This Sunday sees one of the best one-day Classics of the cycling season – De Ronde van Vlaanderen. The Tour of Flanders has thrown up many iconic images over its 107 editions, so you can imagine how difficult it is to choose the best photos from the Cor Vos archive of over fifty years.
*** Watch ‘Chris Horner’s Flanders Preview Chat With Pez’ HERE. ***
# Read the ‘2024 PEZ Flanders Race Preview’ HERE. #
The climbs of the Koppenberg and the Muur van Geraardsbergen/Kappelmuur have occasionally been decisive in the Flemish race, but they have always thrown up some excitement, although less now that they are further away from the finish. Here is a selection of photos from the ‘hellingen’ from the 70s, 80s and up to last year.
Modern looking wheels on the roofrack of that Peugeot 404
This way to hell!
A close look at the torture
Chaos on the Koppenberg
Eddy Merckx went solo early in 1977, but was caught and dropped by Roger De Vlaeminck and World champion Freddy Maertens
Herman van Springel was forced to run up the Koppenberg in 1977 – The seven time winner of Bordeaux-Paris never won de Ronde
Two time Flanders winner, Jan Raas, was angry with a photographer on the Koppenberg in 1985 and so he punched him
Ferdi Van Den Haute needed police help when he crashed
Rider, team manager, journalist and TV commentator, the late Paul Sherwen hit the Koppenberg cobbles
Double World pursuit champion Alain Bondue was forced to walk with Hennie Kuiper on the Koppenberg
The rear view of the Koppenberg fallen in 1979
Kuiper again in 1981 with German National champion Gregor Braun
Jasper Skibby crashed on the Koppenberg and was then run over by the race director
Sometimes it’s faster running than riding
The cyclo-cross remount by BMC’s Karsten Kroon
A day out for the 2CV
Etienne De Wilde was a strong and successful rider on the road and track in his 20 year pro career – A winner of Het Volk, but never the Tour of Flanders
Typical Belgian weather on the Geraardsbergen
Luc Colijn and Eric Vanderaerden got a close look at the cobbles of the Muur
Sean Kelly leading Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke – Neither of them won Flanders
Kelly with Eric Vanderaerden – The Belgian won in 1985, Kelly was 2nd three times and once 4th
Peter Van Petegem and Franco Ballerini – Two wins for Van Petegem, none for Ballerini, but the Italian did win in Roubaix twice
Eddy van Hooydonck made his move on the Bosberg – Twice 1989 and 1991
Can’t get lost
It doesn’t have to rain to make a hard day in Flanders.
The power of Peter Sagan was too much in 2016
Philippe Gilbert, the Belgian champ does it in 2017
Another year, another Ronde 2018
Terpstra solo to the finish
All the stars in the chase behind the Dutchman – Vanmarcke, Van Avermaet, and Gilbert
Terpstra’s last big win with Deceuninck – Quick-Step
The Flemish love De Ronde
Van der Poel was keen, but…
Attack from Alberto Bettiol
Bettiol took the big win in 2019
Van der Poel, Van Aert and Alaphilippe away for the win in 2020
NO!
Just when it looked like we would have the top three riders of the moment fight for the victory, Alaphilippe hit the back of a motorbike
And then there were two
Together to the sprint
The Monument win for Van der Poel
Best of enemies on the road
Windmills are not just for Holland
Attack from the World champion
The winning break
Asgreen and Van der Poel making the winning move
The big win for the Danish champion
Behind the podium: Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix), Greg Van Avermaet (AG2R Citroën) and Kasper Asgreen (Deceuninck – Quick-Step)
The real cycling World chamionships – In Flanders
The sky was dark, but the fans wouldn’t miss De Ronde for anything
It can only be Flanders
Benoot was on form in 2022, he looks good for 2024 too
The two main men in 2022 – Pogačar and Van der Poel
Pogačar wasn’t happy with final sprint
Flanders No.2 for Van der Poel in 2022
The 2022 Flanders start in Brugge was popular
UAE Team Emirates were out for the win
Canada’s Hugo Houle made it into the early break
The BIG three – Pogačar, Van der Poel and Van Aert
Wout van Aert was in trouble, but he won’t be there this Sunday
Pogačar starting his bid for the win
Slovenian revenge for that sprint in 2022
# Looking forward to a big battle on Sunday, ‘PEZ 2024 Flanders Preview’ HERE and stay PEZ for the ‘Race Report’ on Sunday. #
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