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As it happened: A mixed day for Visma-Lease a Bike at Dwars door Vlaanderen

By Tim Bonville-Ginn
last updated

Matteo Jorgenson solos to victory as Wout van Aert crashes out

Route information for the 2024 Dwars door Vlaanderen

(Image credit: Flanders Classics)

Dwars door Vlaanderen 2024 - Overview

Dwars door Vlaanderen route summary

How to watch the 2024 Dwars door Vlaanderen

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Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of 2024 Dwars door Vlaanderen!

With no world champion Mathieu van der Poel, his Alpecin-Deceuninck team are going to have to look elsewhere for a leader. Who better than Milan-Sanremo winner, Jasper Philipsen. He leads the charge for the Belgian squad. 

The race takes on eight cobbled sections with 12 climbs also on the menu. Of course, some of those cobbles come on the climbs. It should be a brilliant race. 

Wout Van Aert being at this race sees a change to his usual Classics build-up to the Tour of Flanders. 

There is only one former winner at the race this year. That being the two time winner, Yves Lampaert of Soudal-Quickstep. 

Eritrean talent, Biniam Girmay of Intermarche-Wanty, is also on the start line today as he looks to build on his improving form in what is a changed look to his Classics campaign. 

The riders have started the neutral zone and will be starting the race in around 10 minutes time. 

Last year saw the emergence of a brilliant Classics rider at this very race. This year the Spanish road race champion, Oier Lazkano or Movistar has shown to be up there with the very best. He started the day in a very good mood as he was given a giant bottle of Kwaremont beer at sign-on... Very jealous.

188.6km to go

No attackers getting away as of yet as the race gets off to a tentative start. 

180km to go

Over 10km done and the break has not formed. More attacks come now though.

The peloton aren't letting an moves go just yet. The big teams won't be wanting to let a strong group clear. But, the longer the races goes the stronger the riders in the break will be. 

170km to go

Interestingly, Jakob Fuglsang of Israel-Premier Tech last raced Dwars door Vlaanderen back in 2006.

Belgian sprinter Milan Fretin of Cofidis has been announced as today's first abandon. 

One DNS was Arkea-B&B Hotels leader, Arnaud Demare. He has been diagnosed with heavy fatigue and will sit out the rest of the Classics because of it. 

160km to go

The weather is cool today with an overcast sky. The riders are well wrapped up, though. 

150km to go

One hour of racing and no break. 45km ridden and they are just over 5km from the first climb of the day. 

140km to go

Nine riders have a small gap on the peloton. Will this finally be the forming of the break? 

Onto the first cobbles of the day, the Varent. The group still has a very small gap on the peloton. 

130km to go

The first cobbles of the day have come and gone as they head to the next lot on the cobbled climb of the Volkegemberg.

120km to go

Crash!

Don't forget, it isn't just the men riding Dwars door Vlaanderen today. The women's race is underway as well and, of course, we have live updates on the race. You can find it by clicking the link below...

100km to go

A new abandon:

The Knokteberg is up next. We're on the loops around the hills and cobbles now. The peloton going flat out as they battle for positioning with Lidl-Trek eventually coming out on top with Theuns leading the way. 94km to go, +2'05" up to the break.

90km to go

Small touch of wheels at the back of the peloton sees a few have to unclip. Over the top there's a few mechanicals as Groupama-FDJ hit the front and try to split the race for their leader, Laurence Pithie. 

Groupama-FDJ hit the front but then we get shown a clip that Pithie has had a mechanical. 

Finally, Groupama-FDJ sit up as the message that Pithie is out of the back comes through. 

Niklas Märkl (DFP) in the break has a rear wheel puncture. He should be able to get back in, though. They're currently on the cobbled sector of the Marieborestraat. 

Lidl-Trek are absolutely hammering it on the flat between the climbs and on the flatter cobbled sections and then blocking the road on the climbs. 

80km to go

Laurence Piithie (GFC) has ridden himself solo to the back of the peloton. Very impressive riding, but how man matches has he burnt?

Ineos Grenadiers take to the front of the peloton now, interestingly. They're looking after Ben Turner. 

Niklas Märkl (DFP) have been caught from the break b the peloton. +1'56" up to the remaining break with 75km to go. 

Visma-Lease-a-Bike take over the front of the peloton to take them onto the Berg Ten Houte. Lidl-Trek getting boxed out by the Dutch team along with Groupama-FDJ and Ineos Grenadiers. 

Attack!

70km to go

The only former winner in this race today, Yves Lampaert (SOQ), has been dropped. 

Attack!

Alexander Kristoff (UXM caught out in the group just off the back of the peloton. 

Crash!

Massive crash!

Attack in peloton:

60km to go

Josh Tarling (IGD), who is clearly on a good day, is bridging across to the Jorgenson (TVL) group.

Race situation...

Back onto the Knokteberg and Grondin (ARK) is dropped by the Jorgenson (TVL) group. As is Vercouillie (TFB). 

50km to go

The Hotond is next as Madouas (GFC) has picked up Vercouillie (TFB) and he is getting some turns from the young Belgian. 

Madouas (GFC) caught by the Philipsen (ADC) and Politt (UAD) led peloton. 

Onto the Mariaborestraat and Abrahamsen (UXM) attacks the break and De Bondt (DAT) goes after him. 

40km to go

Abrahamsen (UXM) and De Bondt (DAT) dragged back again by the rest of the break. 

Tarling (IGD) losing touch on the Ladeuze. Obviously losing the snap in the legs after having to put a lot of work in to bridge in the first case. 

Attack in peloton!

Leaders:

Josh Tarling (IGD) makes it to the front of the race for the first time. 

The riders from the break are still keen to work with the riders who have bridge up to them. Very strong group here. They have +1'30" on the peloton who have swallowed up Matthews (JAY) and Milan (LTK) again. 

A list of 12 riders are down as DNFs today, so far. 

30km to go

Pedersen (SOQ), Eenkhoorn (LTD), De Pooter (IWA) and Gachignard (TEN) now losing touch from the lead group. They're now on the Hulsepontweg+Wannegemdorp sections of cobbles. 

Tarling (IGD), Valgren (EFE) and Benoot (TVL) also lose touch. 

Benoot (TVL) makes it back. As does Tarling (IGD) who is using a gigantic gear.

Leaders:

Up next is a cobbled climb you may have heard of... The Nokereberg. Famed, of course, as being the finish of the Nokere Koerse. 

Attack!

Incredibly, Jonas Abrahamsen (UXM) easily follows Jorgenson (TVL) and Kung (GFC) as De Bondt (DAT) is also joining. Bettiol (EFE) caught. 

Up next is the Herlegemstraat. Tarling (IGD) is closing in on the leaders. 

Cramp! Alberto Bettiol (EFE) has cramp! He's dropped. That is shocking. He is out of it. 

20km to go

Attack!

The race will be decided by these six leaders.

The final climb is the Nokere. Not the Nokereberg, but a road that runs parallel. It isn't steep at all but it has been decisive in previous additions.  

10km to go

Attack!

Benoot (TVL) drops Tarling (IGD) who has been caught and distanced by the Kung chasers too. But they all come back together again over the top. 9km to go. 

Attack!

Jorgenson (TVL) now hits the pace button on the front with Tarling (IGD) still hasn't made the gap. 

Attack

Attack!

5km to go

Kung (GFC) uses the motorway bridge to attack but Benoot (TVL) is glued to every move. +18" gap for Jorgenson (TVL) now. 4km to go. 

Attack 

Attack

2km to go for Jorgenson (TVL).

Flamme rouge

500 metres to go for Jorgenson (TVL).

Matteo Jorgenson wins Dwars door Vlaanderen 2024 for Visma-Lease-a-Bike.

Jonas Abrahamsen was caught by the trio chasing and still managed to sprint to second place. Amazing ride by the Uno-X Mobility rider. 

Top 10:

The moment the race was won by Matteo Jorgenson of Team Visma-Lease-a-Bike...

Don't forget, the women's race is ongoing right now so click the link below to follow live updates...

That brings our live coverage to an end. We will be back for both the men's and women's Tour of Flanders this Sunday... See you then. Have a lovely rest of your week. 

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