardsbergen

When the field crashed into the wall of Geraardsbergen about 95 kilometers from the finish, things got exciting. Teams Sky and Quick-Step Floors put their tactical plan into action and pushed the pace. The peloton was torn into several pieces. In the 15-man chasing group, three professionals from Quick-Step Floors, Philippe Gilbert, Tom Boonen and Matteo Trentin, were able to place themselves. Luke Rowe (Sky), Alexander Kristoff (Katusha-Alpecin), Sep Vanmarcke (Cannondale-Drapac), Arnaud Démare (FDJ) and Bryan Coquard (Direct Energie) also made it into this strong group. The lead over the peloton quickly grew to over a minute. Probably because Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) and Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) had to wait for their helpers who had already been left behind. After that, the controlled pursuit of the dangerous group, which had already rolled towards the eight escapees, began. An exciting chase began.

Quick-Step Floors counts on Gilbert as soloist

While the top riders all put their noses into the wind up front, Van Avermaet and Sagan were able to rest at the back. The BMC and Orica-Scott teams in particular were involved in the tracking work. Peter Sagan didn't seem to be able to count on many teammates anymore. But the gap fell to around 55 seconds before the second crossing of the Oude Kwaremont, 40 kilometers from the finish. There Philippe Gilbert broke away from his comrades-in-arms and tried his hand as a soloist. With that, the air was out of the group. Boonen and Trentin weren't leading and the other riders couldn't agree. With that, the Quick-Step Floors team gave up numerical superiority. Because after the Paterberg, some pilots were able to reconnect, including Sagan and Van Avermaet. Now the pursuit of Gilbert began. Sep Vanmarcke was no longer there. The Dutchman fell and lost a lot of time.

Peter Sagan & Greg Van Avermaet attack with 36 kilometers to go

Fabio Felline (Trek-Segafredo) and Dylan Van Baarle (Cannondale-Drapac) pulled away from the peloton. The pace was clearly slowed down there. The helpers seemed floored. Gilbert was able to extend his lead to 1:30. Peter Sagan was dawdling too much so he attacked with Greg Van Avermaet with 36km to go. Also present were Matteo Trentin (Quick-Step Floors), Yoann Offredo (Wanty) and Oliver Naesen (Ag2r). Together with Felline and Van Baarle, the seven of them now set off in pursuit of Gilbert, primarily Van Avermaet and Let Sagan do the tempo work. Tom Boonen was out of the fight for the front positions. The Belgian suffered a flat tire on his last appearance at the Ronde van Vlaanderen and had to change his bike several times. Things went better for the German champion André Greipel (Lotto Soudal), who even attacked several times.

A fall slows down the pursuers - Philippe Gilbert triumphs

With around 18 kilometers to go, Gilbert entered the Oude Kwaremont with a lead of around 55 seconds. The chasing group couldn't close the gap. But in the Oude Kwaremont and the Paterberg you can lose a lot of time. However, a fall dashed all hopes. When Peter Sagan pushed the pace and Van Avermaet stayed on his rear wheel, they fell. While the other riders were able to jump back on their bikes straight away, Sagan lost his front wheel and with it all chances of a front place finish. Philippe Gilbert was no longer caught. The Belgian champion won the Tour of Flanders for the first time. Behind them, Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) secured second place in the sprint ahead of Niki Terpstra (Quick-Step Floors) and Dylan Van Baarle (Cannondale).