Dwars door Vlaanderen

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Dwars door Vlaanderen
Race details
DateLate March, begin April
RegionFlanders, Belgium
English nameAcross Flanders
Local name(s)Dwars door Vlaanderen (in Dutch)
DisciplineRoad
CompetitionUCI World Tour
TypeSemi-classic one-day race
OrganiserFlanders Classics
Web sitewww.dwarsdoorvlaanderen.be Edit this at Wikidata
Men's history
First edition1945 (1945)
Editions75 (as of 2021)
First winner Rik Van Steenbergen (BEL)
Most wins13 riders with 2 wins
Most recent Dylan van Baarle (NED)
Women's history
First edition2012 (2012)
Editions9 (as of 2021)
First winner Monique van de Ree (NED)
Most wins Amy Pieters (NED) (3 wins)
Most recent Annemiek van Vleuten (NED)

Dwars door Vlaanderen (English: Across Flanders) is a semi-classic road bicycle race in Belgium, held annually since 1945.[1] The race starts in Roeselare and finishes in Waregem, both in West Flanders. Since 2017 the event is included in the UCI World Tour.[2][3]

Held in late March, the event is part of the Flemish Cycling Week, which also includes E3 Harelbeke, Gent–Wevelgem and the Tour of Flanders.[4] Traditionally Dwars door Vlaanderen was held four days after Milan–San Remo and a week and a half before the Tour of Flanders. As from 2018 the race moved up one week on the international calendar and is now contested on the Wednesday before the Tour of Flanders, Flanders' foremost cycling classic, held on Sunday.[5]

Since 2012, a women's edition of Dwars door Vlaanderen is held on the same day as the men's race, starting and finishing on the same location, of approximately 130 kilometres distance. Both events are organized by Flanders Classics. In addition the Grand Prix de Waregem was formerly regarded as the Under 23 version of the race.[6]

History[]

Dwars door België[]

The race was first run in 1945 from Sint-Truiden to Waregem and was named Dwars door België (English: Across Belgium) – a name it kept until 1999. Belgian cycling icon Rik Van Steenbergen won the inaugural race. From 1946 to 1964 the event was run as a stage race over two days – with the exception of 1948. The first stage started in Waregem and finished in the eastern Belgian provinces of Limburg or Liège; from which it returned to Waregem the next day. In 1948 and since 1965, it has been held as a one-day race. Two editions have been cancelled, in 1971 and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Held in late March, the event traditionally marked the start of the Flemish Cycling Week, which also includes E3 Harelbeke, Gent–Wevelgem,[7] the Three Days of De Panne,[8] and the Tour of Flanders.[4] Dwars door Vlaanderen was contested mid-week, four days after Italy's monument race Milan–San Remo and a week and a half before the Tour of Flanders.

World Tour race[]

In 2000 the event was renamed Dwars door Vlaanderen and Roeselare became the new starting place. The race was included in the inaugural UCI Europe Tour in 2005, classified as a UCI 1.1 event, and from 2013 to 2016 as a 1.HC race. The 2016 edition nearly had to be cancelled as it was scheduled one day after the 2016 Brussels bombings, causing security alert to be raised to the highest level in all of Belgium.[9] On the evening of the event, organizers decided to continue as planned and the Belgian authorities gave clearance on the day of the race. The race was won by Jens Debusschere.[10]

The 2017 edition was promoted to the UCI World Tour, cycling's highest tier of professional races.[2] In 2018 Dwars door Vlaanderen was moved one week later on the calendar, from a position mid-week after Milan–San Remo to the Wednesday before the Tour of Flanders. At the same time the course was scaled down from 200 km to 180 km in length, and the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg climbs were cut from the race.[11]

Route[]

Dwars door Vlaanderen is one of several cobbled races in Flanders during Spring classics season. The race starts in Roeselare and finishes in Waregem, for a total distance of ca. 180 km. The bulk of the course is set in the hilly Flemish Ardennes.

Since 2018 the Côte de Trieu in Mont-de-l'Enclus features three times in Dwars door Vlaanderen. The third ascent comes as one of the last climbs in the race, at 33 km from the finish, acting as a decisive launchpad.

The first 80 km in West Flanders are mainly flat, after which the course becomes more selective with a dozen climbs in the hill zone in East Flanders. Despite annual changes, some of the regular climbs in the race are the Taaienberg, Kruisberg and Côte de Trieu.[12] The top of the last climb, Nokereberg, comes at 11 km from the finish. Additionally, there are several flat stretches of cobbles. Due to its hilly course in the Flemish Ardennes, the race is similar in nature to the Tour of Flanders, and is often used in preparation for the bigger event four days later.

Climbs and cobbled sections in the 2018 Dwars door Vlaanderen[13]
No. Name Distance from Surface Length
(metres) 		Gradient (%)
Start
(km) 		Finish
(km) 		(ave.) (max.)
1 Kluisberg 82.6 97.5 asphalt 1000 6.8% 16%
2 Côte de Trieu 90.0 90.1 asphalt 1900 4.9% 11.8%
3 Kluisberg 107.3 72.8 asphalt 1000 6.8% 16%
4 Côte de Trieu 114.8 65.3 asphalt 1900 4.9% 11.8%
5 Kortekeer 122.4 57.7 asphalt 900 6.5% 9.8%
– Mariaborrestraat 124.5 55.6 cobbles 2400 —
6 Steenbeekdries 125.7 54.4 cobbles 600 4.5% 8%
7 Taaienberg 128.2 51.9 cobbles 530 6.6% 15.8%
8 Kruisberg 138.3 41.8 cobbles 1800 4.8% 9%
9 Côte de Trieu 147.0 33.1 asphalt 1900 4.9% 11.8%
– Varentstraat 154.4 25.7 cobbles 2000 —
10 Tiegemberg 159.2 20.9 asphalt 1400 6.5% 9%
11 Holstraat 163.6 16.5 asphalt 1000 5.2% 12%
12 Nokereberg 171.1 9.0 cobbles 500 5.7% 6.7%
– Herlegemstraat 173.9 6.2 cobbles 800 —

Winners[]

Year Country Rider Team
1945  Belgium Rik Van Steenbergen Mercier-Hutchinson
 Belgium Maurice Desimpelaere Alcyon-Dunlop
 Belgium Albert Sercu
 Belgium André Rosseel Alcyon-Dunlop
 Belgium Raymond Impanis Alcyon-Dunlop
 Belgium André Rosseel Alcyon-Dunlop
 Belgium Raymond Impanis Alcyon-Dunlop
 Belgium André Maelbrancke Peugeot-Dunlop
 Belgium Briek Schotte Alcyon-Dunlop
 Belgium Germain Derycke Alcyon-Dunlop
 Belgium Briek Schotte Alcyon-Dunlop
1956  Belgium
 Belgium Noël Foré Groene Leeuw
 Belgium André Vlayen
 Belgium Roger Baens Peugeot-BP-Dunlop
1960  Belgium Arthur Decabooter Groene Leeuw
1961  Belgium Wiel's–Flandria
1962  Belgium Martin Van Geneugden Flandria–Faema–Clément
1963  Belgium Clément Roman Faema-Flandria
1964  Netherlands Piet van Est Televizier
1965  Belgium
1966  Belgium Walter Godefroot Wiel's-Groene Leeuw
1967  Belgium Daniël Vanryckeghem Mann-Grundig
1968  Belgium Walter Godefroot Flandria–De Clerck
1969  Belgium Eric Leman Flandria–De Clerck–Krüger
1970  Belgium Daniël Vanryckeghem Mann-Grundig
1971 No race
1972  Belgium Marc Demeyer Beaulieu–Flandria
1973  Belgium Watney-Maes
1974  Belgium Louis Verreydt IJsboerke-Colner
1975  Netherlands Cees Priem Frisol-G.B.C.
1976  Belgium Willy Planckaert Maes-Rokado
1977  Belgium Walter Planckaert Maes-Mini Flat
1978  Netherlands Jos Schipper Marc Zeepcentrale-Superia
1979  Belgium Gustaaf Van Roosbroeck IJsboerke-Warncke
1980  Netherlands
1981  Belgium Frank Hoste TI–Raleigh–Creda
1982  Netherlands Jan Raas TI–Raleigh–Campagnolo
1983  Belgium Etienne De Wilde La Redoute-Motobécane
1984  Belgium Walter Planckaert Panasonic–Raleigh
1985  Belgium Eddy Planckaert Panasonic–Raleigh
1986  Belgium Eric Vanderaerden Panasonic–Merckx–Agu
1987  Netherlands Jelle Nijdam Superconfex–Kwantum–Yoko–Colnago
1988  Netherlands John Talen Panasonic–Isostar–Colnago–Agu
1989  Belgium Dirk De Wolf Hitachi
1990  Belgium Edwig Van Hooydonck Buckler–Colnago–Decca
1991  Belgium Eric Vanderaerden Buckler–Colnago–Decca
1992  Germany Olaf Ludwig Panasonic–Sportlife
1993  Belgium Johan Museeuw GB–MG Maglificio
1994  Belgium Carlo Bomans GB–MG Maglificio
1995  Netherlands Jelle Nijdam TVM–Polis Direct
1996  Netherlands Tristan Hoffman TVM–Farm Frites
1997  Ukraine Andrei Tchmil Lotto–Mobistar–Isoglass
1998  Belgium Tom Steels Mapei–Bricobi
1999  Belgium Johan Museeuw Mapei–Quick-Step
2000  Netherlands Tristan Hoffman Memory Card–Jack & Jones
2001  Belgium Niko Eeckhout Lotto–Adecco
2002  Australia Baden Cooke Française des Jeux
2003  Australia Robbie McEwen Lotto–Domo
2004  Belgium Ludovic Capelle Landbouwkrediet–Colnago
2005  Belgium Niko Eeckhout Chocolade Jacques–T Interim
2006  Belgium Frederik Veuchelen Chocolade Jacques–Topsport Vlaanderen
2007  Belgium Tom Boonen Quick-Step–Innergetic
2008  France Sylvain Chavanel Cofidis
2009  Belgium Kevin Van Impe Quick-Step
2010  Denmark Matti Breschel Team Saxo Bank
2011  Belgium Nick Nuyens Saxo Bank–SunGard
2012  Netherlands Niki Terpstra Omega Pharma–Quick-Step
2013  Italy Oscar Gatto Vini Fantini–Selle Italia
2014  Netherlands Niki Terpstra Omega Pharma–Quick-Step
2015  Belgium Jelle Wallays Topsport Vlaanderen–Baloise
2016  Belgium Jens Debusschere Lotto–Soudal
2017  Belgium Yves Lampaert Quick-Step Floors
2018  Belgium Yves Lampaert Quick-Step Floors
2019  Netherlands Mathieu van der Poel Corendon–Circus
2020 No race due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021  Netherlands Dylan van Baarle Ineos Grenadiers

Source: www.dwarsdoorvlaanderen.be[14]

Multiple winners[]

Riders in italics are active

Wins Rider Editions
2  André Rosseel (BEL) 1948, 1950
 Raymond Impanis (BEL) 1949, 1951
 Briek Schotte (BEL) 1953, 1955
 Walter Godefroot (BEL) 1966, 1968
 Daniel Van Ryckeghem (BEL) 1967, 1970
 Walter Planckaert (BEL) 1977, 1984
 Eric Vanderaerden (BEL) 1986, 1991
 Jelle Nijdam (NED) 1987, 1995
 Johan Museeuw (BEL) 1993, 1999
 Tristan Hoffman (NED) 1996, 2000
 Niko Eeckhout (BEL) 2001, 2005
 Niki Terpstra (NED) 2012, 2014
 Yves Lampaert (BEL) 2017, 2018

Wins per country[]

Wins Country
54  Belgium
14  Netherlands
2  Australia
1  Denmark
 France
 Germany
 Italy
 Ukraine

Women's race winners[]

Year Country Rider Team
 Netherlands Monique van de Ree Skil 1t4i
 Netherlands Kirsten Wild Argos–Shimano
 Netherlands Amy Pieters Giant–Shimano
 Netherlands Amy Pieters Team Liv–Plantur
 Netherlands Amy Pieters Wiggle High5
 Finland Lotta Lepistö Cervélo–Bigla Pro Cycling
 Netherlands Ellen van Dijk Team Sunweb
2019  Netherlands Ellen van Dijk Trek–Segafredo
2020 No race due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021  Netherlands Annemiek van Vleuten Movistar Team

Multiple winners[]

Riders in italics are active

Wins Rider Editions
3  Amy Pieters (NED) 2014, 2015, 2016
2  Ellen van Dijk (NED) 2018, 2019

Wins per country[]

Wins Country
8  Netherlands
1  Finland

References[]

  1. ^ "Dwars Door Vlaanderen". ddvl.eu. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "UCI expands WorldTour to 37 events". Cycling News. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  3. ^ "The UCI reveals expanded UCI WorldTour calendar for 2017". UCI. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Ronde van Vlaanderen". rondevanvlaanderen.be. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  5. ^ "Dwars door Vlaanderen 2018". Cyclingnews. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  6. ^ Dansie, Sam (15 March 2017). "Dan McLay: Portrait of a sprinter". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2 July 2017.
  7. ^ "Gent-Wevelgem". gent-wevelgem.be. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  8. ^ "VDK Driedaagse De Panne-Koksijde". veloclub-depanne.be. Archived from the original on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  9. ^ Vergne, Laurent. "D'A Travers la Flandre au Ronde, la Belgique se préparait à dix jours de fête, aujourd'hui menacés". eurosport.fr (in French). Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  10. ^ Decaulwé, Brecht (23 March 2016). "Dwars door Vlaanderen: Debusschere wins one day after Belgian horror-day". Cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  11. ^ Fletcher, Patrick. "Dwars door Vlaanderen - Preview". cyclingnews. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  12. ^ "Dwars door Vlaanderen / A travers la Flandre (profile)". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  13. ^ "Dwars door Vlaanderen Roadmap" (PDF). Dwars door Vlaanderen. Flanders Classics. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  14. ^ "Erelijst". dwarsdoorvlaanderen.be. Retrieved 26 March 2014.

External links[]

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