ROUTE ANALYSIS

• Schedule: 12:20 - 16:40 CET
• TV coverage: from 15:00 CET

The key section is between kilometres 73 and 101, with the passages over the Baneberg (1.1 km at 6.7%), Monteberg (1.3 km at 4.6%) and the two ascents of the Kemmelberg, first via Belvedere (0.4 km at 8.6%) and then via Ossuaire (0.7 km at 9.7%), both featuring cobbled sections.

The wind in De Moeren and the final passage over the Beauvoordestraat cobbled sector (500 m, km 141.6) can cause splits before the three final laps in Koksijde.

THE WEATHER

The wind will make itself felt throughout the day, especially in De Moeren where it will blow as an unfavourable crosswind. A good sign for the sprinters.

FAVOURITES FOR THE WIN

It looks difficult, though not impossible, for those who want to break the race open, while the sprinters have a good opportunity on the table. Looking at the start list we don’t have a clear favourite and instead we have to point to a group of riders: Dylan Groenewegen, Juan Sebastián Molano, Matteo Moschetti, Pavel Bittner, Erlend Blikra, Gerben Thijssen and Max Kanter.

Here we have to bear in mind that for about half of them the easiest day possible is an advantage, while for the others it’s quite the opposite. That’s where other riders come into play such as Luca Mozzato, Milan Menten, Alexis Renard, Hugo Hofstetter, Pascal Ackermann, Émilien Jeannière, Dries De Bondt, Hugo Page and Henri Uhlig, fast riders who also benefit from as much chaos as possible.

When we look for riders who might try to blow the race apart from distance and thus avoid a sprint, it’s clear there aren’t many. We can mention riders such as Albert Withen Philipsen, Héctor Álvarez, Yves Lampaert, Nils Politt or Aimé De Gendt, but the truth is that this profile is also scarce.

Among the potential surprises, I’m going to go with Tom Crabbe and Iker Villar — two riders who have a good opportunity on a day with these characteristics.

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IL CAPO CED’S RECOMMENDATIONS TO BE A CAPO IN FANTASY

🌟 Capos to watch

Given the race’s history I’m going to recommend 5 riders costing 200 coins and another 5 riders who are currently in the last 2 tiers of picks, as they could end up making the difference in the rankings.

200: Steffen de Schuyteneer, Oded Kogut, Luca Mozzato, Hugo Page, Henri Uhlig

Low %: Sebatian Kolze, Ceriel Desal, Cedric Beullens, Nicolo Parisini, Thomas Gachignard

📂 Riders with -10% who managed a T10.
2025: 7 (including 🥇🥉)
2024: 2
2023: 3
2022: 3
2021: 3

📂 Riders costing 200 coins who managed a T10.
2025: 7
2024: 3
2023: 6
2022: 6
2021: 4

📂 Popular vote from users in the app (15 most selected riders).
5 editions played in Fantasy (since 2021)
Got 🥇 right: 4
Got 🥈 right: 5
Got 🥉 right: 4
Got rest of T10 right: 17/35