Cycling: Unsurprisingly, Team Quick-Step Floors won the 2018 Tour of Flanders. Niki Terpstra was able to break away from the group of favorites around 28 kilometers before the finish and catch up with the escapees as a soloist. The Dutchman then left this as well in order to drive towards an unchallenged solo victory. This year he has already won Le Samyn and E3 Harelbeke, in 2014 Paris-Roubaix.
Vanmarcke crashes twice
While Easter eggs were being hunted for in many places around the world in the morning, the professional cyclists began the Tour of Flanders mission on Easter Sunday at 10:30 am. The route from Antwerp to Oudenaarde covered 264,7 kilometers. It took a long time for the first top group to form. Too many riders wanted to take their chance in an early attack. Eventually eleven men managed to get ahead of the race early on, including Ivan Garcia Cortina (Bahrain-Merida) and Tom Devriendt (Wanty-Groupe Gobert). The two were the strongest of all the breakaways in the rain, but were also caught as the last fugitives about halfway through the race. In the peloton, the Quick-Step Floors team in particular ensured a high pace. The Tour of Flanders was also marked by numerous falls in the early hours. Among others, Oliver Naesen (AG2R La Mondiale), Michael Schär (BMC) and Sep Vanmarcke (EF Education) got caught.
Quick-Step Floors takes control with Terpstra
With 40 kilometers to go, Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) put his opponents through a first test. The Olympic champion increased the pace and ensured a strong selection. The winners, however, all stayed on his rear wheel. A top trio formed in front with Sebastian Langeveld (EF Education), Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo) and Dylan Van Baarle (Sky), while behind them the favorites kept attacking. For tactical reasons, however, no agreement was reached. Only after Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe), in the person of Daniel Oss, lost his last helper 28 kilometers before the finish line, did Vincenzo Nibali (Bahrain Merida) and Niki Terpstra (Quick-Step Floors) make the decisive attack. The Dutchman then left the Italian standing, rolled forward as a soloist to the top trio and simply left these three professionals standing. Pedersen tried to close the small gap to Terpstra, but Terpstra was simply too strong.
Sagan leaves the Paterberg - too late
The Paterberg was 13 kilometers before the finish as the last climb on the program. The Paterberg was often decisive for the race and today Peter Sagan tried to take advantage of his last chance. The world champion attacked and was able to break away from the chasing group. He then went in pursuit as a soloist and found himself third in the race behind Pedersen. But the endeavor was hopeless. Sagan let himself be caught up again and from then on it could only be about third place. Niki Terpstra and the Quick-Step Floors team could not take the victory away. Mads Pedersen can look forward to an excellent second place. Third place went to last year's winner Philippe Gilbert - which underlines the dominance of Quick-Step Floors.
🇳🇱@NikiTerpstra of 🇧🇪@quickstepteam wins 🇧🇪@RondeVlaanderen #RVV #RVV18 pic.twitter.com/YfP5BpPCJo
— World Cycling Stats (@wcstats) 1 April 2018