Women’s Tour of Flanders: Dani Christmas on ‘incredibly special’ race – ‘It’s gonna go absolutely bonkers’

Eurosport expert Dani Christmas believes the women’s Tour of Flanders is going to be “absolutely bonkers” in a race she describes as “incredibly special”.

Lotte Kopecky will defend her title from last year as SD Worx bring a very strong team, including Lorena Wiebes, Demi Vollering and Marlen Reusser, to one of the biggest one-day races on the calendar.

In 2022, Kopecky beat Annemiek van Vleuten in a head-to-head sprint in the final hundred metres.

“One thing is for sure, it’s gonna go absolutely bonkers.” said Christmas on the Eurosport GCN Cycling Show.

“The women have a 20-year history in this race which makes it incredibly special. An illustrious list of winners that every rider wants to add their name to. For that reason, the teams always bring their A-squad ready to do battle over the cobbles and climbs of Flanders.”

“SD WORX played a blinder last year delivering Lotte Kopecky to the finish wearing that Belgian tricolored jersey. But they are certainly gonna have a really stiff competition this year.”

The men’s race is set to feature a big battle between Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Tadej Pogacar, following their duel at Milano-San Remo earlier this month.

Tom Pidcock has recovered from his concussion and could also be in the fight towards the end of the race.

Paris-Roubaix takes place a week later on April 9, where every rider would dream to do the double by winning that race, along with the Tour of Flanders.

It has been 10 years since a male rider achieved that feat, which was Fabian Cancellara, who has done it twice.

Former rider and Eurosport expert Steve Chainel has broken down the challengers of Paris-Roubaix.

“The first part of the race between Compiegne and Troisville, normally it is a part where the breakaway should be formed,” explained Chainel.

“Normally this first part is not a problem, it’s just a part to tire the body a bit. But the race is won on the cobbled sectors. But for some years now, this first part is very important and you have to avoid being trapped.

“The Trouee d’Arenberg, obviously it is a very strategic place, maybe the second start of Paris-Roubaix. Arenberg is where a lot of riders lose the race and the teammates have to do their best to put the leaders in a good position.

“You have to be very concentrated. You arrive very quickly in the sector, you have to get your brain off and not think about the many riders who have been injured in this place.

“The sector of Camphin en Pevele, followed by the Carrefour de l’arbre. Of course, this is the place where everybody waits to attack in order to arrive alone or in a small group on the Velodrome. It’s a complicated passage, because everybody is exhausted, but it’s the ideal moment to accelerate and try to get away.

“The mythical Velodrome de Roubaix. A rider at the start of Paris-Roubaix wants to ride on this velodrome at all costs. You only have to ride one and a half laps, but one and a half laps of happiness, even if you’re exhausted and finish in 78th place.

“It’s really a place where the riders want to ride. And of course there is this sprint that you have to manage well, whether it is for 4th, 8th or 27th place.

“You have to be intelligent and have this little experience of having ridden on a velodrome. It’s an incredible place, it’s something to experience, even if you are out of time limit, you have to ride to the velodrome.”

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