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Vlaamse Wielerweek means in flamenco "Flemish cycling week" and is currently formed by five races that are disputed in a period of 12 days. In this order, Driedaagse Brugge-De Panne, E3 Harelbeke, Gent - Wevelgem in Flanders Fields, Dwars door Vlaanderen and as a climax, the Ronde van Vlaanderen, the Tour de Flanders, the second Monument of the year. The specialists in the pavée walls have five opportunities to achieve victory, the last of the five undoubtedly the most prestigious.

Last year, Niki Terpstra (800) won the E3 and the Tour of Flanders, Elia Viviani (1200) the Driedaagse Brugge-De Panne, and the Belgian champion Yves Lampaert (800) took the Dwars door Vlaanderen. Only a figure of the magnitude of Peter Sagan (1200) could break the full Deceunink - Quick Step, winning his third Gent - Wevelgem (2013, 2016, 2018).

After the surprising signing of Niki Terpstra (800) by a team of lesser category such as Direct Energie, we will have to see if he can withstand the attacks of his former teammates from the Deceunink - Quick Step, who arrive with his most classic team: Zdenek Styvar (800), Philippe Gilbert (800), Bob Jungels (800), and Yves Lampaert (800), wrapped in three domestiques of pure luxury: Florian Senechal (400), Iljo Keisse (200) and Tim Declerq (200). For the Driedaagse Brugge-De Panne, which has a more suitable profile for the sprinters, they have a mixed team with Elia Viviani (1200) and Fabio Jakobsen (800). It is that they abuse.

By gallons, and palmares,** Greg Van Avermaet (1200)** and Peter Sagan (1200) also start as great favorites, although they will be very marked, often one for the other.

Other specialists of the pavée who are expected great feats are Tiesj Benoot (800), Oliver Naesen (800), Wout Van Aert (400), Jurgen Roetlans (600), Sep Van Marche (600) or Timo Roosen (400), quote some.

Driedaagse Brugge-De Panne

Driedaagse Brugge-De Panne literally means in Flemish "three days of Bruges-La Panne" and is a revision of the Driedaagse De Panne, a three-day event that was played until 2017 before the Tour de Flanders. Last year, however, the format was changed, becoming a one-day classic, and moved forward in the calendar. This year it opens in the World Tour category.

Currently it works as a small introduction to what comes next, since it contains only five pavée walls that appear far from the finish line, near km 100. From there, the flat race. In total there will be 202 kilometers from Bruges to the coastal city of La Panne, and the wind will surely play an important role, as it is frequent on the Belgian coast. Given the possibility of fans, it will be key to be well positioned and attentive to possible cuts.

Last year it was resolved to the sprint, where Elia Viviani (1200) shined ahead of Pascal Ackermann (1000) and Jasper Philipsen (200).

E3 Harelbeke

With the E3 the real party begins. The race contains 15 steep walls, placing the last of them, Tiegemberg, 19 km from the finish line.

Currently the official name is E3 Binckbank Classic and has been celebrated since 1958. Among the winners who will take the start will be the usual: Peter Sagan (1200) (2014), **Greg Van Avermaet (1200) **(2017) and the current champion, Niki Trepstra (800) (2018).

Gent - Wevelgem in Flanders Fields

The Gent - Wevelgem is celebrated since 1934 and is, in recent years, Peter Sagan (1200) territory. With his victory last year, Sagan managed to match the top prize winners in the race, Tom Boonen (2004, 2011, 2012), Mario Cipollini (1992, 1993, 2002), Eddy Merckx (1967, 1970, 1973), Rik Van Looy (1956, 1957, 1962), and Robert Van Eenaeme (1936, 1937, 1945). Do not doubt that he will try to become the only one in history that has 4.

Although the race includes stretches of cobbles, hard ramps and unpaved roads, sprinters sometimes get to the best. Good proof of them is that last year on the podium with Sagan were Elia Viviani (1200) and Arnaud Demarre (1200).

Dwars door Vlaanderen

In the Dwars door Vlaanderen Yves Lampaert (800) is going to try the feat of taking the third straight, while the rest of the classics are going to try not to get it. The test, which arrives this year at its 74th edition, is characterized by the passing of a large part of the famous cobbled ramps that will happen again 3 days later in the Tour of Flanders, making it the perfect preparation for the great attraction on Sunday. .

Ronde van Vlaanderen - Tour des Flanders

The Flemish week ends with the Tour of Flanders, which is by far the most important of the five, since it is the second Monument of the season. The Ronde van Vlaanderen is pure history of this sport, and arrives on Sunday April 7 to its edition 103. With 69 victories, the Belgians are the ones who have achieved the most triumphs, because for the runners, teams, sponsors and flamenco fans it is the most important race of the year.

The route is 267 km, of which the last 55 are plagued by the famous cobbled ramps, which attract so many fans year after year. In total there will be 18 climbs. The traditional Muur van Geraardsbergen, with the chapel on top, is located 97 km from the finish line and in principle will not be decisive in the race, which should be decided in the double step by the Oude Kwaremont and the Patterberg.

Niki Terpstra (800) (2018), Philippe Gilbert (800) (2017), Peter Sagan (1200) (2016) and Alexander Kristoff (1200) (2015) are the last winners of the Tour of Flanders, and they will all come back to try repeat triumph in what is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular days of the cycling calendar.