The first of two weeks of racing that will lead to the Tour of Flanders on Sunday, April 6, begins in Belgium. It starts with the Brugge-De Panne , scheduled for Wednesday, March 26, a 195.6 km race dedicated to sprinters. The route is free of altimetric difficulties: the riders, however, will have to pay attention to the weather conditions and the narrow roads along the final circuit, 42.9 km long, to be completed three times.

Talking about favorites means looking at the strongest sprinters around . Practically everyone will be there: from the 2024 winner, Jasper Philipsen , to the European champion Tim Merlier , to the Dutchman Olav Kooij , and our own Jonathan Milan , coming off a rather disappointing Sanremo but ready to redeem himself on more favorable terrain.

Not to be underestimated are Dylan Groenewegen, Gerben Thijssen, Sam Welsford, Juan Sebastian Molano, Madis Mihkels, Paul Penhoet, Phil Bauhaus, Arnaud Demare, Tobias Lund Andresen (and teammate Fabio Jakobsen), Milan Fretin, Max Kanter, Hugo Hofstetter, Elia Viviani (and captain Arnaud De Lie), Alexander Kristoff, Emilien Jeanniere and Alberto Dainese.