
Everyone expected Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) to ride away with his third Tour of Flanders title, especially after rival Wout van Aert crashed and broke his collarbone, ribs and sternum in a crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen in the days leading up to the 2024 edition.
Writing your name into the history books as the seventh rider to win De Ronde three times is far from a simple task, however.
The world champion never put a foot wrong in the race, even as the rain fell and attacks flew. The legendary Koppenberg was Van der Poel's launching pad and his fellow competitors struggled, slipped and slid out in his wake as he stormed away on the punishing gradients.
A race that is decided on the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg in the final 20 kilometres was done and dusted before Van der Poel even reached those climbs, and the only surprising moment of the race was Luca Mozatto (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) winning the sprint for second over Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates).
The women's race was a very different story: Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) won her second Tour of Flanders while World Champion Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) crashed in the early part of the race and struggled uncharacteristically after two years of dominating the Tour of Flanders.
The Koppenberg was a mess for the women, too, and even Kopecky had to run as the rain pounded down.
Instead, Lidl-Trek proved to be the strongest team, with Shirin van Anrooij launching a strong solo attack before the Oude Kwaremont with 21km to go and looking as if she would ride away to the win.
On the Paterberg, Van Anrooij's teammate attacked to bridge across, bringing Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) along. Longo Borghini came from behind in the three-rider sprint to snatch the win from the Polish rider.
Images by Zac Williams/SWPix.com unless otherwise noted.

Join Cyclingnews for live coverage of the 2024 Spring Classics, and check in after each race for our full report, results, gallery, news and features.

Mathieu van der Poel looking unbothered by his status of outright favourite at the start

World Champion Lotte Kopecky (left) was also the outright favourite before the start
Jasper Jacobs/Getty Images

The Flanders flag was flown all over the course

The early kilometres were run on wider roads for safety

The peloton enjoyed dry roads in the first half of the race

The early breakaway in the women's Tour of Flanders
Luc Claessen/Getty Images

Oscar Riesebeek represented Alpecin-Deceuninck in the early breakaway

Riders pass one of the picturesque windmills


Rain falls on the women's race
Luc Claessen/Getty Images

Biniam Girmay on the Oude Kwaremont

Mathieu van der Poel in the peloton with a tailwind obvious by the Flanders flags

Mathieu van der Poel comes to the fore on the Oude Kwaremont

Mads Pedersen leads Oier Lazkano

Matteo Jorgenson rides side by side with Mathieu van der Poel

Lucinda Brand rides in the peloton
Jasper Jacobs/Getty Images


Ivan Garcia Cortina (Movistar) on a solo move before the Koppenberg

Poor Ivan Garcia Cortina was off the front on the Koppenberg but had a mechanical and had to run

Mathieu van der Poel attacked on the Koppenberg in the rain to avoided the mayhem
image David Pintens/Getty Images

Behind Van der Poel, it was pure chaos on the Koppenberg

At the other end of the peloton, riders slid out and caused traffic jams

Mikkel Bjerg finds that slipping on the Koppenberg is not how you want to stretch the adductors

Lotte Kopecky (right) runs up the Koppenberg


After the Koppenberg, Van der Poel was on his own

Fans enjoy all the action

Tiesj Benoot (Visma-Lease a Bike) gives his all

Josh Tarling and Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers)

Van der Poel makes light work of the Paterberg

UAE Team Emirates' kits are barely visible under all the filth but the team stacked the top 10 with Politt, Bjerg and Morgado

Van der Poel on his solo attack

Without Wout van Aert after his crash in Dwars door Vlaanderen, Visma-Lease a Bike were at a disadvantage

Mathieu van der Poel on the final climbs before his third Tour of Flanders victory

Alberto Bettiol flies the flag for EF Education-EasyPost

Oliver Naesen (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale)

Antonio Morgado (UAE Team Emirates) experiences the agony of the Tour of Flanders for the first time, finishing fifth

Ecstasy for Mathieu van der Poel

Thrills for Elisa Longo Borghini

Less ecstasy for Stefan Küng who finished 41st

Demi Vollering after finishing eighth

Lotte Kopecky was the top SD Worx-Protime rider in fifth place

Van der Poel gathers himself after a gruelling effort

Shirin Van Anrooij (left) gets a hug from teammate and race winner Elisa Longo Borghini

Precious memories for the podium finishers
