It was a Monument weekend with the Tour of Flanders and we have the tweets to prove it! And once again, the winner wasn’t the rider that most people were talking about. That red and white nat champ’s jersey gives Kasper Asgreen some real superpowers.
Daring to race
Following on from his marvellous E3 win the week before, Kasper Asgreen proved that he’s a force to be reckoned with in the spring classics – he rides his own race, shows no fear and isn’t intimidated by anyone.
“Nice dreams you have there, it would be a shame to see them crushed.”, Asgreen.
— nyvelocity (@nyvelocity) April 4, 2021
Tour of Flanders Result (Look away now if you don't want to know!)
What a race! After a war of attrition Kasper Asgreen w ins at the 2021 Tour of Flanders having take the fight to Mathieu Van Der Poel in the closing meters and proving to be the last man standing! pic.twitter.com/2wdxAaO0th— GlobalCyclingNetwork (@gcntweet) April 4, 2021
"He is someone who dares to race and dares to continue to the finish."#sbscycling #couchpeloton #RVV21https://t.co/uAytK4BN9R
— CyclingCentral (@CyclingCentral) April 5, 2021
Here’s my theory about today. Top of the Paterberg, Asgreen knew he had van der Poel. Big balls to back his sprint, but he is quick.
— David Hunter (@cyclingmole) April 4, 2021
Let's stop talking rubbish…Kasper Asgreen showed some balls today to put the win down to a sprint…not many would have given him a chance…2 UP sprint for the win…all or nothing…Great finish 👊
— Brian Smith (@BriSmithy) April 4, 2021
I’m old enough to remember when everybody used to be afraid to take van der Poel to the finish.
— spokeydokey (@spokedoke) April 4, 2021
The LouLou bit didn’t work out for Mihai, but he pretty much got the rest of it right.
The most likely scenario is that Deceuninck will destroy the race at some point and isolate WVA and MVDP. Probably Asgreen will attack first. Without Styby, they will be weaker but still the strongest. After what happened last year, I admit that I will cheer for Loulou. #RVV21 pic.twitter.com/jgHdm5nsoO
— Mihai Simion (@faustocoppi60) April 4, 2021
With it just down to Van der Poel and Asgreen, everyone thought it was a foregone conclusion that MvdP would do the double
That one aged like a $3 bottle of vinegar https://t.co/o6BTcUzlkK
— Peter Flax (@Pflax1) April 4, 2021
Bugger me. #RVV
— John Galloway (@VelocastJohn) April 4, 2021
#TheWolfpack spirit 👊
Photo: @BeelWout pic.twitter.com/6n84rlezg7— Deceuninck-QuickStep (@deceuninck_qst) April 4, 2021
Respect. #RVV21 @k_asgreen @mathieuvdpoel pic.twitter.com/bkIQqm4Uto
— daniel (@cyclingreporter) April 4, 2021
Winners interview pic.twitter.com/KxS0KEnHip
— British Cycle Sport (@VeloUK) April 4, 2021
That bouquet is a nice base for a tasty casserole.
Some fresh vegetables for @k_asgreen after his victory in Flanders' Finest! Perfect for a tasty recovery after a hard race! 🥕 #RVV21 pic.twitter.com/BlLY2jcq3m
— Ronde Van Vlaanderen (@RondeVlaanderen) April 4, 2021
A vegetable bouquet? The Asgreen family are going to be living high on casseroles for the next few weeks. pic.twitter.com/jGEhW015Dy
— Journal Velo (@JournalVelo) April 4, 2021
Ronde van Vlaanderen #RVV21 | TOP10 pic.twitter.com/YX1N74OMvz
— ammattipyöräily (@ammattipyoraily) April 4, 2021
Now this is quite the list to be on
Winners of @E3SaxoClassic and @RondeVlaanderen in same year:
1963: Noël Foré
1976: Walter Planckaert
1979: Jan Raas
1998: Johan Museeuw
1999: Peter Van Petegem
2005, 2006 and 2012: Tom Boonen
2010 and 2013: Fabian Cancellara
2018: Niki Terpstra
2021: Danish legend! 🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰— Jarle Fredagsvik (@Fredagsvik) April 4, 2021
Kasper Asgreen becomes the second-ever Dane to win the Tour of Flanders after Rolf Sørensen in 1997. He also takes Deceuninck – Quick-Step's ninth De Ronde victory since the turn of the millennium. pic.twitter.com/5OEkNvrOP6
— The Road Book (@CyclingAlmanack) April 4, 2021
E3 and now the Ronde for Asgreen pic.twitter.com/OIHonJSOmE
— the Inner Ring (@inrng) April 4, 2021
And those who weren’t Asgreen
MvdP says he wears his white shorts when he’s feeling good – so the black shorts meant that he wasn’t looking for much?
He was really down on himself in the preface interview: "I think I left my best form in Italy." Black shorts probably a reflection of that.
— ednl 🇪🇺 (@ednl) April 4, 2021
He obviously felt pretty good for the entire race bar the final 30-some metres.
The lactic acid in MDVPs legs must have been overflowing to stop with meters to go. #RVV
— Chris Carlson (@Kiss_my_Panache) April 4, 2021
GVA was looking for his first Flanders title – he didn’t get it, mind you, but he did round off the podium on the third step. And he was still in gold.
Aww! 😍 Greg van Avermaet gets a bit of quality time as the peloton heads through his home town! #sbscycling #RVV21 #couchpeloton pic.twitter.com/T0pwcGYqEZ
— CyclingCentral (@CyclingCentral) April 4, 2021
Unpopular opinion: I love the GVA has stuck with Gold. You’ll all@miss it when it’s gone. Unless he wins again! #RVV21 #CouchPeloton pic.twitter.com/QuOnagUlNS
— Belinda (@reallyspoketome) April 4, 2021
Greg Van Avermaet: "It's a benefit not being the big favourite today, not everyone will be watching me in the peloton."
Also Greg: "I WANT EVERYTHING GOLD!!"#RVV21
— Max's Cycling Thoughts (@CyclingOpinions) April 4, 2021
Last year’s runner-up in Flanders was one of the hot favourites for the day. But unfortunately Wout Van Aert just didn’t had the oomph when he needed it on the last climbs.
That feels like a “no”. https://t.co/tEPGaCh88s
— nyvelocity (@nyvelocity) April 4, 2021
Alaphilippe throws an elbow, the look on Wout’s face says, “This guy.”
— nyvelocity (@nyvelocity) April 4, 2021
Possibly one of the most poetic tweets about a rider who is pissed off
WVA goes back and his anger is a light-refracting incandescence that skittles the spilled water across his cold and boiling face
— базаров нет (@chewy_sky) April 4, 2021
Edge of couch… #rvv pic.twitter.com/R0n3CggIGS
— Grimpeur Bros Specialty Coffee (@GrimpeurBros) April 4, 2021
And a few tweets just too good to miss.
The Oude Kwaremont is like Lawrence of Arabia—longer than anyone wants it to be.
— Peter Flax (@Pflax1) April 4, 2021
Kings of the road #RVV21 pic.twitter.com/U6u068Ttyy
— Rachel (@super_ruck) April 4, 2021
SAGAN: "When the decisive attacks came, my current form just wasn't enough to respond and follow them. I need to keep working in order to reach the level I had before being infected with Covid."
Don't worry Sagz I still love you. https://t.co/qUrdMS7T7o
— Jim Cotton (@jim_c_1985) April 4, 2021
Cofidis corner – Christophe Laporte was making his presence known on Sunday, after coming in second at Dwars door Vlaanderen earlier in the week.
Laporte is having ONE HECK of an under-the-radar spring campaign! Where’s your LesCof report, @JournalVelo?!
— Luke (@LukeTheCycliste) April 4, 2021
Your lack of interest in the classics has you missing the team’s best performances in like…ever.
— Luke (@LukeTheCycliste) April 4, 2021
Boonen, beef and bidons
The obligatory Adam Blythe lovefest (and he deserves it!).
Blythe's incredulity to them letting an Elegant-QuickStep rider go is everyone everywhere #RVV21
— Issie 💙 (@IssieAtch) April 4, 2021
While commentating the first part of the race, Daniel Lloyd said something to the effect that the climbs weren’t particularly difficult, to which Blythe laughed and gave the best line of the entire race.
Have I just come into commentary with Tom Boonen 😂😂😂😂
— midge (@pariswheels) April 4, 2021
On the other hand, it was Unsavoury Corner for the finish of the race.
“A whole tray of beef” is a VERY adult way of describing a men’s race, Carlton. There are children watching, for goodness sake!
— Luke (@LukeTheCycliste) April 4, 2021
Did conjure up a rather unsavoury picture in my mind 😮
— Steph Sittlington (@shamleaf) April 4, 2021
Michal Schar had a ‘Shit Day of Unluck’ with mechanicals a go-go. As he was trying to ride back to the peloton, he tossed his bidon to a fan at the side of the road … which now, inexplicably, is against the UCI rules and he was disqualified from the race. This will be a rule that will provoke outrage and controversy all season long!
“Throwing a bison at a rider” may be my favourite autocorrect yet. I’ve turned off autocorrect on my phone. Maybe time to do it on my Mac as well.
— John Galloway (@VelocastJohn) April 4, 2021
Like so many, I support @michaelschaer !
> @UCI_cycling : YES to minimal pollution / NO to disproportionate measures for riders
> @alexdowsett (like Michael on IG) strikes a good point too btw👇
> so no more @LeTour caravan either from now on I presume? right?#wastegate https://t.co/5NPcdZnSuB— kristof ramon (@kristoframon) April 5, 2021
The crowds might not have been by the roadside, but that didn’t stop the vehicular art in the fields
The guy that out this together now has a great CV https://t.co/OClT5FuZNa
— Journal Velo (@JournalVelo) April 4, 2021
YES YOU DID!! pic.twitter.com/BQeAbUKAm6
— nyvelocity (@nyvelocity) April 4, 2021
Van Baarle and the race no one wanted to win
Dwars door Vlaanderen was a strange race where it felt like the majority of the peloton didn’t want to win it. Well, everyone but Dylan Van Baarle who put in a fine performance to take a solo win.
As with a few other folk I'm a bit baffled by this race. I assume some folk are keeping their powder dry for Sunday.
— John Galloway (@VelocastJohn) March 31, 2021
G2 is full of "you do it".
— nyvelocity (@nyvelocity) March 31, 2021
A very sunny and hard day at the office. Credits to @DylanvanBaarle, but disappointed we did not worked good enough together to close the gap. Sunday’s another chance for a good result! #DDVmen #RideDifferently #RoulonsAutrement pic.twitter.com/R37C8UE6du
— Greg Van Avermaet (@GregVanAvermaet) March 31, 2021
I've always liked Dylan van Baarle. He's a quiet workhorse, often at or near the front of affairs but rarely asked to talk about it. And he looks like a proper old-fashioned bike racer.
#DDV21— Kit Nicholson (@kit_e_nicholson) March 31, 2021
*Attenborough voice*
And here we see the lesser-spotted Ineos Grenadier's (semi) Classics win #DDV21
— Issie 💙 (@IssieAtch) March 31, 2021
Happy to see this from the man who rides like robocop.
— Belinda (@reallyspoketome) March 31, 2021
October is the new April
Paris-Roubaix was on until it was off.
Schrodingers bike race
— William Fotheringham (@willfoth) March 31, 2021
Both the men’s and the women’s race are scheduled for the first weekend in October.
It was very important that both the men’s and women’s edition of @ParisRoubaix be held in 2021.
Pleased that together with all parties concerned, we have found new dates: October 2-3 2021 #UCIWT @UCI_WWT pic.twitter.com/ilTzbpSqZe
— David Lappartient (@DLappartient) April 1, 2021
Pray for October. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/a8vPU9E4dB
— Les Amis de Paris-Roubaix (@A_ParisRoubaix) April 1, 2021
And a cobbled April fools tweet
Hahahahaha ! 😂
Jamais, je dis bien jamais, rien ne pourra reproduire l'effet des pavés du Nord, vent de face dans la tronche ! 🐟🐟🐟 pic.twitter.com/iq9B94kubA
— Julie Dremière (@ju_drem) April 1, 2021
The last word
#MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/HZWYQYYaiD
— Mad Men Quotes (@MadMenQts) April 5, 2021