The lion defended his hunting ground with sharp claws.
The feline tensed its muscles at the harassment of enemies seeking revenge.
Mathieu Van der Poel
gave up, with honor, in his struggle to keep the center of the Tour of Flanders.
Another duel with his inseparable
Wout van Aert
, with the Danish
Kasper Asgreen
as an unexpected guest actor, who was awarded the second Monument of the season, thanks to an excellent work of wear and a phenomenal energy management.
The Deceuninck's wheeler,
Julian Alaphilippe's
partner
, surprised VDP in an agonizing sprint.
Poulidor's
grandson
, superior in speed, assumed command on arrival, controlling his rival, observing him out of the corner of his eye, with a twisted neck.
His acceleration seemed definitive, but the Dane stuck to his wheel and surpassed him in the last section, he even had time to raise his arms before the helpless gesture of the new phenomenon of world cycling.
Much credit because, in addition, during the race he suffered a fall and had to change bikes.
A victory that broke forecasts and served to polish Asgreen's record, which this year won at the E3 Saxo Bank Classic and in 2020 won the
Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne
and the road and time trial championships in Denmark.
This 26-year-old wheeler is part of that new generation that has exploded in times of pandemic.
Van del Poel went to the Belgian De Ronde with the accounts opened last year, when he prevailed after an electrifying arrival with Wout Van Aert and the accident with Alaphilippe's motorcycle.
New triple challenge on the broken cobblestones of emblematic heights: Paterberg, Oude-Kwaremont or Koppenberg.
Sanctuaries of the spring classics.
This Sunday, on the slopes of the second climb to Oude-Kwaremont, after a 200-kilometer race, VDP launched its attack to stretch the group of the best, including
Iván García Cortina
.
Alaphilippe responded, with
Senechal
,
Pidcock
,
Haller, Teuns
and
Wellens
looking to tickle the trio of favorites.
First the world champion at the top of the Koppenberg, 40 from the finish line, where Cortina was already off the hook.
Van Aert was reserved for the decisive section.
In an unexpected maneuver by del Asgreen, 26 from the finish line, he squeezed and eliminated Alaphilippe, taking Van Aert and VDP with him.
Determined race with only two hills ahead.
In his erosion work, the Dutchman, 17 kilometers before the last pass through Paterberg, accelerated again to defeat Van Aert and remain alone with the Dane, but when he licked his lips with a new victory in Flanders, the figure of the rocky appeared Asgreen.
New idol in his country, who prevailed in an always tremendous career, which began with nerves on the surface.
Shortly after the start, the Belgian
Otto Vergaerde
.
Van der Poel's teammate at the Alpecin, and Kazakh
Yevgeniy Fedorov
(Astana) were sent off for making dangerous movements at the head of the pack to hinder the advance of the runners.
In this edition, García Cortina, backed by
Erviti
,
Lluís Mas
and
Gonzalo Serrano
, was very attentive, with the best in the decisive section.
The Asturian must continue to grow to get closer to the third place achieved by
Juan Antonio Flecha
in 2009, the best result of a Spaniard in the test of the cobblestones, always cursed, always prohibited.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
Know more
Denmark
Cycling Van Aert, Van der Poel and the phenomenon of the miracles that were born from the mud: "It is the perfect combination for a champion to emerge"
CyclingVan der Poel is exhibited in the infernal classic of the 'sterrato'
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See links of interest
2021 business calendar
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Castellón - Real Oviedo
Osasuna - Getafe
Leicester City - Manchester City
2020 Cup final, live: Athletic - Real Sociedad