Tour of Flanders 2019
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Latest News from the Race
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Julian Alaphilippe: I'm motivated for a Tour of Flanders return
Frenchman set for busy 2021, with Tour de France, Olympics, Worlds defence, and contract decision all on the menu -
Belgian Classics to be held without crowds in spring of 2021
'The most important thing is that there is a race' says Tour of Flanders organiser -
Julian Alaphilippe: I don't blame moto rider for Tour of Flanders crash
Frenchman recovering from fractured hand in readiness for new season
Bettiol takes surprise win at 2019 Tour of Flanders
EF Education First's Alberto Bettiol took an unexpected, but thoroughly deserved, victory at the 2019 Tour of Flanders, escaping the lead group on the final climb of the Kwaremont and soloing to the win, while the group of favourites behind him were unable to organise a meaningful chase to reel the Italian back in.
Italy hadn't won the Ronde since Alessandro Ballan took the title in 2007, and most people's money would have been on Mitchelton-Scott's Matteo Trentin as the Italian rider most likely to take victory.
Trentin finished a distant 21st, almost two minutes behind Bettiol, while favourites including Greg Van Avermaet (CCC Team), Alexander Kristoff (UAE Team Emirates) and Bob Jungels (Deceuninck-QuickStep) either marked each other or simply weren't able to chase, and finished in a group 17 seconds down on the winner.
While Bettiol's ride was impressive, cyclo-cross world champion – and Dutch road race champion – Mathieu van der Poel's first-time Flanders ride was hailed for its bravery after the 24-year-old had crashed with 60km to go, seemingly ending his race, only for him to battle his way back up to the front of the race and finish fourth.
Fellow cyclo-cross star and three-time 'cross world champion Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) also rode strongly, but ran out of steam a little at the end, taking 14th place, while fellow first-timers Michael Matthews (Sunweb) and Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) finished sixth and eighth, respectively.
Second-placed Kasper Asgreen (Deceuninck-QuickStep) impressed after working for his team all day, but when Philippe Gilbert and Zdenek Stybar fell out of contention, and Jungels and Yves Lampaert, with Asgreen up in the front group, failed to fire, the young Dane skipped away in the dying couple of kilometres, finishing alone between Bettiol and the rest, who were led home by 2015 Flanders winner Kristoff.
But no one impressed like Bettiol.
"I don't know how I did it," Bettiol said at the finish. "I felt really good on the Kwaremont and [sports director] Andreas Klier, from the car, said, 'If you can, just go,' and so I closed my eyes and went.
"I looked down at the top and had a really good gap. They said, 'Keep pushing, keep pushing.' On the Paterberg I don't think I lost a lot, and then it was the longest 14km of my life."
Top 10
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Alberto Bettiol (Ita) EF Education First | 6:18:49 |
2 | Kasper Asgreen (Den) Deceuninck-QuickStep | 0:00:14 |
3 | Alexander Kristoff (Nor) UAE Team Emirates | 0:00:17 |
4 | Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Corendon-Circus | |
5 | Nils Politt (Ger) Katusha-Alpecin | |
6 | Michael Matthews (Aus) Team Sunweb | |
7 | Oliver Naesen (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale | |
8 | Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Movistar Team | |
9 | Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Lotto Soudal | |
10 | Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) CCC Team |
Stages
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Tour of Flanders 20197 April 2019 | Oudenaarde | WorldTour
Latest Content on the Race

Julian Alaphilippe: I'm motivated for a Tour of Flanders return
By Daniel Ostanek
News Frenchman set for busy 2021, with Tour de France, Olympics, Worlds defence, and contract decision all on the menu

Belgian Classics to be held without crowds in spring of 2021
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Motorbike rider involved in Alaphilippe crash: I feel terrible
By Cyclingnews
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Wout van Aert: Mathieu was just a bit stronger at Tour of Flanders
By Daniel Ostanek
News 'I would have benefited from a longer sprint, but I didn't use it'
Top News on the Race
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Vuelta a España favourites, Van der Poel and Van Aert rivalry and Dumoulin interview – Podcast
We also hear from stage winner Tao Geoghegan Hart and overall leader Joao Almeida at the Giro d'Italia -
Motorbike rider involved in Alaphilippe crash: I feel terrible
Former police officer Eddy Lissens gives his side of story after world champion crashes out of Tour of Flanders -
Wout van Aert: Mathieu was just a bit stronger at Tour of Flanders
'I would have benefited from a longer sprint, but I didn't use it'
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Alexander Kristoff takes unexpected podium at Tour of Flanders
'Luckily for me, but unfortunate for QuickStep and Alaphilippe, there was still a podium spot' -
Alberto Bettiol: I didn’t have the same Tour of Flanders legs as last year
Italian can't match last year's winning ride -
Mathieu van der Poel: Flanders win turns an average season into a super season
'It was incredible to sprint for victory against Van Aert, knowing where we came from'
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Julian Alaphilippe crashes out of Tour of Flanders
World champion suffers a double fracture in his right hand -
How to watch the Classics – Tour of Flanders TV, live stream
Not in a broadcast zone? Never fear, we have your solution here -
Van der Poel: If Van Aert is strongest at Tour of Flanders, he'll be a great winner
Dutchman also names Alaphilippe, Pedersen, Bettiol and Lampaert as riders to watch
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