Defending champion Tadej Pogacar received a record-equalling third Tour of Flanders in imperious style after dropping Mathieu van der Poel 18km from the end.
The 27-year-old has now received each Monument races this season, having triumphed at Milan-San Remo in March.
Sunday’s victory attracts Pogacar stage with Van der Poel and 6 different cyclists on three wins on the Belgian occasion, having additionally received in 2023.
He now has 12 victories in Monuments – the 5 most prestigious one-day occasions in males’s street biking – placing him clear in second within the all-time listing behind solely 19-time winner Eddy Merckx.
“It was a very loopy race at this time. I do not know what to say – tremendous onerous from I do not know which kilometre,” Pogacar advised Belgian tv.
“I do not race an excessive amount of, so after I race there may be stress to win. Thus far every thing went excellent for me, so I may be more than pleased.
“Coming subsequent week to Roubaix, I can go motivated, however I attempt to benefit from the cobbles.”
On his Flanders debut, double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel held off fellow Belgian Wout van Aert for third within the 278km race, which options punchy climbs and numerous cobbled sections.
With 57km left to race Pogacar, Van der Poel and Evenepoel dropped the remainder of the sphere with an acceleration on the second of three ascents up the Oude Kwaremont.
Evenepoel was left behind on the subsequent climb, the Paterberg, and steadily drifted away from the main pair, who’ve received six of the final seven stagings of this occasion.
Pogacar and Van der Poel rode collectively for practically 40km earlier than the previous put in a race-winning push on the ultimate journey up the Oude Kwaremont.
Having crested the climb with a six-second benefit, the Slovenian world champion pulled away to disclaim his Dutch rival a file fourth win within the occasion.
Pogacar has now received all three of his races this season, and if he finishes first in Paris-Roubaix subsequent weekend, he’ll develop into simply the fourth man to win all 5 Monuments after the Belgian trio of Merckx, Rik van Looy and Roger de Vlaeminck.
He completed second on his debut on the occasion final 12 months and can face fierce resistance from Van der Poel, who has received the final three Roubaix contests.
