Tour of Flanders 2023: Pogacar solos to triumph

foto: Cor VosTadej Pogacar strikes in the last ascent of Oude Kwaremont and wins a compelling edition of the Tour of Flanders in commanding style. Mathieu van der Poel finishes in second before Mads Pedersen sprints to third place. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 2023 Tour of Flanders

1. Tadej Pogacar (slo)
2. Mathieu van der Poel (nld) + 0.16
3. Mads Pedersen (den) + 1.12
4. Wout van Aert (bel) s.t.
5. Neilson Powless (usa) s.t.
6. Stefan Küng (swi) s.t.
7. Kasper Asgreen (den) s.t.
8. Fred Wright (gbr) s.t.
9. Matteo Jorgenson (usa) + 1.19
10. Matteo Trentin (ita) + 2.49

Race report
The pace is high from the start. There is still no breakaway after almost 40 kilometres of action and then the peloton splits. Van der Poel, Madouas, Teuns, Vanmarcke, Matthews and Girmay are forced to restore the damage in a 20 kilometres chase.

One of the other hot favourites, Pogacar, if forced to chase a little later with Pedersen, Matthews and Vanmarcke. They rejoin the first group in a relatively short effort.

After two hours in the saddle – and 100 kilometres – Van Keirsbulck establish the breakaway with Hoole, Colombo, Reynders and De Buyst. Merlier, Rutsch and Houle track them down.

A crazy move by Maciejuk causes a massive crash in the peloton. Turner and Wellens can’t continue the race, while the peloton slows down and the eight race to a 6 minutes lead.

The gap has fallen to 2 minutes on the Molenberg. Trentin, Küng, Asgreen, Wright, Powless, Narváez, Wright and Van Hooydonck distance the peloton after the summit, while Pedersen and Vermeersch bridge across later. Jorgenson and Cosnefroy go after them on the Berendries and track them down on the flat. The twelve rejoin the lead group on Berg Ten Houte and they open up a 3 minutes lead.

Pogacar strikes in the second ascent of the Oude Kwaremont. He reaches the summit of the Paterberg 1.39 minutes behind the remains of the lead group. Laporte, Van Aert, Pidcock and Van der Poel are 13 seconds behind.

Laporte kicks to rejoin Pogacar before the others also bridge across.

Pogacar speeds up on the Koppenberg. Van der Poel and Van Aert follow the move and the trio reaches the summit 1 minute behind the lead group. The gap is down to 35 seconds on the Taaienberg.

Pedersen attacks from the remaining leaders – Van Hooydonck, Trentin, Vermeersch, Asgreen, Powless, Wright, Jorgenson, Küng – in the run-up to the Kruisberg. Van der Poel attacks in the climb from the chase group. Pogacar follows his move.

The two regain contact with the group Asgreen before the Oude Kwaremont. Pogacar tracks down Pedersen in the climb to continue on his own. Van der Poel reaches the summit with Pedersen, only to leave him behind.

Pogacar crests the Paterberg 12 seconds ahead of Van der Poel. Pedersen is 40 seconds in arrears before the chasers rejoin the Dane.

The double Tour de France winner takes the win ahead of double Tour of Flanders winner Van der Poel, while former World Champion outsprints Van Aert for the remaining podium spot.

Other interesting reads: route and start list 2023 Tour of Flanders.