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One of the best times of the year for cycling lovers is undoubtedly when the so-called Vlaamse Wielerweek arrives, that is, the Flanders Cycling Week. Really, it is a period of 11 days rather than a week, the time that separates the Minerva Classic Brugge-De Panne from the Ronde Van Vlaanderen, the second monument of the year and the absolute climax of the series.

We already talked about both the men's Minerva Classic Brugge-De Panne and the women's Exterioo Classic Brugge-De Panne in a separate article, as they have a different character, since they are totally flat and without cobbled sectors. So, here we will focus on analyzing the rest of the races, the true pavés classics.

E3 Saxo Bank Classic (men)

The first of the cobbled races starts and finishes in the town of Herelbeke and features a 205-kilometre fully flandrien route. The cyclists will have to overcome 16 hills, of which 11 on cobblestones, such as the famous Paterberg (0.4 km at 9%) and Oude Kwaremont (2.1 km at 4.2%). In this race we should already be able to see who is in good shape and who isn’t for the rest of the week.

Favorites: Kasper Asgreen (600), Wout Van Aert (1200), Florian Sénéchal (600), Greg Van Avermaet (600), Yves Lampaert (600).

Gent Wevelgem in Flanders Fields (women and men)

Placed on Sunday, it is the second most prestigious race in the series, only behind the Ronde Van Vlaanderen. The emblematic climb of the race is the Kemmelberg, which is climbed twice, but neither the men's nor the women's race include as many hills as the rest of the week's races and, furthermore, they are located further from the finish line. In the other hand, both races have a mileage worthy of a monument (249 km for men and 158 for women) and, if the sprint is reached, it will necessarily be contested by resistant men and women.

Women’s Race Favorites: Marianne Vos (1200), Lorena Wiebes (1200), Emma Norsgaard (1000), Lotte Kopecky (1000), Elisa Balsamo (800), Marta Bastianelli (800).

Men's Race Favorites: Wout Van Aert (1200), Mads Pedersen (1000), Tim Merlier (800), Alexander Kristoff (800), Matteo Trentin (600).

Dwars door Vlaanderen (women and men)

Being the last test before the Ronde, sometimes some of the favorites for the monument are reserving forces, which means that second-tier riders may have their chance. As for the route, it is the shortest in the series (183 km for men and 115 for women), but yes, it is full of hills and cobbled sectors.

Women's Race Favorites: Annemiek Van Vleuten (1200), Marianne Vos (1200), Ellen Van Dijk (600), Marta Bastianelli (800).

Men's Race Favorites: Mathieu Van der Poel (1000), Tiesj Benoot (600), Dylan Van Baarle (400), Anthony Turgis (400), Greg Van Avermaet (600).

Ronde Van Vlaanderen (women and men)

The Ronde is undoubtedly the highlight of the week, the moment when the big stars should shine. The route of the women's race totals 156 km with 11 sectors on cobblestones, while the mileage of the men's race amounts to 272 km, with 15 cobbled sectors. Among the cobbled hills of both routes, the Molenberg (0.5 km at 6%), the Koppenberg (0.6 km at 10%) and the Taaienberg (0.7 km at 6.1%) stand out, among with the final pair formed by the Oude Kwaremont (2.1 km at 4.2%) and the Paterberg (0.4 km at 9%), which is where the race is usually decided.

Women’s Race Favorites: Annemiek Van Vleuten (1200), Marianne Vos (1200), Elisa Longo Borghini (1000), Lotte Kopecky (1000), Demi Vollering (1000).

Men's Race Favorites: Wout Van Aert (1200), Mathieu Van Der Poel (1000), Kasper Asgreen (600), Florian Sénéchal (600), Tadej Pogačar (1200).