Prediction respected: Mathieu Van der Poel won the 108th edition of the Ronde Van Vlaanderen, starting from Bruges and finishing in Oudenaarde over 270 km.

The race exploded on the Koppenberg when Van der Poel took off with 50km to go and made a gap. Behind him many had to put their foot down while climbing the wall due to the slippery ground. Matteo Jorgenson and Mads Pedersen tried to follow the world champion's pace but without success. Both then broke away from the comeback group made up of Alberto Bettiol, Dylan Teuns, Ivan Garcia Cortina and Tim Wellens.

While Van der Poel's show continued to the finish line, behind him Bettiol and Teuns came very close to fighting for the podium but were overtaken a few meters from the finish line by an extraordinary Luca Mozzato , second in the sprint, and by Michael Matthews, third. However, the Australian was disqualified for changing line, so Nils Politt climbed onto the third step of the podium.

For Van der Poel, today unbeatable for everyone else, it is the third victory at Flanders.

Photo Sprint Cycling

Arrival order:

1 VAN DER POEL Mathieu Alpecin-Deceuninck 06:05:17

2 MOZZATO Luca ARKEA-B&B HOTELS + 01:02

3 POLITT Nils UAE Team Emirates + 01:02

4 BJERG Mikkel UAE Team Emirates + 01:02

5 MORGADO António UAE Team Emirates + 01:02

6 SHEFFIELD Magnus INEOS Grenadiers + 01:02

7 NAESEN Oliver Decathlon AG2R The World Team + 01:02

8 TEUNS Dylan Israel-Premier Tech + 01:02

9 BETTIOL Alberto EF Education-EasyPost + 01:02

10 SKUJIŅŠ Toms Lidl - Trek + 01:02