The Tour of Flanders, cycling’s most iconic cobbled Classic, arrives this week with one question dominating the conversation: can anyone prevent Tadej Pogačar from adding the Ronde to his rapidly growing Monument collection? Fresh from his dramatic Milan-San Remo victory and a dominant Strade Bianche performance, the world champion enters Flanders as the overwhelming favorite, but the unpredictable nature of cobbled racing means the door is never fully closed for his rivals.
Pogačar: The Man to Beat
Pogačar’s spring campaign has been nothing short of extraordinary. His victory at Strade Bianche was so dominant that it sparked a renewed debate about whether his superiority is making cycling boring, a conversation that Milan-San Remo’s photo finish emphatically answered. The Slovenian has shown he can win from a solo attack, from a small group sprint, and in a two-up battle of wills. This versatility makes him exceptionally difficult to beat tactically.
On the cobbled bergs of Flanders, Pogačar’s pure power output gives him an advantage that few can match. The Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg, the two climbs that typically decide the race in its closing stages, suit his explosive riding style perfectly. His team will aim to control the race and set up a decisive attack on one of these iconic climbs, a strategy that has proved devastatingly effective in recent seasons.
The Challengers
Wout Van Aert represents the most credible threat to Pogačar’s Flanders ambitions. The Belgian has built his entire spring around peaking for the cobbled Classics, and his third place at Milan-San Remo confirmed he is in excellent form. Van Aert’s knowledge of the Flemish roads, his massive power output, and his ability to sprint from a reduced group make him dangerous in any scenario. The home crowd pressure will add extra motivation for a rider desperate to add more Monument wins to his record.
Mathieu van der Poel, the defending champion from 2024, cannot be discounted despite a quieter start to his spring campaign. The Dutch rider has an unrivaled ability to produce extraordinary performances when it matters most, and his puncheur profile is ideally suited to the short, steep climbs that characterize the Flemish bergs. If he arrives at the foot of the Oude Kwaremont with fresh legs, anything is possible.
Tom Pidcock’s Milan-San Remo performance marked him as a legitimate contender for Flanders as well. His technical skills on rough surfaces are outstanding, honed by years of cyclocross and mountain bike racing. While he may lack the pure power of Pogačar on the steepest ramps, his descending ability and race intelligence could create opportunities if the race breaks up in the closing 50 kilometers.
Key Moments to Watch
The decisive phase of the Tour of Flanders typically begins with the ascent of the Oude Kwaremont with around 55 kilometers remaining. This cobbled climb, averaging 4 percent but kicking up to 11 percent in its steepest sections, string out the peloton and eliminates riders who are not at their absolute best. The subsequent descent and flat section before the Paterberg is where tactical positioning becomes critical.
The Paterberg, a vicious 400-meter wall averaging 12.9 percent with sections touching 20 percent, is where Monument dreams are made and broken. An attack here, with 13 kilometers still to race, requires enormous confidence in one’s form. If Pogačar goes at this point, as many expect him to, only the very strongest will be able to follow. The chase back to Oudenaarde, if a gap opens, will determine whether the race becomes a triumphant solo ride or a tense tactical battle.
Whatever the outcome, the Tour of Flanders 2026 promises to be one of the most compelling editions in recent memory. With the world champion in imperious form and a cast of challengers determined to stop him, the race through the Flemish heartland should deliver the drama and excitement that has made it one of cycling’s most cherished events for over a century.
