Everyone expected Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) to ride away with his third Tour of Flanders title, especially after rival Wout van Aert crashed and broke his collarbone, ribs and sternum in a crash at Dwars door Vlaanderen in the days leading up to the 2024 edition.
Writing your name into the history books as the seventh rider to win De Ronde three times is far from a simple task, however.
The world champion never put a foot wrong in the race, even as the rain fell and attacks flew. The legendary Koppenberg was Van der Poel's launching pad and his fellow competitors struggled, slipped and slid out in his wake as he stormed away on the punishing gradients.
A race that is decided on the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg in the final 20 kilometres was done and dusted before Van der Poel even reached those climbs, and the only surprising moment of the race was Luca Mozatto (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) winning the sprint for second over Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates).
The women's race was a very different story: Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek) won her second Tour of Flanders while World Champion Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) crashed in the early part of the race and struggled uncharacteristically after two years of dominating the Tour of Flanders.
The Koppenberg was a mess for the women, too, and even Kopecky had to run as the rain pounded down.
Instead, Lidl-Trek proved to be the strongest team, with Shirin van Anrooij launching a strong solo attack before the Oude Kwaremont with 21km to go and looking as if she would ride away to the win.
On the Paterberg, Van Anrooij's teammate attacked to bridge across, bringing Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) along. Longo Borghini came from behind in the three-rider sprint to snatch the win from the Polish rider.
Images by Zac Williams/SWPix.com unless otherwise noted.
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Mathieu van der Poel looking unbothered by his status of outright favourite at the start
World Champion Lotte Kopecky (left) was also the outright favourite before the start
Jasper Jacobs/Getty Images
The Flanders flag was flown all over the course
The early kilometres were run on wider roads for safety
The peloton enjoyed dry roads in the first half of the race
The early breakaway in the women's Tour of Flanders
Luc Claessen/Getty Images
Oscar Riesebeek represented Alpecin-Deceuninck in the early breakaway
Riders pass one of the picturesque windmills
Rain falls on the women's race
Luc Claessen/Getty Images
Biniam Girmay on the Oude Kwaremont
Mathieu van der Poel in the peloton with a tailwind obvious by the Flanders flags
Mathieu van der Poel comes to the fore on the Oude Kwaremont
Mads Pedersen leads Oier Lazkano
Matteo Jorgenson rides side by side with Mathieu van der Poel
Lucinda Brand rides in the peloton
Jasper Jacobs/Getty Images
Ivan Garcia Cortina (Movistar) on a solo move before the Koppenberg
Poor Ivan Garcia Cortina was off the front on the Koppenberg but had a mechanical and had to run
Mathieu van der Poel attacked on the Koppenberg in the rain to avoided the mayhem
image David Pintens/Getty Images
Behind Van der Poel, it was pure chaos on the Koppenberg
At the other end of the peloton, riders slid out and caused traffic jams
Mikkel Bjerg finds that slipping on the Koppenberg is not how you want to stretch the adductors
Lotte Kopecky (right) runs up the Koppenberg
After the Koppenberg, Van der Poel was on his own
Fans enjoy all the action
Tiesj Benoot (Visma-Lease a Bike) gives his all
Josh Tarling and Magnus Sheffield (Ineos Grenadiers)
Van der Poel makes light work of the Paterberg
UAE Team Emirates' kits are barely visible under all the filth but the team stacked the top 10 with Politt, Bjerg and Morgado
Van der Poel on his solo attack
Without Wout van Aert after his crash in Dwars door Vlaanderen, Visma-Lease a Bike were at a disadvantage
Mathieu van der Poel on the final climbs before his third Tour of Flanders victory
Alberto Bettiol flies the flag for EF Education-EasyPost
Oliver Naesen (Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale)
Antonio Morgado (UAE Team Emirates) experiences the agony of the Tour of Flanders for the first time, finishing fifth
Ecstasy for Mathieu van der Poel
Thrills for Elisa Longo Borghini
Less ecstasy for Stefan Küng who finished 41st
Demi Vollering after finishing eighth
Lotte Kopecky was the top SD Worx-Protime rider in fifth place
Van der Poel gathers himself after a gruelling effort
Shirin Van Anrooij (left) gets a hug from teammate and race winner Elisa Longo Borghini
Precious memories for the podium finishers
