The second monument of the year is here. One of the most prestigeous and coveted wins for a cobblestone rider, it will surely be hard-fought and all the major contenders are at the start line. Can Summerhill defend his title? Will Bewley add another one to his palmarès? Or will we see a new face atop the podium? Let's find out!
It’s a beautiful day in Brugges, white clouds under a sunny sky, no sign of rain so far - but some decently strong winds at 30 kph.
The riders at the back of the peloton haven’t even started pedalling yet when Budenieks attacks. Rickaert and Robeet follow, some well-rounded riders but no one that would be considered a serious threat.
Still in the streets of the Belgian capital, Arissol, de Kleijn, Waeytens, Meeus and Icelandic Champion Gunnlaugsson try to get away, too.
Three more National Champions are on the way! Novardianto, Atkins and Miltiadis - plus Boutopoulos - make it 12 riders currently ahead of the peloton.
Amaysim, UBS, Tinkoff and Grieg are working at the front of the peloton, they don’t seem happy with so many escapees.
Everyone bar Novardianto made it to the front group, but the peloton does not relent. Waeytens realizes that he needs to thin the herd and attacks again.
Despite not shaking anyone, the attack gives them additional seconds on the peloton and the gap rises over a minute for the first time. Kurianov and Malecki figure this is the last chance to get across and attack from the pack.
They would catch up with the breakaway after a dozen or so kilometers of chasing. Which means we have a group of 13 tackling the first combination of cobble secteurs, the Huisepontenweg (#23) and the Doorn (#22), together. They’re still just 1’20 ahead of the peloton though, 50 kilometers into the race.
The Doorn is the first four star section and immediately, two of the weaker cobblestone riders, de Kleijn and Atkins, are in trouble.
The peloton is still chasing hard - you can see the breakaway in the distance - and that pace even led to a brief split after the Doorn. Per, Gerts and Pedersen are among the riders caught behind.
With de Kleijn and Atkins caught, and maybe spooked by the split, the peloton slows down a bit and the gap to the breakaway rises to more than two minutes. Robeet leads the group over the short but intense Molenberg (#21).
After crossing the rather short Lippenhovestraat (#20), the group passes through the longest section of the day, the 2.6km long Paddestraat (#19). Robeet continues to do a lot of the work, but others soon share and the gap rises to 3’40 with 180 kilometers to go.
The white clouds have turned grey and it has started to rain. Perhaps sensing the possibility of chaos ensueing, Ringheim attacks! It’s a surprising move, given that Grieg have done a good bit of “regular” work for Wisniowski and Pedersen so far, but maybe they weren’t happy with that.
Karatzios attacks with him, a very different situation: He’s the team leader for Festina but probably knows that he has to do something out of the ordinary to have a shot at a great result today.
And he’s not the only one: Another team captain but at best outside favorite in Boros tries to catch up. In the distance, so does Sinkeldam, who in turn has Schreurs in his wheel, mimicking Ringheim’s move for leaders Trentin and Summerhill. They’re currently crossing Sector #16, the Bontestraat.
It takes a while for Sinkeldam and Schreurs to catch up with the other three, but then they form a group of five that is working pretty well. They quickly are within a minute of the original breakaway and 1’50 ahead of the peloton, where Rowe now attacks.
By the time we get to the Bosberg (#15), everyone including Rowe has made it to the front of the race. Waeytens leads them 2’20 ahead of the peloton, where Mapei and King Power have now joined UBS and Tinkoff at the front.
The Kappelmuur is a brutal beast and it claims its first victim up front: Waeytens can no longer keep up. The rain is still pouring, which surely is also taking its toll on the riders.
Moments later, Gunnlaugsson also loses contact. A few guys ahead of him are also in trouble, including Rickaert, Kurianov and Rowe, but they manage to just hang on.
A longer stretch of asphalt roads allowed everyone to catch their breath a little, with Waeytens and Gunnlaugsson even rejoining the breakaway. But starting with the Kerkgate sector (#12), the peloton has picked up the pace again and is stretched thin under the pressure set by Grand and Zubov. The Kattenberg is up next, followed in quick succession by the Holleweg and the Eikenberg.
Karatzios pushes the breakaway up the first slope, the peloton already visible in the background at just 1’30. Schreurs, Malecki and Boros are right there with him.
Gunnlaugsson is distanced and very quickly finds himself back in the peloton, which is starting to fall apart as well: Just 58 riders can currently keep up with the pace now set by Sulimov. Tinkoff is taking the gloves off.
Over the Eikenberg, the breakaway splits: Rickaert, Waeytens, Robeet, Rowe and Meeus are done for the day.
But more importantly: Tinkoff really tries to put their mark on this race early, as Senechal attacks! Still 58 kilometers to go, Pedersen immediately chases. It has stopped to rain for the moment.
While that attack is quickly tracked down, it continues to do damage to the peloton. Van Hooydonck is caught behind a split, but swiftly brought back by his teammates. Only 43 riders remain with the top favorites.
With the pace behind increasing, Malecki goes on the attack at the front! Budenieks tries to follow him as they attempt to stay ahead for as long as possible.
The duo managed to stay in front for a bit, but is ultimately brought back by Karatzios and Sinkeldam. Their lead has jumped back up to 2 minutes, at least.
The Koppenberg (#8) is about to ring in the final stretch of the race, so here’s a closer look at it. A really tough 30 kilometers full of hills and cobbles await the riders until the Oude Kwaremont concludes the hilly part with around 15 kilometers to go. Then, only the Varentstraat starting with 9 kilometers to go stands between the riders and glory - or at least a warm hotel room in Oudenaarde.
The Koppenberg features slopes of up to 15% - combined with the cobbles, that’s too much for Boutopoulos, Miltiadis and Kurianov. 8 riders remain ahead.
Behind them, it’s once again Senechal upping the stakes! Potts is the first in line trying to bring him back, but Pedersen and now Teunissen are right there as well.
Unimpressed by all that, the breakaway continues to trot on. Arissol is the next man down following the Steenbeekdries (#7). The now 7 leaders still have 2 minutes on the favorites, where Senechal is caught again.
That group of favorites is more and more strained now as well. At the foot of the Taaienberg (#6), Theuns, Neilands and Debesay find themselves on the wrong side of a split - can they use the ascent to get back?
The Taaienberg also led to further selection in the breakaway, where the final four are now Karatzios, Ringheim, Sinkeldam and Schreurs. They’re still riding at a decent pace, this could end up looking like a pretty smart move if they don’t implode.
The main group is down to just 24 riders now and Theuns, Neilands and Debesay have indeed managed to just hang on to the back of it. The full list of riders includes:
Wisniowski
Pedersen
Senechal
Kamyshev
Summerhill
Naud
Teunissen
Potts
Kasperkiewicz
Ferreira
Gerts
Benoot
Van Hooydonck
Eeckhout
Bewley
van den Berg
Neilands
Polanc
Spengler
Per
Trentin
Theuns
Debesay
Miltiadis
A group of 8 around Tiller and Salzmann is some 35 seconds behind, that’s going to be tough to make up.
Schreurs is the next one who can’t keep up anymore at the front of the race. Three men, still with 2 minutes on the favorites. 32 kilometers to go.
At the back just a few minutes ago, now on the attack! Debesay accelerates on that same hill and Theuns follows, as does Trentin!
Picking up Malecki along the way, the trio actually managed to get away for a bit, but Potts just has great legs today, he pulls them back in. On the other end of the group, Tiller and Salzmann actually managed to catch up.
Just four cobblestone sectors remaining, the Oude Kruisberg is the first. The leaders continue to ride at a good pace, the attacks behind cut the lead to just 1’45. 26 kilometers left.
More attacks from the main group! Ferreira feels lucky, Theuns and Debesay are once again in on the action. Senechal is also active, and we see Summerhill out of the saddle on the left! Things are starting to get more serious!
These guys get away! At least for now. Summerhill is right there in the mix and Teunissen is trying to catch up, while Senechal and Per are first in the peloton.
Pedersen now accelerates, attempting to catch back up to the attackers. Per and Bewley are with him as more and more riders are dropping off the back, first Naud, then van den Berg, Benoot, Eeckhout, Miltiadis and any other previous breakaway rider.
At the third to last cobblestone sector, the Paterberg, everything seems to be coming back together, as both the original trio and the more recent five attackers are about to be caught. Tiller on the other hand is falling behind, 23 riders now left ahead of him.
Atop the Paterberg, a bit of a shocker: Kamyshev is in deep trouble. After all the work Tinkoff has done, and with the assumption that Senechal’s antics might be in preparation for an attack by the Kazakh, this is certainly a disappointment. Neilands falls behind as well.
Senechal even drops back now, trying to get Kamyshev back up to speed. With 20 riders still ahead, this could be a disaster for Tinkoff!
Speaking of disaster, how else can you describe this?! At the Oude Kwaremont, Summerhill is stopped by a puncture! Could there be a worse possible time? Next to him, Salzmann is also not able to keep up anymore, though for other reasons.
Kamyshev is actually making a little bit of a comeback it seems, trying to recover something. Another big name is going in the opposite direction: It’s not looking great for Spengler.
Former breakaway riders Sinkeldam and Karatzios are also done for the moment, as is Polanc.
But we have to turn our attention to the front now! Kasperkiewicz is putting the hammer down and not many can stay with him. Wisniowski, Theuns and Gerts are right in his wheel, Bewley and Teunissen just barely hanging on, then there’s a gap ahead of Trentin!
The Oude Kwaremont is conquered, it’s flat to the finish now after this short downhill. The main group has shattered into pieces behind the first six: Debesay tries to catch up to Trentin in the distance, then there’s a trio of Per, the incredible Potts, and Van Hooydonck, just ahead of Ferreira.
Ferreira is swept up by a group that includes Kamyshev, Ringheim, Polanc and Summerhill. A potent group, and they’re just 1’25 behind the leaders - not an impossible gap to overcome. Pedersen is another 15 seconds behind them.
Gerts leads the leaders onto the final 1,9 kilometers of cobblestones. Bewley would of course be the favorite in a sprint, whereas Teunissen and Kasperkiewicz really need to do something before then to get a top result.
But to win a sprint, Bewley would first have to arrive at the finish with the others, which he might not! He falls behind!
Just as they exit the final cobblestones with 7 kilometers to go, Gerts attacks! Only Wisniowski and Theuns seem to be able to follow!
Those three enter the final 5 kilometers with 25 seconds on Kasperkiewicz and Teunissen, and looking at those guys’ faces, I don’t think there’s any coming back from that gap.
A quick look behind reveals that we have a group of nine that has formed as the main chasing group. It includes everyone from Trentin to the Summerhill/ Kamyshev group minus Polanc, who is trailing by 30 seconds, with Pedersen another 25 behind. But these guys are also 1’12 behind Bewley, so we would have to see some attacks to close that gap, I think.
No attacks at the front as we head into the final 2 kilometers. Theuns is the fastest sprinter in this group, but Wisniowski and Gerts pack a decent punch, too. Who’s got the most left in the tank?
The sprint begins just as they hit the red kite! Theuns immediately leaves Gerts’ slipstream, Wisniowski remains patient.
Gerts is done, he initiated this attack and will be rewarded with a podium place, but he won’t win this Ronde! Theuns leads, can Wisniowski stop him?
He’s coming closer and has a bit more speed, but there’s a strong tailwind, which could save Theuns!
300 meters, a final push for Wisniowski!
But it’s not enough! Edward Theuns wins the Ronde van Vlaanderen 2021! What a ride! 2nd and 3rd for Wisniowski and Gerts.
Kasperkiewicz still has some energy, he’ll take 4th place. Teunissen can’t even stand on the pedals anymore, but 5th is still a very good result, especially given that hills aren’t typically his forté.
Grandmaster Bewley easily holds off the remaining pack to finish 6th. For the first time sind 2012 (!!), he will not stand on the podium today, but it was a respectable performance nonetheless.
Likely with a decent amount of frustration after his untimely puncture, Summerhill jumps into the lead among the chasers, opening the sprint very early. Per and Debesay are closest in this sprint for 7th place.
It doesn’t look like anyone in this back half of the group still has the energy to counter those guys. Per attacks Summerhill …
… and overtakes him to finish 7th for the second year in a row. Summerhill on 8, then Potts, who will be the first to be approached by the doping test guys today, I’m sure.
Van Hooydonck gets a decent 10th place out of this race. Debesay mistimed his sprint and imploded towards the end, but still finishes 11th. Then it’s Ringheim where we maybe would have expected Pedersen, but the Norwegian played it perfectly with the breakaway today and reaps the rewards - a 12th place. Ferreira very solid in 13th, then Kamyshev, a big disappointment for sure.
Wild Card rider Trentin was unable to make use of his strong sprint skills, he was simply too exhausted. 15th place for him, followed by Polanc and Pedersen – another rider with an underwhelming day – in the distance.
It’s a photo finish for 18th place, which Karatzios wins. While not quite as successful as Ringheim, I assume he’ll be pleased with the decision to go for that long distance attack. Spengler ends up just 19th ahead of Sinkeldam, the third breakaway rider.
Senechal also finishes with this group - 14th and 21st for the Tinkoff duo that certainly had higher hopes today. Paris-Roubaix should hopefully be kinder to the two of them, neither of which is particularly fond of the hills. Salzmann, seen in the background here, is the final rider we’ll accompany to the finish line, as more and more domestiques trickle in over the next minutes.
And so, another exciting edition of De Ronde comes to an end. Edward Theuns is a worthy winner, but also a bit of a surprise one. While certainly counted among the favorites, he did not top the list for either bookmakers or experts. Wisniowski now has back-to-back second places, but he still has a couple of years to get to that top step of the podium.
Many riders will leave disappointed, but the next opportunity is already just around the corner: It's Paris-Roubaix time is around a week!
Ronde van Vlaanderen 
