Tour of Flanders for Women 2021 Preview

Tour of Flanders for Women 2021 Preview

Preview Tour of Flanders Womens Words: Rachel Jary

The Tour of Flanders has been a highlight of the women's calendar since its inception in 2004, and this year's race on 4th April looks to be no exception.

The cobbled bergs of Flanders have always provided an excellent stage to showcase some aggressive and savage racing. The ten short, steep climbs that litter the route mean that the De Ronde is always one of the most difficult and iconic races of the season.

Related – Tour of Flanders 2021 Men's Race Preview
Related – The 2021 Men's Early Season: The Rouleur Racing Guide
 
Related – 
The Women's 2021 Early Season: The Rouleur Racing Guide

Route

The flat, cobbled sections earlier in the race will cause early selections. Teams such as SD Worx will likely want to split the race so they can create a small group which they will hope to be well represented in. If they follow the tactics that worked well for them in Het Nieuwsblad, we can expect to see them sending attacks up the road and controlling any responses from the peloton.

The steep climbs such as the Kwaremont and Paterberg that follow later will be a challenge for some of the pure sprinters. Teams without big contenders for a bunch kick will be approaching these climbs fast, hoping to reduce the chances for riders with such fast legs making it to the line. 

Contenders

Canyon SRAM Racing will be working hard to position Kasia Niewiadoma well going into the late climbs. She was second at Dwars door Vlaanderen to Annemiek van Vleuten earlier this week so is on good form at the moment. Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig will also be hoping to use her climbing talents to get away in a small group towards the end of the race.

The big names such as Van Der Breggen and Van Vlueten may use the Kapelmuur as a springboard for some trademark long range attacks. Coming at 60km to go, they will hit the climb at a perfect point to launch any surprise moves early on in the race and whittle the group down to a select few.

Trek Segafredo have a few options, with either a long-range attack from Elisa Longo Borghini – who has made her mark in the World Tour races so far this season  or a quick finisher from a reduced bunch in the form of Lizzie Deignan if she has the legs. Deignan might have current Women's World Tour classification leader and all-round legend of the sport, Marianne Vos, to contend with, however, (although that didn't stop her at last year's La Course).

Sprinters like former winner Marta Bastianelli, however, could spoil the fun for the climbers. If a bunch comes to the flat run towards Oudenaarde, there could be some dangerous riders still left to contest a sprint finish. Someone like Emma Norsgaard will need to dig deep to make it over the steep climbs, but if she does, she has every chance going one better than her second place at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

So, perhaps this race is best suited to riders who can hold the wheel on shorter climbs and make it over the crest, but also pack a punch at the finish. Third and fourth in last year’s edition of the race, Lotte Kopecky and Lisa Brennauer are good examples of riders with these strengths.

Related – Paris-Roubaix Femmes 2021 Preview

The weather could also be a crucial factor, rain and wind will make the race hectic and perhaps increase the probability of a smaller group coming to the finish. If we see milder conditions, the race will be harder to split.

As with all the best cobbled classics, the unpredictability is part of the appeal – and so we look forward to being surprised at what Flanders has to throw at us.

Preview Tour of Flanders Womens Words: Rachel Jary

READ MORE

'There’s almost no team tactics': Van der Poel overpowers the field in show of strength at Gravel World Championships

'There’s almost no team tactics': Van der Poel overpowers the field in show of strength at Gravel World Championships

The Dutchman adds to his collection of rainbow jerseys with a dominant display in Belgium

Read more
A showdown the UCI would have longed for - Vos and Kopecky face-off lights up the Gravel World Championships

A showdown the UCI would have longed for - Vos and Kopecky face-off lights up the Gravel World Championships

Lotte Kopecky impressed in her first-ever gravel race, but in the end there stood the familiar sight of Marianne Vos in the rainbow bands

Read more
Gravel World Championships 2024 preview: route and key contenders

Gravel World Championships 2024 preview: route and key contenders

Taking place on October 5 and 6, Rouleur evaluates the top contenders for the men's and women's titles

Read more
The long and the short: Inside the rise of cycling's mega-contracts

The long and the short: Inside the rise of cycling's mega-contracts

Rouleur speaks to those inside the transfer merry-go-round to find out why men's WorldTour riders are being handed longer and longer contracts

Read more
We will never be here again - a book by Svein Tuft

We will never be here again - a book by Svein Tuft

Richard Abraham shares more on his new book with former professional cyclist Svein Tuft

Read more
A World Championships in mourning

A World Championships in mourning

Rachel Jary reflects on a difficult week in Switzerland marked by the tragic passing of 18-year-old Swiss rider Muriel Furrer

Read more

MEMBERSHIP

JOIN ROULEUR TODAY

Independent journalism, award winning content, exclusive perks.

Banner Image