Vollering and Laporte are back to defend Dwars door Vlaanderen titles

World champion Kopecky and Belgian favourite Van Aert at the start, Roeselare and Waregem can look forward to another fantastic cycling party in the middle of the sacred Flemish cycling week

Wednesday 27th March is the date for this years edition of the Dwars door Vlaanderen.

Following tradition, the starting gun for the men will sound at 12:15 in Roeselare. On Stationsplein, they will begin a ride of some 189 km towards the finish in Waregem. Based on the fastest schedule, we will be welcoming the successor to Christophe Laporte on the Verbindingsweg at around 16:30. The women start the 12th edition of their race at 14:30, the length of which is 130 km. The start and finish are in Waregem, the epicentre of Dwars door Vlaanderen.

For both the men’s and the women’s races, Knokteberg - Trieu, some 53 km from the finish, heralds the beginning of the finale. Followed by the ascent of Hotond, the cobblestones of Mariaborrestraat, Ladeuze, Doorn and Huisepontweg, the riders then head towards Nokereberg, after which they face the cobblestones of Herlegemstraat. In the final 10 km, a last loop in and around Waregem awaits, with Nokereberg and Herlegemstraat once again on the menu, after which 5 km remain until the finish on the Verbindingsweg.

Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx - Protime) is undoubtedly the rider to look out for. The world champion will be lining up at the start of Dwars door Vlaanderen for the first time since 2019 and she will be supported by Tour de France Femmes winner Vollering, European champion Bredewold and the fast legs of Wiebes. Competition comes from, among others, Marianne Vos (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) who was the best in the opening classic earlier this season. With Italian champion Longo Borghini, Brand, Van Anrooij and Van Dijk, Lidl - Trek also brings a strong team to the start in Waregem. Furthermore, the names of Cant & Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) and Persico & former winner Consonni (UAE Team ADQ) are also on the provisional start list for the women’s race.

The European champion is also at the start for the men’s race. Last year’s winner, Christophe Laporte, not only wears the European jersey, but also carries the number one in the lineup of Team Visma | Lease a Bike, that will be descending on Roeselare with a star-studded ensemble.

Van Aert, Benoot, Van Baarle, Paris-Nice winner Jorgenson and Omloop het Nieuwsblad winner Tratnik will all be at the start. They will take on the likes of Alaphilippe & Asgreen (Soudal Quick-Step) and Pedersen, Stuyven and Skujins (Lidl-Trek). Milano-Sanremo winner Philipsen (Alpecin - Deceuninck), Campenaerts (Lotto Dstny), Lazkano & Cavagna (Movistar Team), Teunissen & Girmay (Intermarché - Wanty), Wellens (UAE Team Emirates), Démare (Arkéa - B&B Hotels), Bettiol (EF Education - EasyPost) and Tiller & Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility) will also be heading to Roeselare.