2018 Tour of Flanders - Ronde van Vlaanderen
World Tour
102nd edition: Sunday, April 1, 2018
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Antwerpen - Oudenaarde, 264.7 km from the official start
Niki Terpstra wins De Ronde.
Weather at the finish city of Oudenaarde at 2:00 PM, local time: 7C (45F), cloudy, with the wind from the WNW at 16 km/hr (10 mph). There has been hard rain on the peloton during the early kilometers, but no further rain is forecast.
The 18 climbs:
- At km 121 Oude Kwaremont, 2.2 km long
- Km 132 Kortekeer, 1 km
- Km 137 Edelare, 1.5 km
- Km 142.2 Wolvenberg, 0.64 km
- Km 151 Leberg, 0.95 km
- Km 155 Berendries, 0.94 km
- Km 160 Tenbosse, 0.45 km
- Km 170 Muur-Kapelmuur, 0.74 km
- Km 189 Pottelberg, 1.35 km
- Km 195 Kanarieberg, 1 km
- Km 211 Oude Kwaremont, 2.2 km
- Km 214 Paterberg, 0.36 km
- Km 221 Koppenberg, 0.7 km
- Km 226 Steenbeekdries, 0.7 km
- Km 229 Taaienberg, 0.53 km
- Km 240 Kruisberg, 2.5 km
- Km 250 Oude Kwaremont, 2.2 km
- Km 253 Paterberg, 0.36 km
Pavé sectors:
- At Km 87 Lippenhovestraat, 1.3 km long
- Km 89 Paddestraat, 1.5 km
- Km 142.3 Holleweg, 1.5 km
- Km 148 Haaghoek, 2 km
- Km 225 Mariaborrestraat, 2 km
The race: Here's the report from winner Niki Terpstra's Quick-Step team.
Niki Terpstra continued the team's dominance in the Belgian one-day races of this season, adding a 16th Monument victory to the astonishing palmares of the squad, just two days after Quick-Step celebrated 20 amazing years in cycling. Victorious this season in Le Samyn and E3 Harelbeke, each time after going solo in the final part of the race, Niki repeated that scenario at the Ronde van Vlaanderen, where he took his second career Monument, following the emphatic Paris-Roubaix triumph of 2014.
"It's incredible! Winning De Ronde and Paris-Roubaix was a dream I had since I was a kid and watched these two races on television. That's when I fell in love with them and now, having won both, it gives me huge joy. I can't tell you how happy I am! To be victorious in these races you need very good legs, but also luck. Today, everything went perfect for me", a happy Terpstra said after netting Quick-Step Floors' 21st victory of the season.
Quick-Step Floors rode a perfect and intelligent race on Sunday right from the outset, sending the hard-working Tim Declercq, Iljo Keisse and Florian Sénéchal at the front of the peloton minutes after leaving Antwerp behind, and the three policed every move and reeled in all the attackers, allowing eleven men to go clear only after 70 kilometers. Even after things calmed down, the same fantastic trio continued to set the pace and made sure the gap didn't go north of five minutes before the first hill of the day, the 2200m-long Oude Kwaremont.
The race's opening ceremonies in Antwerp
Despite a series of accelerations on the iconic Muur-Kapelmuur and Koppenberg, the race didn't break and the favourites stayed together. Quick-Step Floors had the numbers in the group, with Philippe Gilbert, Yves Lampaert, Zdenek Stybar and Niki Terpstra. Stybar, one of the most consistent riders of this spring campaign, with three consecutive top-10 placings, was the one to counter an attack of Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) on the Taaienberg, before trying a move of his own after cresting the Kruisberg.
Soon after they got caught, Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain-Merida) powered ahead and was joined by Niki Terpstra, who then took the front and dropped the Milano-Sanremo winner as the Oude Kwaremont was looming on the horizon for the third time. At the moment of his attack, the Dutchman was 40 seconds behind a leading trio, but using his time trial skills he reduced the gap by the time he hit the bottom of the climb, while behind his teammates disrupted the rhythm of the chasers.
A two-time podium finisher at Ronde van Vlaanderen (2015 and 2017), Terpstra rode flawlessly on the long Oude Kwaremont, a hill which is a regular feature on the race since 1974, making contact with three riders in the front and dispatching them before putting some distance by the top of the berg and continuing his solo action. Not even the Paterberg, with its grueling cobbles and slopes, could stop Niki, who tenaciously extended his lead before going into time trial mode for the 12km-run in to Oudenaarde.
Crouched over his bars and without looking behind, the 33-year-old Quick-Step Floors rider sat up to relax only inside the final 100 meters of the race, when overwhelmed by emotion and happiness, he crossed the line arms aloft for a win that cements his status as one of the best Classics riders of the current peloton.
Defending champion Philippe Gilbert claimed third place, behind runner-up Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo), following a canny attack with one kilometer to go. For Philippe, who played an important role once again, this was the tenth top-3 finish of his career in a Monument.
"We showed again that amazing team spirit, we showed that we are there for our teammates, ready to give everything so that the win lands in the team. The entire squad knew what they had to do and made a perfect race. The strongest rider won today and I'm happy for Niki, he rode a strong and smart race. Last year, I won and he came third, this time around, we arrived at the finish in reverse order. We are enjoying a fantastic run of success and hopefully we won't stop here", said Philippe, who one week from now will be at the start of Paris-Roubaix.
After soloing to glory following his daring all-in attack with 26 kilometers to go and putting in another storming performance, Niki – only the third Dutch rider in history to win both the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Paris-Roubaix and the first since 1986 to score the victory in Flanders – took us through the final hour of racing and showed his praise for his teammates.
"When I attacked and set in pursuit of the leaders it wasn't easy due to the wind, but I kept riding hard. Then, when I saw the three, I knew I could catch them, so I kept pushing. In a race like this, you need to make the right attack, and that's what I did. It's a great year for me, but it wouldn't have been possible without the team. The guys were extraordinary, they displayed once again their immense quality and I will repay them for their work and effort, be it in Paris-Roubaix or another race. Being part of such a great team means a lot and makes me very proud!"
Placing three riders in the top 10 – Niki Terpstra, Philippe Gilbert and Zdenek Stybar – at Ronde van Vlaanderen, a race which our team has won for the seventh time, helped Quick-Step Floors extend its lead in the World Tour standings to nearly 1500 points.
Complete results:
264.7 kilometers raced at an average speed of 41.640 km/hr
1 | TERPSTRA Niki | Quick-Step Floors | 6hr 21min 25sec |
2 | PEDERSEN Mads | Trek-Segafredo | @ 12sec |
3 | GILBERT Philippe | Quick-Step Floors | 0:17 |
4 | VALGREN Michael | Astana | 0:20 |
5 | VAN AVERMAET Greg | BMC | 0:25 |
6 | SAGAN Peter | Bora-hansgrohe | s.t. |
7 | STUYVEN Jasper | Trek-Segafredo | s.t. |
8 | BENOOT Tiesj | Lotto-Soudal | s.t. |
9 | VAN AERT Wout | Veranda's Willems-Crelan | s.t. |
10 | STYBAR Zdenek | Quick-Step Floors | s.t. |
11 | NAESEN Oliver | Ag2r La Mondiale | s.t. |
12 | VAN BAARLE Dylan | Sky | s.t. |
13 | VANMARCKE Sep | EF Education First-Drapac | s.t. |
14 | ROOSEN Timo | LottoNL-Jumbo | @ 1min 9sec |
15 | DÉMARE Arnaud | Groupama-FDJ | 1:13 |
16 | KRISTOFF Alexander | UAE-Team Emirates | s.t. |
17 | POLITT Nils | Katusha-Alpecin | s.t. |
18 | TEUNISSEN Mike | Team Sunweb | s.t. |
19 | BOASSON HAGEN Edvald | Dimension Data | s.t. |
20 | CORT NIELSEN Magnus | Astana | s.t. |
21 | MOSCON Gianni | Sky | s.t. |
22 | LANGEVELD Sebastian | EF Education First-Drapac | 1:15 |
23 | COLBRELLI Sonny | Bahrain-Merida | s.t. |
24 | NIBALI Vincenzo | Bahrain-Merida | 1:18 |
25 | HAUSSLER Heinrich | Bahrain-Merida | 1:24 |
26 | OSS Daniel | Bora-hansgrohe | 3:16 |
27 | ROELANDTS Jurgen | BMC | s.t. |
28 | KWIATKOWSKI Michal | Sky | s.t. |
29 | LAMPAERT Yves | Quick-Step Floors | s.t. |
30 | DEVRIENDT Tom | Wanty-Groupe Gobert | 3:40 |
31 | DRUCKER Jean-Pierre | BMC | s.t. |
32 | DEGENKOLB John | Trek-Segafredo | s.t. |
33 | KUZNETSOV Viacheslav | Katusha-Alpecin | s.t. |
34 | DE VREESE Laurens | Astana | s.t. |
35 | TURGIS Jimmy | Cofidis | s.t. |
36 | VANDENBERGH Stijn | Ag2r La Mondiale | s.t. |
37 | GARCIA CORTINA Ivan | Bahrain-Merida | s.t. |
38 | BACKAERT Frederik | Wanty-Groupe Gobert | s.t. |
39 | RAST Gregory | Trek-Segafredo | s.t. |
40 | BYSTRØM Sven Erik | UAE-Team Emirates | s.t. |
41 | VERMOTE Julien | Dimension Data | s.t. |
42 | DE KORT Koen | Trek-Segafredo | s.t. |
43 | JANSEN Amund Grondahl | LottoNL-Jumbo | 3:44 |
44 | SÉNÉCHAL Florian | Quick-Step Floors | 3:47 |
45 | TRENTIN Matteo | Mitchelton-Scott | 4:10 |
46 | KOREN Kristijan | Bahrain-Merida | s.t. |
47 | ALLEGAERT Piet | Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise | s.t. |
48 | CIMOLAI Davide | Groupama-FDJ | s.t. |
49 | MARCATO Marco | UAE-Team Emirates | s.t. |
50 | MODOLO Sacha | EF Education First-Drapac | s.t. |
51 | BURGHARDT Marcus | Bora-hansgrohe | s.t. |
52 | GATTO Oscar | Astana | s.t. |
53 | ANDERSEN Søren Kragh | Team Sunweb | 5:49 |
54 | WYNANTS Maarten | LottoNL-Jumbo | 7:34 |
55 | KÜNG Stefan | BMC | s.t. |
56 | VAN EMDEN Jos | LottoNL-Jumbo | 8:18 |
57 | DE BUYST Jasper | Lotto-Soudal | s.t. |
58 | SIEBERG Marcel | Lotto-Soudal | s.t. |
59 | HOULE Hugo | Astana | s.t. |
60 | ERVITI Imanol | Movistar Team | s.t. |
61 | DEBUSSCHERE Jens | Lotto-Soudal | s.t. |
62 | OLIVEIRA Nelson | Movistar Team | s.t. |
63 | MARTIN Tony | Katusha-Alpecin | s.t. |
64 | DURBRIDGE Luke | Mitchelton-Scott | s.t. |
65 | BARBERO Carlos | Movistar Team | 9:14 |
66 | DUVAL Julien | Ag2r La Mondiale | s.t. |
67 | DENZ Nico | Ag2r La Mondiale | s.t. |
68 | SMITH Dion | Wanty-Groupe Gobert | s.t. |
69 | KIRSCH Alex | WB-Aqua Protect-Veranclassic | s.t. |
70 | DUIJN Huub | Veranda's Willems-Crelan | s.t. |
71 | MÜLLER Patrick | Vital Concept Cycling Club | s.t. |
72 | LIGTHART Pim | Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij | s.t. |
73 | GOLAS Michal | Sky | s.t. |
74 | BAK Lars Ytting | Lotto-Soudal | s.t. |
75 | SPENGLER Lukas | WB-Aqua Protect-Veranclassic | s.t. |
76 | KEISSE Iljo | Quick-Step Floors | s.t. |
77 | HOFSTEDE Lennard | Team Sunweb | s.t. |
78 | LE GAC Olivier | Groupama-FDJ | s.t. |
79 | KONOVALOVAS Ignatas | Groupama-FDJ | s.t. |
80 | SCULLY Thomas | EF Education First-Drapac | s.t. |
81 | TROIA Oliviero | UAE-Team Emirates | s.t. |
82 | WALLAYS Jelle | Lotto-Soudal | s.t. |
83 | HAYMAN Mathew | Mitchelton-Scott | s.t. |
84 | MEZGEC Luka | Mitchelton-Scott | s.t. |
85 | PIBERNIK Luka | Bahrain-Merida | s.t. |
86 | VAN LERBERGHE Bert | Cofidis | s.t. |
87 | DE BIE Sean | Veranda's Willems-Crelan | 13:12 |
88 | CAPIOT Amaury | Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise | s.t. |
89 | PFINGSTEN Christoph | Bora-hansgrohe | 14:31 |
90 | PEYSKENS Dimitri | WB-Aqua Protect-Veranclassic | s.t. |
91 | DECLERCQ Benjamin | Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise | s.t. |
92 | SAGAN Juraj | Bora-hansgrohe | s.t. |
93 | MULLEN Ryan | Trek-Segafredo | s.t. |
94 | VAN SCHIP Jan-Willem | Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij | s.t. |
95 | VENTER Jaco | Dimension Data | s.t. |
96 | DOUGALL Nick | Dimension Data | s.t. |
97 | SINKELDAM Ramon | Groupama-FDJ | s.t. |
98 | BRESCHEL Matti | EF Education First-Drapac | s.t. |
99 | EDMONDSON Alexander | Mitchelton-Scott | s.t. |
100 | PHINNEY Taylor | EF Education First-Drapac | s.t. |
101 | PLANCKAERT Baptiste | Katusha-Alpecin | s.t. |
102 | JULES Justin | WB-Aqua Protect-Veranclassic | s.t. |
103 | LEMOINE Cyril | Cofidis | s.t. |
104 | STEELS Stijn | Veranda's Willems-Crelan | s.t. |
2018 Tour of Flanders map and profile:
2018 Tour of Flanders map
2018 Tour of Flanders profile
2018 Tour of Flanders photos by Fotoreporter Sirotti:
Peter Sagan at the opening ceremony
A bundled-up Team Cofidis is presented before the race start.
Fans wait on the Grammont/Kapelmuur ascent.
Wet cobbles waited for the riders on the Grammont/Kapelmuur
Pim Ligthart on the Grammont/Kapelmuur
Niki Terpstra is alone and away on the day's final climb, the .36km Paterberg.
Terpstra is near the top of the Paterberg and is still well clear.
Peter Sagan pounds up the Paterberg.
Terstra gets a solo win at De Ronde.
Mads Pedersen finishes second.
Philippe Gilbert is third.
Greg van Avermaet wins the sprint for fifth.
Niki Terpstra looking a bit worse for the wear right after the race.
The 2018 Ronde van Vlaanderen podium, from left: Mads Pedersen (2nd), Niki Terpstra & Philippe Gilbert (3rd).
Winner Niki Terpstra
Start list with back numbers, March 31, 2018:
QUICK-STEP FLOORS | |
DS: Wilfried Peeters | |
1 | GILBERT Philippe |
2 | LAMPAERT Yves |
3 | KEISSE Iljo |
4 | STYBAR Zdenek |
5 | SENECHAL Florian |
6 | DECLERCQ Tim |
7 | TERPSTRA Niki |
BORA-HANSGROHE | |
DS: Enrico Poitschke | |
11 | SAGAN Peter |
12 | BURGHARDT Marcus |
13 | OSS Daniel |
14 | BODNAR Maciej |
15 | SAGAN Juraj |
16 | PFINGSTEN Christoph |
17 | SCHILLINGER Andreas |
AG2R LA MONDIALE | |
DS: Julien Jurdie | |
21 | NAESEN Oliver |
22 | VANDENBERGH Stijn |
23 | BAGDONAS Gediminas |
24 | BARBIER Rudy |
25 | DENZ Nico |
26 | DUVAL Julien |
27 | GALLOPIN Tony |
BMC | |
DS: Fabio Baldato | |
31 | VAN AVERMAET Greg |
32 | BETTIOL Alberto |
33 | DRUCKER Jean Pierre |
34 | KÜNG Stefan |
35 | ROELANDTS Jurgen |
36 | SCHÄR Michael |
37 | VENTOSO Francisco |
LOTTO-SOUDAL | |
DS: Herman Frison | |
41 | BENOOT Tiesj |
42 | FRISON Frederik |
43 | BAK Lars Ytting |
44 | DEBUSSCHERE Jens |
45 | DE BUYST Jasper |
46 | SIEBERG Marcel |
47 | WALLAYS Jelle |
EF EDUCATION FIRST-DRAPAC | |
DS: Andreas Klier | |
51 | VANMARCKE Sep |
52 | BRESCHEL Matti |
53 | LANGEVELD Sebastian |
54 | MODOLO Sacha |
55 | PHINNEY Taylor |
56 | SCULLY Thomas |
57 | DOCKER Mitchell |
TEAM SUNWEB | |
DS: Marc Reef | |
61 | THEUNS Edward |
62 | KRAGH ANDERSEN Søren |
63 | ARNDT Nikias |
64 | CURVERS Roy |
65 | HOFSTEDE Lennard |
66 | STAMSNIJDER Tom |
67 | TEUNISSEN Mike |
ASTANA | |
DS: Lars Michaelsen | |
71 | DE VREESE Laurens |
72 | GATTO Oscar |
73 | HOULE Hugo |
74 | KORSAETH Truls Engen |
75 | LUTSENKO Alexey |
76 | CORT NIELSEN Magnus |
77 | VALGREN ANDERSEN Michael |
BAHRAIN-MERIDA | |
DS: Tristan Hoffman | |
81 | NIBALI Vincenzo |
82 | BOZIC Borut |
83 | COLBRELLI Sonny |
84 | GARCIA CORTINA Ivan |
85 | HAUSSLER Heinrich |
86 | KOREN Kristjan |
87 | PIBERNIK Luka |
GROUPAMA-FDJ | |
DS: Frederic Guesdon | |
91 | DEMARE Arnaud |
92 | CIMOLAI Davide |
93 | DUCHESNE Antoine |
94 | GUARNIERI Jacopo |
95 | KONOVALOVAS Ignatas |
96 | LE GAC Olivier |
97 | SINKELDAM Ramon |
MITCHELTON-SCOTT | |
DS: Matthew Wilson | |
101 | HAYMAN Mathew |
102 | BAUER Jack |
103 | DURBRIDGE Luke |
104 | EDMONDSON Alexander |
105 | HEPBURN Michael |
106 | MEZGEC Luka |
107 | TRENTIN Matteo |
MOVISTAR | |
DS: José Garcia Acosta | |
111 | ARCAS Jorge |
112 | BARBERO Carlos |
113 | CARRETERO Hector |
114 | ERVITI Imanol |
115 | BICO Nuno Miguel |
116 | OLIVEIRA Nelson |
117 | SÜTTERLIN Jasha |
DIMENSION DATA | |
DS: Jean-Pierre Heynderickx | |
121 | VERMOTE Julien |
122 | BOASSON HAGEN Edvald |
123 | DOUGALL Nick |
124 | VAN ZYL Johann |
125 | GIBBONS Ryan |
126 | THOMSON Jay Robert |
127 | VENTER Jacobus |
KATUSHA-ALPECIN | |
DS: Torsten Schmidt | |
131 | MARTIN Tony |
132 | KUZNETSOV Vyacheslav |
133 | GONCALVES Jose |
134 | HALLER Marco |
135 | PLANCKAERT Baptiste |
136 | POLITT Nils |
137 | ZABEL Rick |
LOTTO NL-JUMBO | |
DS: Nico Verhoeven | |
141 | JANSEN Amund Grøndahl |
142 | EENKHOORN Pascal |
143 | ROOSEN Timo |
144 | TANKINK Bram |
145 | VAN EMDEN Jos |
146 | WAGNER Robert |
147 | WYNANTS Maarten |
SKY | |
DS: Servais Knaven | |
151 | KWIATKOWSKI Michal |
152 | GOLAS Michal |
153 | KNEES Christian |
154 | MOSCON Gianni |
155 | ROWE Luke |
156 | STANNARD Ian |
157 | VAN BAARLE Dylan |
TREK-SEGAFREDO | |
DS: Dirk Demol | |
161 | STUYVEN Jasper |
162 | DEGENKOLB John |
163 | DE KORT Koen |
164 | MULLEN Ryan |
165 | PEDERSEN Mads |
166 | RAST Grégory |
167 | REIJNEN Kiel |
UAE-TEAM EMIRATES | |
DS: Mario Scirea | |
171 | KRISTOFF Alexander |
172 | BYSTROM Sven Erik |
173 | CONSONNI Simone |
174 | GANNA Filippo |
175 | MARCATO Marco |
176 | SWIFT Ben |
177 | TROIA Oliviero |
SPORT VLAANDEREN-BALOISE | |
DS: Walter Planckaert | |
181 | VAN HECKE Preben |
182 | ALLEGAERT Piet |
183 | CAPIOT Amaury |
184 | DE GENDT Aimé |
185 | DECLERCQ Benjamin |
186 | PLANCKAERT Edward |
187 | RICKAERT Jonas |
VERANDA'S WILLEMS-CRELAN | |
DS: Michiel Elijzen | |
191 | VAN AERT Wout |
192 | DE BIE Sean |
193 | STEELS Stijn |
194 | WAEYTENS Zico |
195 | DEVOLDER Stijn |
196 | DUYN Huub |
197 | GOOLAERTS Michael |
WANTY-GROUPE GOBERT | |
DS: Hilaire Van der Schueren | |
201 | BACKAERT Frederik |
202 | DEVRIENDT Tom |
203 | OFFREDO Yoann |
204 | PASQUALON Andrea |
205 | SMITH Dion |
206 | VAN KEIRSBULCK Guillaume |
207 | MCNALLY Mark |
WB-AQUA PROTECT-VERANCLASSIC | |
DS: Thierry Marichal | |
211 | DEHAES Kenny |
212 | JULES Justin |
213 | MORTIER Julien |
214 | KIRSCH Alex |
215 | PEYSKENS Dimitri |
216 | SPENGLER Lukas |
217 | VANTOMME Maxime |
ROOMPOT-NEDERLANDSE LOTERIJ | |
DS: Erik Breukink | |
221 | WEENING Pieter |
222 | GERTS Floris |
223 | LIGTHART Pim |
224 | VERMELTFOORT Coen |
225 | VAN GINNEKEN Sjoerd |
226 | VAN GOETHEM Brian |
227 | VAN SCHIP Jan Willem |
VITAL CONCEPT | |
DS: Jimmy Engoulvent | |
231 | COQUARD Bryan |
232 | DE BACKER Bert |
233 | LE BON Johan |
234 | LECROQ Jérémy |
235 | MORICE Julien |
236 | MÜLLER Patrick |
237 | VAN GENECHTEN Jonas |
COFIDIS | |
DS: Alain Deloeuil | |
241 | LAPORTE Christophe |
242 | SOUPE Geoffrey |
243 | TURGIS Jimmy |
244 | LEMOINE Cyril |
245 | VAN STAEYEN Michael |
246 | VAN LERBERGHE Bert |
247 | VANBILSEN Kenneth |