This season of Flanders classics was marked by the domination of the magic trio Pogacar – Van Aert – Van der Poel, but some riders have managed to stand out by signing excellent results and showing consistency in the various races of the Flanders calendar. Here is our ranking totally subjective of the best Flanders runners of this season 2023. Before starting the classification, here are our 10 honorable mentions :
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Dylan Van Baarle, vainqueur de l'Omloop Het Nieuwblad and début de saison, the Dutch will subsequently have been a great help for its leaders. He will unfortunately abandon the E3 Saxo and Paris-Roubaix.
Filippo Ganna, a bit tight overall but author of a magnificent 6e place on Paris-Roubaix and a top 10 on E3, the Italian has succeeded in demonstrating his Flandrian qualities.
Sep Vanmarcke, author of a podium in Ghent Wevelgem and a top 10 sur l'Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, the belgian achieved good results on these flandriennes, at 34 years.
Mateo Jorgenson, for a first, the American from Movistar impressed, he will end up in the top 10 the Tour of Flanders and the E3 Saxo.
John Degenkolb, unhappy on Paris-Roubaix with his fall, the German will finish despite everything 7e and is the author of a beautiful Flandrian season.
Tiesj Benoot, vainqueur de Kuurne Brussels Kuurne, he was subsequently had an important role in the Jumbo-Visma workforce.
Nils Politt, without great results, the German will still have been the author of a good regularity on all the Flanders classics.
Oier Lazkano, with a superb 2e place on A Travers la Flandre after having been the strongest of the breakaway, Spanish deserves an honorable mention.
Mathis Le Berre, just neo-professional, the Frenchman from Team Arkea Samsic delivered a very good performance on the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.
Max Walscheid, the German from Cofidis completed a magnificent Paris-Roubaix and finished 8e behind the strong men.
RANKING
10) Arnaud DeLie
Author of a 2e place sur l'Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, 6e of A Travers la Flandre or even 7e the Kuurne Bruxelles Kuurne, the Belgian has achieved very good results but without convincing, especially on Paris-Roubaix, where he was greatly expected but will end up very far from the favorites. Arnaud De Lie still needs to work on his consistency before coming back stronger next year !
9) Nathan Van Hooydonck
The Belgian has like Dylan Van Baarle and Tiesj Benoot been of paramount importance on all the Flandrian classics, by supporting Wout Van Aert and Christophe Laporte sometimes until the last kilometer. In addition, he signs magnificent places of honor in the image of his 2e place sur Kuurne Bruxelles Kuurne, ses 11e place on the Tour of Flanders and the E3 Saxo, or even his 14e place on Paris-Roubaix. Who knows what results he might have achieved if he wasn't dedicated to his leaders !
8) Stefan Küng
The vice world champion in the time trial has achieved very good results, ending in particular 6e the Tour of Flanders and the E3 or even 5e from Paris-Roubaix. But the Swiss overall lacked consistency and above all was a step below his superb season 2022. He will manage to slip into the good shots but will always be a little tight like the Italian Filippo Ganna.
7) Nelson Powless
By participating in only two races, the American was also very impressive in finishing 3e of Through Flanders and 5e of the Tour of Flanders. Very promising results for the one who was already the author of a very good start to the season with in particular his 7e place sur Milan San Remo. He will now focus on the Amstel Gold Race, with the objective of also making a good result.
6) Jasper Philipsen
Very impressive on Paris-Roubaix, the Belgian will have had an important role in the victory of Mathieu Van der Poel. He comes on top of that to look for a magnificent 2e place. Also winner of the Classic Brugge de Panne, the Scheldt Grand Prix and 4e from Across Flanders, the Belgian had a very solid season of Flanders classics. Jasper Philipsen can largely hope to win a monument in his career.
5) Christophe Laporte
Winner of Ghent Wevelgem, winner of A Travers la Flandres, 3e of the Omloop or even 10e from Paris-Roubaix, the French results are excellent. He manages to (Finally) won his first two World Tour classics ! Christophe Laporte has often been one of the strongest behind the magic trio, and especially of great importance for its leader Wout Van Aert. Garnished by misfortune on the hell of the North, he unfortunately could not accompany the Belgian until the end.
4) Mads Pedersen
Difficult to decide between it and the French, but the Dane made four tops 5 in five races ! What an impressive Flanders season has given us again Mads Pedersen ! Despite the fact that he is not won like Christophe Laporte, he has always been in the fight and has shown excellent regularity. He was not strong enough to claim to compete with the infernal trio Pogacar, Van der Poel, Van Aert but it's him, who will often have been the strongest in the counter group. He will even finish ahead of the Belgian on the Tour of Flanders.
3) Wout Van Aert
The Belgian will not have succeeded in winning the slightest monument during these Flandrians, but he still manages to win the E3 Saxo with flying colors, and it ends 2e of Ghent Wevelgem leaving the victory to his teammate Christophe Laporte. He signs a 3e place on Paris-Roubaix and ends 4e of the Tour of Flanders. Wout Van Aert will not take part in the Ardennes to focus on the upcoming stage races. He will be keen to finally win Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders next year.
2) Tadej Pogacar
Slovenian, who only took part in two races, managed to snag a 3e monuments to his honors (this is why he is ahead of Wout Van Aert in this ranking), by brilliantly winning the Tour of Flanders (4e if we count his double on the Tour of Lombardy). Logically slower than these two opponents, he bowed out on the E3 Saxo, ending at the 3e place. Many hope to see him participate in the future in Paris-Roubaix, race in which he will have the opportunity to win a 4e monument in five.
1) Mathieu Van der Poel
The Dutch also wins a prestigious monument, triumphing for the first time over Paris-Roubaix, in front of an unlucky Wout Van Aert, victim of a puncture when he was in the lead with the eventual winner. Mathieu Van der Poel still seemed to be the strongest on the hell of the North, and earn his 2e monument of the season after Milan Sanremo. Like Pogacar, he also signs his 3e monument (4e if we count his double on the Tour of Flanders). The Dutchman is the runner who has shown the greatest regularity and was quite simply the strongest if we take away Pogacar's victory at the Ronde..
Want to see another of our rankings ? the top 10 of the best climbers 2023, it's here : https://cycling-times.fr/2023/03/08/top-10-des-meilleurs-grimpeurs-du-peloton-en-2023/
