REVVING UP FOR THE REVERED RONDE VAN VLAANDEREN

Spring’s racing calendar has been steadily building in excitement, each event leading up to one of the biggest days of the year – Sunday’s Ronde van Vlaanderen, first held for women in 2004.

Lining up for the beloved Vlaanderens Mooiste (Flanders’ Finest) will be Chloé Dygert, Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, Soraya Paladin, Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig, and Alice Towers.

For Soraya, Ronde van Vlaanderen is a race deeply familiar – this will be her 13th start, making it the race she has contested most in her career. Cecilie knows what it takes to reach the podium, having finished third in 2019, while Kasia, after six top-ten finishes, stepped up to second place in 2024.

The gratification and pleasure derived from simply reaching the end of the arduous outing is what Kasiacherishes most about Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders).

“I think that it’s always very hard, and I love the satisfaction you get after finishing a very gruelling, brutal event. It’s not always that the satisfaction is positive, but you just feel so tired that somehow it is rewarding because, of course, it’s really hard to be rewarded by winning the race.”

She believes that Flanders becomes more demanding each year – a progression that plays to her strengths as a rider.

“We can see that even now with the addition of the Eikenberg climb before the Koppenberg. It seems like every year there’s a new climb and a longer distance, so as I get older and become a more mature rider, I prefer the longer races because I feel like my endurance is bigger than what it was before. I think that this is naturally an advantage. In saying that, the cobbled climbs are something that I have a love-hate relationship with because sometimes I feel like I’m flying, and sometimes I feel like I just cannot get out of the saddle.”

The roads of Ronde van Vlaanderen are far from exclusive to Flanders weekend. Riders traverse the Flandrien hills throughout the early phase of the season, tackling the same sectors from different directions, in varying sequences, and in smaller portions. On Sunday, all those scattered tasters are united in one grand feast, where nearly every iconic and revered sector is on the menu.

This year’s distance sees a slight increase from 162.9 kilometres in 2024 to 168.8km, with a considerable 1531m of elevation gain across terrain that is more flat than hilly, emphasising the punchy, relentless nature of the course.

The first phase of the course typically takes riders on a 60-70 kilometre loop from Oudenaarde’s market square, with this section of the route varying each year.

Once this usually uneventful portion is completed, the race heads into the same terrain where many spirited battles have been fought over the years. Narrow roads, cobbles, and hills become increasingly crucial as the finish line approaches. Major drawcards like Molenberg, Koppenberg, Kruisberg, Kwaremont, and Paterberg will once again shape the race, setting the stage for fresh clashes while echoing the historical ones.

Kasia envisions her ideal race scenario, carefully considering how she and the team can best replicate success from previous editions of Flanders.

“It would be great if the peloton was reduced to, let’s say, 20 riders after Eikenberg, so then the approach to Koppenberg is somewhat smoother. After Koppenberg, to be in a group of, say, three riders, is ideal, because then you roll to the finish and try to attack or drop each other on the upcoming climbs.

The Koppenberg is the climb that quite often decides the race. If a person gets over Koppenberg in the first group, they can be the winner. It does also depend on how many people are in the first group. We could see with Longo Borghini last year, she didn’t have to chase after Koppenberg, and two years ago, Kopecky didn’t have to chase. You can really save energy if you’re already out in front and not stuck behind because of the climb. Then you don’t have to put in a lot of work to get back into contention.”

One final key determinant of the race outcome is the ever-volatile Belgian spring weather. The forecast for Sunday shows sunshine with a moderate breeze from the northeast, meaning riders will face crosswinds on parts of the opening loop. This will be particularly interesting on the unprotected Doorn cobbles at kilometre 56, where bunch nervousness and intense jostling for position on the return into Oudenaarde could make things even trickier. While the wind isn’t expected to be a game-changer, exposed sections of the course may catch out the unsuspecting as fatigue sets in.

De Ronde, or Flanders, is a race that truly captivates the nation – a country where cycling is woven into every aspect of its culture. As women’s racing becomes more intense, competitive, and cut-throat with each passing year, we’re in for another thrilling edition.

HOW TO FOLLOW

Ronde van Vlaanderen | 1.WWT | Sunday April 6 | 168.8km | 1531m elevation | Start 13:10 CET – fastest finish 17:33.

Live coverage from 14:45 CET on Sporza, RBTF, Eurosport/ Discovery+, TNT Sports, FloBikes (North America), ESPN (South America), SBS Sports (Australia) and Supersport (Africa). Stay updated on X with #RVV25 and #RVVWomen, and follow CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto’s social channels for team updates.