Tour of Flanders 2015

Tour of Flanders 2015
Racing series	UCI WorldTour  -  Category 1.UWT
Host country	Belgium
Competition period	April 5, 2015
overall length	264.2 km
Starting field	199 from 32 nations in 25 teams (of which 133 arrived at the finish)
winner
Overall rating	1. Alexander Kristoff (KAT) 6:26:32 h 2. Niki Terpstra (EQS) same time 3. Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) + 0:07 min
← 2014	2016 →

The Tour of Flanders 2015 was the 99th edition of this cycling classic and took place on March 27, 2015. The race was held on a Sunday, exactly one week before the classic Paris – Roubaix . The one-day race was part of the UCI WorldTour 2015 and within this the eighth of 28 races. It was also the second of five cycling monuments in the 2015 season. The total distance of the race was 264.2 kilometers. The Norwegian Alexander Kristoff from the Russian team Katusha won ahead of the Dutch Niki Terpstra from the Belgian team Etixx-Quick Step and the Belgian Greg Van Avermaet from the US team BMC .

For Alexander Kristoff it was the first victory in the Tour of Flanders and already the second victory in one of the monuments of cycling after winning Milan-Sanremo in 2014 . In addition, he was the first Norwegian to win the Tour of Flanders.

Attendees

overview

Overview of the participating teams

17 UCI WorldTeams Ag2r La Mondiale (ALM) Astana Pro Team (AST) BMC Racing Team (BMC) Etixx-Quick Step (EQS) FDJ (FDJ) IAM Cycling (IAM)	Team Katusha (KAT) Lampre-Merida (LAM) Lotto Soudal (LTS) Movistar Team (MOV) Orica GreenEdge (OGE) Team Sky (SKY)	Team Cannondale-Garmin (TCG) Tinkoff Saxo (TCS) Trek Factory Racing (TFR) Team Giant-Alpecin (TGA) Team Lotto NL-Jumbo (TLJ)
8 UCI Professional Continental Teams Androni Giocattoli (AND) Bora Argon 18 (BOA) Cofidis, Solutions Crédits (COF)	Team Europcar (EUC) MTN-Qhubeka (MTN) Roompot Oranje Peloton (ROP)	Topsport Vlaanderen-Baloise (TSV) Wanty-Groupe Gobert (WGG)

The 17 UCI WorldTeams of the 2015 season were eligible to start . In addition, the organizer gave wildcards to eight UCI Professional Continental Teams . The 25 participating teams competed with eight drivers each, with the exception of the Cofidis team, which started with only seven drivers. This resulted in a starting field of 199 drivers from 32 nations. Among the drivers were 18 Germans, three Austrians and five Swiss.

Favorites

One of the favorites to win was Geraint Thomas (SKY) from Great Britain . With his success at E3 Harelbeke , he was able to win a classic in the 2015 WorldTour. The runner-up in that race, Zdeněk Štybar (EQS), also had a good chance of victory. Other aspirants to win were Niki Terpstra (EQS), the winner of the classic Paris – Roubaix 2014 , and Sep Vanmarcke (TLJ), who finished third in the previous year on the podium at the Tour of Flanders. Thanks to his good results in previous editions, Belgian Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) was also a favorite. He came fourth in 2012, seventh in 2013 and second in 2014. In addition, the Slovak Peter Sagan (TCS), the runner-up in 2013, and the Norwegian Alexander Kristoff (KAT), winner of Milan – Sanremo 2014 , had a good chance of winning. Jürgen Roelandts (LTS), John Degenkolb (TGA), winner of Milan – Sanremo 2015 , and Jelle Wallays (TSV) also counted among the extended circle of favorites .

With Stijn Devolder (TFR), winner of 2008 and 2009 , only one former winner of the Tour of Flanders was at the start. The two classic specialists, Tom Boonen (EQS) and defending champion Fabian Cancellara (TFR), could not take part in this edition due to injuries. Boonen crashed on the 1st stage from Paris – Nice , Cancellara at the E3 Harelbeke . Both have already won the race three times.

route

Routing

Compared to the previous year, two more "slipways" were used. The Tiegemberg and the Berendries came back into the program of the race. As a result, a total of 19 instead of 17 "slipways" were passed. The total distance of the race increased by 4.4 kilometers from 259.8 kilometers to 264.2 kilometers.

The race started in the city of Bruges . From there the route headed south. The first part of the course ran on flat terrain. After 87.2 kilometers, the drivers reached the first “slipway”, the Tiengemberg. After almost 100 kilometers, the destination Oudenaarde was passed for the first time . Shortly afterwards there was the first refreshment zone at km 102.7. The second “slipway” followed at 112.2 km, the Oude Kwaremont was used for the first time. By about halfway through the race, three more "Hellingen" were passed. These were the Kortekeer , the Eikenberg and the Wolvenberg . The three flat pavé sectors, Ruiterstraat , Kergate and Holleweg , were then on the agenda. After the Molenberg was reached at kilometer 145.8 , two more flat cobblestone sections followed: Paddestraat and Haaghoek . Then the drivers reached the “Hellingen” seven to ten within the next 23 kilometers: Leberg , Berendries, Valkenberg and Kaperij . After 188.8 kilometers there was the second refreshment zone in Flobecq . A few kilometers later the Kanarieberg was passed. This was followed by the second passage of the Oude Kwaremont and the first of the Paterberg . The next "slipway" was the Koppenberg . This and the Paterberg were the steepest climbs of the day with maximum inclines of over 20 percent. This was followed by the Mariaborrestraat pavé sector at kilometer 223.7. The next three "Hellingen" followed with Steenbeekdries , Taaienberg and Kruisberg / Hotond. Then we went on a small lap on which the Oude Kwaremont was driven for the third time and the Paterberg for the second time. These were the last two slips of the day. From the last ascent at kilometer 251.0, there were still 13.2 flat kilometers to the finish. The race ended after 264.2 kilometers in the city of Oudenaarde.

During the race, the provinces of West Flanders , East Flanders in the Flemish Region and Hainaut in the Walloon Region were crossed in chronological order after the first run .

"Hellingen"

During the race 16 different "slipways" were driven. However, since some of them were passed several times, there were a total of 19 climbs.

No.	Ascent (passage)	Kilometers from the start	Kilometers to the goal	length	of which pavé sector	average slope	maximum slope
1	Tiegemberg (1/1)	087.2	177.0	0750 m	-	05.6%	09.0%
2	Oude Kwaremont (1/3)	112.2	152.0	2200 m	1500 m	04.0%	11.6%
3	Kortekeer (1/1) a	122.5	141.7	000? m	000? m	00,? %	00,? %
4th	Eikenberg (1/1)	130.0	134.2	1200 m	1200 m	05.2%	10.0%
5	Wolvenberg (1/1)	133.1	131.1	0645 m	-	07.9%	17.3%
6th	Molenberg (1/1)	145.8	118.4	0463 m	0300 m	07.0%	14.2%
7th	Leberg (1/1)	166.3	097.9	0950 m	-	04.2%	13.8%
8th	Berendries (1/1)	170.4	093.8	0940 m	-	07.0%	12.3%
9	Valkenberg (1/1)	175.7	088.5	0540 m	-	08.1%	12.8%
10	Kaperij (1/1)	186.3	077.9	1000 m	-	05.5%	09.0%
11	Kanarieberg (1/1)	193.7	070.5	1000 m	-	07.7%	14.0%
12	Oude Kwaremont (2/3)	209.6	054.6	2200 m	1500 m	04.0%	11.6%
13	Paterberg (1/2)	213.0	051.2	0360 m	0360 m	12.9%	20.3%
14th	Koppenberg (1/1)	219.6	044.6	0600 m	0600 m	11.6%	22.0%
15th	Steenbeekdries (1/1)	225.0	039.2	0700 m	-	05.3%	06.7%
16	Taaienberg (1/1)	227.5	036.7	0530 m	0500 m	06.6%	15.8%
17th	Kruisberg / Hotond (1/1)	237.7	026.5	2500 m	0450 m	05.0%	09.0%
18th	Oude Kwaremont (3/3)	247.5	016.7	2200 m	1500 m	4.0%	11.6%
19th	Paterberg (2/2)	251.0	013.2	0360 m	360 m	12.9%	20.3%

^a no information on length and incline

Pavé sectors

In addition to the cobblestone sections at the "Hellingen", the race included six different flat pavé sectors, each of which was driven once.

Pavé sector	Kilometers from the start	Kilometers to the goal	length
Ruiterstraat	133.2	131.0	0800 m
Kerkgate	136.5	127.7	2650 m
Holleweg	139.1	125.1	0350 m
Paddestraat	150.8	113.4	2300 m
Haaghoek	163.3	100.9	2000 m
Mariaborrestraat	223.7	040.5	2000 m

Race course

During the race, temperatures around ten degrees Celsius, sunshine and low wind speeds prevailed, which had no influence on the race. The race in Bruges started at 10:15 am. After 9.2 kilometers neutralized, the sharp start took place at 10:30 a.m. The breakaway group of the day had formed about an hour after the start of the race. It initially consisted of Damien Gaudin (ALM), Ralf Matzka (BOA), Matthew Brammeier (MTN), Dylan Groenewegen (ROP) and Jesse Sergent (TFR). A little later Marco Frapporti (AND) and Lars Bak (LTS) joined and the top group of seven stood. So there was no Belgian in the escape group. They reached the first “slipway”, the Tiegemberg, with a lead of 6:30 minutes. In the peloton , the distance was controlled by the Sky and IAM teams. Meanwhile, there were isolated attacks, including by Preben Van Hecke (TSV) and André Greipel (LTS), but these were eliminated without any problems. A change in the racing situation only brought about the attack by Bak from the lead group on the tenth “slipway”, the Kaperij. Only Gaudin could follow him. After the Kanarieberg a chasing group of about ten riders from the peloton formed, but they could not keep their lead for long. Bak and Gaudin were finally overtaken during the first passage of the Paterberg 51 kilometers from the finish. Greipel was the first to pass the next “slipway”, the Koppenberg, with a small margin. There were more attempts to break away on the ascent and descent. During the descent, however, the field of favorites with around 40 drivers came together again. Further attacks within the next few kilometers were also unsuccessful.

About 30 kilometers from the finish there was the decisive attack on the Kruisberg by the Dutchman Niki Terpstra (EQS). Only Alexander Kristoff (KAT) could follow him. The two were quickly half a minute ahead. On the third passage of the Oude Kwaremont there was an attack by Geraint Thomas (SKY), which was followed by Zdeněk Štybar (EQS). However, the two could not break away. But then Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) and Peter Sagan (TCS) succeeded on the Paterberg. At its summit they were about 20 seconds behind the leading duo. Until the goal changed this situation no longer fell. Terpstra and Kristoff were in the lead ahead of their pursuers Van Avermaet and Sagan. In the sprint to the finish, Kristoff was clearly superior to Terpstra and won the race. Behind them, Van Avermaet managed to take Sagan off the ground and get within seven seconds of the first two. Sagan crossed the finish line 16 seconds behind. Tiesj Benoot (LTS) and Lars Boom (AST) were in fifth and sixth, 36 seconds behind. Behind them came an eight-man field from which John Degenkolb (TGA) won the sprint and ended up in seventh place.

There were some unusual incidents during the race. Jesse Sergent, who drove in the leading group, was knocked over by a neutral material truck after about 100 kilometers. He then had to give up the race with a broken collarbone. In another incident, around 20 kilometers later, a neutral material truck was also involved. When an FDJ team car stopped to support Sébastien Chavanel , who was standing on the roadside with a defect, the neutral material car hit the rear of the FDJ team car. Then the FDJ car Chavanel, a driver from their own team, drove around. The athlete got away without injury and both vehicles suffered sheet metal damage. In addition, an advertising sheet collapsed around 60 kilometers from the destination when the field of drivers drove through below. This incident ended unscathed and without a fall for all drivers.

Result

UCI WorldTour

The Tour of Flanders was a 3rd category race within the UCI WorldTour 2015. This is why the ten best drivers - provided they drive for a UCI WorldTeam  - received points for the UCI WorldTour Ranking with the following points distribution:

Distribution of points

placement	1.	2.	3.	4th	5.	6th	7th	8th.	9.	10.
Points	100	80	70	60	50	40	30th	20th	10	4th

Final score

Of the 199 registered drivers, all started, of which 133 made it to the finish.

space	driver	nation	team	time	Points
01.	Alexander Kristoff	NOR	Team Katusha	6:26:32 h (41.011 km / h)	100
02.	Niki Terpstra	NED	Etixx-Quick Step	same time	080
03.	Greg Van Avermaet	BEL	BMC Racing Team	+ 0:07 min	070
04th	Peter Sagan	SVK	Tinkoff-Saxo	+ 0:16 min	060
05.	Tiesj Benoot	BEL	Lotto Soudal	+ 0:36 min	050
06th	Lars Boom	NED	Astana Pro Team	same time	040
07th	John Degenkolb	GER	Team Giant-Alpecin	+ 0:49 min	030th
08th.	Jürgen Roelandts	BEL	Lotto Soudal	same time	020th
09.	Zdeněk Štybar	CZE	Etixx-Quick Step	same time	010
10.	Martin Elmiger	SUI	IAM Cycling	same time	004th

Web links

• Official website (Dutch, French and English)
• Ronde van Vlaanderen 2015 in the database of Radsportseiten.net
• 99th Ronde van Vlaanderen / Tour des Flandres (1st UWT) in the ProCyclingStats.com database

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Cycling: Kristoff wins Tour of Flanders, Degenkolb is seventh. In: ZEIT ONLINE. ZEIT ONLINE GmbH , April 5, 2015, accessed on April 14, 2015 . 
2. ↑ Stephen Puddicombe: Tour of Flanders 2015: Who will win? In: Cycling Weekly. Time Inc. (UK) Ltd., April 1, 2015, accessed May 7, 2015 . 
3. ↑ Tour of Flanders 2015: Favorites. In: Cyclingstage.com. Cyclingstage.com, accessed May 7, 2015 . 
4. ↑ Christine Kroth: Preview of the 99th Tour of Flanders. In: LiVE-Radsport.ch. LiVE-Radsport, April 4, 2015, accessed May 7, 2015 . 
5. ↑ Schedule. (PDF; 101 kB) In: Flanders Classics. Flanders Classics NV, March 15, 2015, accessed May 7, 2015 (Dutch). 
6. ↑ ^{a b} Roadmap. (PDF; 934 kB) (No longer available online.) In: Flanders Classics. Flanders Classics NV, March 15, 2015, archived from the original on April 10, 2015 ; Retrieved May 7, 2015 (Dutch). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
7. ↑ Felix Griep: Alexander Kristoff wins the 99th Ronde van Vlaanderen after a 28 km escape with Niki Terpstra. In: LiVE-Radsport.ch. LiVE-Radsport, April 5, 2015, accessed May 7, 2015 . 
8. ^ ^{A b} Daniel Hagen: Tour of Flanders 2015. In: Radsport-Seite.de. Daniel Hagen, accessed on May 7, 2015 . 
9. ↑ Sergent hit by material wagons on tour of Flanders. In: radsport-news.com. Sport Aktiv Media GmbH, April 5, 2015, accessed on May 7, 2015 . 
10. ↑ Results Ronde van Vlaanderen / Tour des Flandres (BEL / UWT) - 2015. (No longer available online.) In: uci.ch. Union Cycliste Internationale , April 5, 2015, archived from the original on April 19, 2015 ; accessed on April 18, 2015 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.