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2026-04-05T11:02:31.350Z
Over a minute has been taken out of the breakaway since starting the Lippenhovestraat. 4’27” between the break and the peloton.
2026-04-05T11:01:37.993Z
There’s a split in the peloton after the Padestraat. Bjerg continued a very high pace and there’s a huge group that has missed this split with Pinarello-Q36.5, Groupama-FDJ United and Movistar leading the chase.
2026-04-05T10:57:07.786Z
160km to go
2026-04-05T10:56:12.495Z
UAE Team Emirates-XRG have complete control of the peloton on these early cobbled sections.
2026-04-05T10:51:08.558Z
Van der Poel, Pogačar, Evenepoel, Van Aert, Pedersen and the other big names all moved to the front of the peloton as they begin the Lippenhovestraat. Bjerg leads the peloton onto the cobbles.
2026-04-05T10:49:06.426Z
The break finishes the Lippenhovestraat and head onto the Padestraat shortly afterwards.
2026-04-05T10:48:41.266Z
UAE Team Emirates-XRG have really powered on the pace led by Bjerg, of course.
2026-04-05T10:46:52.111Z
First cobbled section
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-04-05T10:42:40.975Z
The Kiwi added his thoughts on the day itself:
2026-04-05T10:40:47.741Z
Laurence Pithie talking to James Moultrie before the start today about the inclusion of Evenepoel in the race:
“It is different when you have someone like Remco who can really change a race. His confidence, his motivation, it’s crazy to see the champion mindset like his.
“I think he is super enthusiastic to go full, and we’re also super enthusiastic to help him as much as we can. Arguably, you could say we have one of the strongest lineups just without the superstar. So, now Remco has come in, I think he’s set.”
2026-04-05T10:34:02.969Z
Van Aert back at the car yet again getting rid of his wet weather gear.
2026-04-05T10:32:03.550Z
The gap is stable at 5’13” for the race with the break riding so well at the front ahead of the peloton that is still led by Bjerg.
2026-04-05T10:30:12.305Z
180km to go
2026-04-05T10:26:20.098Z
Two hours done and the average speed is still up to 45kph.
2026-04-05T10:20:44.956Z
The time gap has dropped to just over five minutes. Bjerg is doing well but Oliveira has joined him in the chase.
2026-04-05T10:18:04.981Z
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2026-04-05T10:10:45.101Z
The peloton in one long line as Bjerg continues his pace setting.
2026-04-05T10:07:34.765Z
Fortunately for the riders, the rain has stopped.
2026-04-05T10:07:07.766Z
200km to go
2026-04-05T09:58:59.792Z
Lots of riders stopping to get wet weather gear.
2026-04-05T09:57:40.763Z
Van Aert back at the car to get a rain jacket on.
2026-04-05T09:55:52.074Z
It is raining! The roads are wet and this will add another layer of difficulty.
2026-04-05T09:52:57.982Z
UAE come to the front en masse now and are pushing much harder as the break has 5’08” on the peloton.
2026-04-05T09:52:16.377Z
The peloton has now lost a minute and a half on the break with over five minutes splitting them.
2026-04-05T09:51:40.089Z
Evenepoel is in the group with Pogačar. But the peloton are coming back led by Alpecin-Premier Tech and Visma-Lease a Bike.
2026-04-05T09:50:50.761Z
Race neutralised
The front part of the peloton has been neutralised after the level crossing closed. The UAE riders are not happy but Pogačar seems absolutely fine with it. As all of their riders have made it through. Van der Poel has been caught in the split.
2026-04-05T09:47:45.108Z
The peloton has been split into two due to a level crossing closing!
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-04-05T09:47:02.454Z
Jasper Stuyven (Soudal-QuickStep) is hoping to take his rivals off guard and take a surprise win, just like he did a few years ago at Milan-San Remo.
>>> ‘I’m not going to wait for an attack’ – Jasper Stuyven hopes to put Soudal-QuickStep’s classics campaign back on course at the Tour of Flanders
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-04-05T09:45:46.276Z
The break are riding really well and the gap is up to 3’20” over the peloton.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-04-05T09:43:42.723Z
It is interesting watching teams come and go from the front and you don’t really notice it happen. Ineos Grenadiers have disappeared and now XDS Astana and Picnic-PostNL are the teams up to the front with a rider from Tudor and TotalEnergies just behind Bjerg.
2026-04-05T09:38:08.510Z
220km to go
2026-04-05T09:35:41.517Z
The first abandon of the day comes as a blow for Evenepoel as it is the Austalian leadout man, Jarrad Drizners (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) who had left the race before reaching the first cobbles of the day.
2026-04-05T09:34:47.260Z
Bike change for Martijn Rasenberg (Unibet Rose Rockets).
2026-04-05T09:32:16.482Z
Lamperti back at the car in the break for a new bidon and some gels. Maybe a bit of Easter egg as well?
2026-04-05T09:31:26.482Z
Tadej Pogačar speaking before the start today…
2026-04-05T09:30:13.565Z
Just over an hour done and the average speed is around 46kph. It has been a rapid start.
2026-04-05T09:28:42.338Z
Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) comes back to the front again ahead of a large group of Groupama-FDJ United riders, interestingly. Romain Grégoire performed well at Dwars door Vlaanderen but couldn’t follow the attack of Van Aert on the Nokereberg.
2026-04-05T09:26:35.892Z
De Pooter has finally got his overshoes off and he hands them back to the team car.
2026-04-05T09:25:15.938Z
The gap grows to 2’20” on the peloton. Bjerg looking around and is on the radio as well.
2026-04-05T09:23:34.321Z
Crash
2026-04-05T09:18:45.173Z
Interestingly, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe have a rider in second wheel behind Bjerg. Alpecin-Premier Tech, Lidl-Trek and Tudor also have a presence near the front.
2026-04-05T09:17:20.217Z
The gap is continuing to grow for the 12 man break with a gap of 1’47” between them and the Bjerg led peloton.
2026-04-05T09:14:54.637Z
Van der Poel before the start today…
2026-04-05T09:11:44.223Z
De Pooter at the back of the break attempting to take his overshoes off but the pace is high so it he is having a bit of trouble.
2026-04-05T09:08:12.411Z
It looks like the peloton is gone but Mikkel Bjerg (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) is on the front and still has the peloton rather strung out. However, lots of riders are taking the chance to have a natural break.
2026-04-05T09:05:52.646Z
Dillier isn’t doing any work in the break.
2026-04-05T09:05:39.974Z
The break now have over 40″ on the peloton.
2026-04-05T09:04:45.798Z
Breakaway:
2026-04-05T09:00:08.219Z
A break is forming! About 15 riders involved.
2026-04-05T08:58:38.936Z
Van der Poel joins Van Aert in rejecting favourite status and pushes all the pressure on Pogačar…
>>> ‘He’s one level above all the rest’ – Mathieu van der Poel rejects status as favourite to beat Tadej Pogačar in Tour of Flanders
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-04-05T08:53:22.735Z
Tomáš Kopecký (Unibet Rose Rockets) is the next lone rider to get a gap on the peloton as they ride into Sint-Niklaas. Kopecký is joined by a rider from Bahrain Victorious and Pinarello-Q36.5 but TotalEnergies is leading the string of riders that will bring the peloton back to them yet again.
2026-04-05T08:50:48.036Z
Half an hour in and there is still no break. One Flanders-Baloise rider has a small gap but, yet again, it is swiftly closed down.
2026-04-05T08:49:58.354Z
Van Aert gets back in with Stan Dewulf (Decathlon-CMA CGM) immediately starting up a conversation with him.
2026-04-05T08:48:00.993Z
Van Aert rolling back into the peloton after a natural break and a quick chat at the car.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-04-05T08:46:52.660Z
Evenepoel is making his debut at the race today…
2026-04-05T08:45:05.072Z
260km to go
2026-04-05T08:43:43.579Z
There is a strong headwind which is killing any attacker’s momentum.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-04-05T08:43:17.551Z
It’s wave after wave of attacks but the peloton don’t even seem to be trying and just manage to bring it back every time.
2026-04-05T08:41:35.724Z
The moves continue to come bit they just aren’t getting the gap. Marco Haller (Tudor) involved in this latest move with Jon Barrenetxea (Movistar) and a few others. The Spaniard has been riding really well in this Classics season with a couple of 12th places in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and Dwars door Vlaanderen.
2026-04-05T08:37:07.804Z
Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike) is at the team car with radio issues.
2026-04-05T08:36:31.793Z
Simmons brought back but now Sam Welsford (Ineos Grenadiers) drags three other riders clear including Fredrik Frison (Pinarello-Q36.5) but Albert Torres (Movistar) closes things down again.
2026-04-05T08:33:51.949Z
Colby Simmons (EF Education-EasyPost) launches clear and has a gap. Riders trying to join but the headwind is meaning that attackers just drag the rest of the peloton.
2026-04-05T08:31:40.594Z
Puncture for Fabian Lienhard (Tudor).
2026-04-05T08:30:57.057Z
Hugo de la Calle (Burgos-Burpellet-BH) is the next to try a move but nothing is going for the moment.
2026-04-05T08:28:31.675Z
Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) begins to control the peloton.
2026-04-05T08:28:15.172Z
Attack by Victor Vercouillie (Flanders-Baloise) but nothing is being allowed to go just yet.
2026-04-05T08:23:51.883Z
No break for the moment.
2026-04-05T08:23:05.114Z
Unibet Rose Rockets are the next to launch a move and he gets a gap but he’s dragged back.
2026-04-05T08:20:53.798Z
278.2km to go!
2026-04-05T08:19:39.204Z
The startlist is absolutely stacked! Tadej Pogačar, Mathieu van der Poel, Wout Van Aert, Mads Pedersen and Remco Evenepoel among a long list of super talents.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-04-05T08:05:56.557Z
The riders have started the neutral zone. Rui Oliveira (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) clipped a wheel as they started and hit the barriers. He is back riding.
2026-04-05T08:04:19.874Z
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech) seems very pleased that Evenepoel has decided to debut at the Ronde this year…
>>> ‘Not a disadvantage for me’ – Mathieu van der Poel welcomes addition of Remco Evenepoel to Tour of Flanders but warns against underestimating debutant
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-04-05T08:01:48.853Z
Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) refuses to be included in the discussion when it comes to the biggest names of the sport…
>>> ‘I don’t consider myself in the big four’ – Wout van Aert ‘older and wiser’ but avoids talking himself up for major Tour of Flanders battle
(Image credit: Zac Williams/SWpix.com)
2026-04-05T07:59:10.063Z
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) is, obviously, the big favourite for today. However, he is a bit concerned about the ability of Evenepoel and his unpredictability…
>>> ‘He can attack in the most random places’ – Tadej Pogačar ponders potential tactical headache of Remco Evenepoel at Tour of Flanders
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2026-04-05T07:54:48.185Z
Hello and welcome to Cyclingnews‘ live report of the men’s Tour of Flanders/Ronde Van Vlaanderen 2026!
It was a surprise on April Fool’s Day that the announcement of Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) wasn’t a joke and very definitely is happening! Whether you like how they did the announcement or not, it captured the attention of the cycling world!
>>> ‘I deliberately got rid of my social media for two weeks’ – Remco Evenepoel addresses drama of surprise Tour of Flanders debut and says he wouldn’t be starting if victory wasn’t possible
(Image credit: Getty Images)
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