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]

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.ddvl.eu Edit this at Wikidata
Men's history
First edition1945 (1945)
Editions78 (as of 2024)
First winner Rik Van Steenbergen (BEL)
Most wins14 riders with 2 wins each
Most recent Matteo Jorgenson (USA)
Women's history
First edition2012 (2012)
Editions12 (as of 2024)
First winner Monique van de Ree (NED)
Most wins Amy Pieters (NED) (3 wins)
Most recent Marianne Vos (NED)

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's 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

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Rik Van Steenbergen winning the inaugural Dwars Door België in 1945

Dwars door België

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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

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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

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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.

Men's race winners

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Year Country Rider Team
"Dwars door België"
1945   Belgium Rik Van Steenbergen Mercier–Hutchinson
1946   Belgium Maurice Desimpelaere Alcyon–Dunlop
1947   Belgium Albert Sercu Bertin–Wolber
1948   Belgium André Rosseel Alcyon–Dunlop
1949   Belgium Raymond Impanis Alcyon–Dunlop
1950   Belgium André Rosseel Alcyon–Dunlop
1951   Belgium Raymond Impanis Alcyon–Dunlop
1952   Belgium André Maelbrancke Peugeot–Dunlop
1953   Belgium Briek Schotte Alcyon–Dunlop
1954   Belgium Germain Derycke Alcyon–Dunlop
1955   Belgium Briek Schotte Alcyon–Dunlop
1956   Belgium Lucien Demunster Elvé–Peugeot
1957   Belgium Noël Foré Groene Leeuw
1958   Belgium André Vlayen Elvé–Peugeot–Marvan
1959   Belgium Roger Baens Peugeot–Dunlop
1960   Belgium Arthur Decabooter Groene Leeuw
1961   Belgium Maurice Meuleman 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 Alfons Hermans Lamot–Libertas
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 Roger Loysch 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 Johan van der Meer HB Alarmsystemen
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
"Dwars door Vlaanderen"
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
2022   Netherlands Mathieu van der Poel Alpecin–Fenix
2023   France Christophe Laporte Team Jumbo–Visma
2024   United States Matteo Jorgenson Visma–Lease a Bike

Source: www.dwarsdoorvlaanderen.be[13]

Multiple winners

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Riders in bold 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
  Mathieu van der Poel (NED) 2019, 2022

Wins per country

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Wins Country
54   Belgium
15   Netherlands
2   Australia
  France
1   Denmark
  Germany
  Italy
  Ukraine
  United States

Women's race winners

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Year Country Rider Team
2012   Netherlands Monique van de Ree Skil 1t4i
2013   Netherlands Kirsten Wild Argos–Shimano
2014   Netherlands Amy Pieters Giant–Shimano
2015   Netherlands Amy Pieters Team Liv–Plantur
2016   Netherlands Amy Pieters Wiggle High5
2017   Finland Lotta Lepistö Cervélo–Bigla Pro Cycling
2018   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
2022   Italy Chiara Consonni Valcar–Travel & Service
2023   Netherlands Demi Vollering SD Worx
2024   Netherlands Marianne Vos Visma–Lease a Bike

Multiple winners

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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

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Wins Country
10   Netherlands
1   Finland
  Italy

References

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  1. ^ "Dwars Door Vlaanderen". ddvl.eu. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  2. ^ a b "UCI expands WorldTour to 37 events". Cycling News. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  3. ^ "The UCI reveals expanded UCI WorldTour calendar for 2017". UCI. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  4. ^ 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. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
  11. ^ Fletcher, Patrick (27 March 2018). "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. ^ "Erelijst". dwarsdoorvlaanderen.be. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
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