The Tour of Flanders can be one of the early main races in 2023 and subsequent 12 months’s contest can be the 107th version in historical past. Some of the world’s greatest riders are anticipated to characteristic in the occasion which can finish in Oudenaarde as soon as once more.
Here is a have a look at the main contenders for the most prestigious biking race in Flanders.
Mathieu van der Poel
Dutch bike owner Mathieu van der Poel received the Tour of Flanders for the second time in his profession in 2022. He has been put in as the +450 favourite to defend his crown subsequent 12 months. Those trying to again the market chief ought to contemplate the Betfair welcome offer bet 10 get 30 which can be utilized on the occasion. Placing a £10 guess on this race will see you choose up £30 for use on every other biking competitors or occasion of their sportsbook.
It is simple to see why the bookmakers have made van der Poel their favourite. He was first profitable on this occasion in 2020. He then regained his trophy again in April. Victory in 2023 will see him tie the report for the most wins.
Dream’s don’t work except you do 👊🏻 WORLDCHAMPION 🌈 pic.twitter.com/fxaX18hdry
— Mathieu Van der Poel (@mathieuvdpoel) February 2, 2020
Van der Poel has had lots of success all through his profession. He is a four-time winner at the World Championship in cyclo-cross, whereas he has stage wins at the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia.
The UCI ProTeam Alpecin-Deceuninck rider completed with a time of 6h 18’ 30” in 2022. He can be aiming to enhance on that in his subsequent look and that’s more likely to be sufficient to see him carry the trophy.
Wout Van Aert
Not since 2017 has a house rider received the Tour of Flanders. Philippe Gilbert gave the residence crowd one thing to cheer about 5 years in the past when he prevailed for Quick-Step Floors. Belgian Wout Van Aert can be hoping so as to add his title to the roll of honor subsequent 12 months.
The 28-year-old received the points classification at the Tour de France in 2022, the greatest achievement of his profession to this point. He has now claimed 9 particular person levels at the Grand Tour occasion.
I assume I by no means stopped smiling the previous few days, with saturday’s experience in thoughts. We had some stunning and simple days in Tuscany with @JumboVismaRoad which made every part even higher. But right now we head ahead to the subsequent races #MilanoTorino & #MilanoSanremo ! pic.twitter.com/iACJBdhwHz
— Wout van Aert (@WoutvanAert) August 5, 2020
Van Aert is arguably in the greatest type of his profession, so he goes into the 2023 renewal of the Tour of Flanders as the greatest menace to the defending champion.
Kasper Asgreen
Denmark’s Kasper Asgreen won the Tour of Flanders in 2021. He clocked a powerful profitable time of 6h 02’ 12” that 12 months, ending forward of van der Poel and Greg Van Avermaet respectively.
Since that win, he has been victorious in the 2021 Danish National Time Trial Championships. He was additionally third in the Strade Bianche earlier this 12 months in Siena in the race which was received by Alexandr Kolobnev.
Asgreen not often runs a foul race in the Tour of Flanders. He completed second in 2019 so he’s very used to difficult for the main prizes in the occasion.
The 2023 Tour of Flanders will happen on April 2 and it’s one of the highlights on the UCI World Tour calendar subsequent 12 months.
