Tour of Flanders 2023 men’s race – Tadej Pogacar makes history after getting the better of Mathieu van der Poel

The average speed today was 44.1kmph which makes it the fastest edition of the Tour of Flanders. The previous fastest edition was in 2001 with an average speed of 43.6kmph.

Tadej Pogacar has become only the third rider in history to win both the Tour de France and Tour of Flanders after Louison Bobet and Eddy Merckx. Here's what he had to say after his latest triumph:

"I think it lived up to its [reputation]. Amazing team work. A day I will never forget. I knew to go solo I needed to go on the Kwaremont the last time. I almost cracked on the Paterberg. I knew it was going to be tough, but it was the only way I was going to win. I could retire after today and be proud of my career. We saw that Sanremo is the most difficult to win. This year I went there in good shape but it was tough. We don't give up - we have Sanremo and Roubaix to go. We'll see [about Roubaix]. I think I need to gain a few kilos and I need to toughen my hands. But we'll see."

And we have a battle royale for third place there with Mads Pedersen and Wout van Aert going shoulder to shoulder for third place - and it's the Dane who just takes the final spot on the podium to deny the Belgian after his late surge.

The Slovenian sensation writes the next sumptuous chapter in his illustrious career with a fine solo win in the Ronde van Vlaanderen. Mathieu van der Poel swerves across the road as he takes second place at 17 seconds to make his record here in the last four years: 1st, 2nd, 1st, 2nd.

He's had to dig deep to ensure no repeat of last year, but finally he can take it all in...

This will be his third win in one of cycling's Monuments after victories in Il Lombardia (2021, 2022) and Liege-Bastogne-Liege (2021). He's still yet to ride Roubaix but you sense he could also win there at some point in his career - and then he came very close to a podium a few weeks ago in Milan-Sanremo. Could Pogacar win all five in his career?

The Belgian is back in the chase group and so the Big Three could yet take all the podium positions today - although you'd like to see someone like Kung, Powless, Wright or Jorgenson up there given what they've done today. Pogacar still has 25 seconds while Van der Poel still has 40 seconds on the others.

Pogacar has extended his lead to 20 seconds over Van der Poel so he should win this unless he picks up a flat tyre. And with the chasers 35 seconds behind the Dutchman it now looks like the only sprint we'll see in Oudenaard will be for the final spot on the podium...

It's on a knife edge still as the Slovenian goes over with 15 seconds on Van der Poel. It's then another 20 seconds before Pedersen comes over just ahead of Powless, then Asgreen, then the other chasers. Can the double Tour de France winner now time trial his way to a victory in De Ronde?

The Dutchman looks behind and then shakes his head and eases up. He then has a second wind and goes hell for leather again - but does he believe that it's now impossible for him? The gap is still only 12 seconds for Pogacar as they hit the steep part of the Paterberg, with Pedersen still in the mix, plus the others closing in...

The Dutchman has the bit between his teeth and he has not given up on this. He's not waiting for Pedersen and had gone all-in on the flat, wide road between the Kwaremont and Pateberg. The gap is 15 seconds. What a race this is. Both riders would be deserving winners.

This race is far from over even if Pogacar is riding like a king out there. He's first over the top of the Kwaremont but if his two chasers can combine behind then we will still have a race on our hands.

One bike length, two, then three... Tadej Pogacar has dropped all the chasers on this penultimate cobbled climb, but Van der Poel is digging deep and not letting the gap get insurmountably big. Fascinating racing this - and Pogacar now has Pedersen in his sights.

Nathan van Hooydonck has sacrificed his chances to go to the aid of Jumbo-Visma team-mate Van Aert, who could really do with a hand behind. Meanwhile, Pogacar and Van der Poel have dragged back Vermeersch into the break, which is now nine strong in pursuit of lone leader Mads Pedersen. Pog has UAE team-mate Trentin setting tempo on the front. They may have lost Tim Wellens earlier in that horror smash but UAE have played a blinder today. But it could all come to nothing if this race ends in a sprint, or if Pedersen holds on...

His left knee bloodied from that earlier fall, Wout van Aert is in no man's land now as he riders in solo pursuit of Van der Poel and Pogacar, who have swept up Vermeersch and have the breakaway in their sights. But the one rider they can't see is Pedersen, who still has 15 seconds on the other seven escapees ahead of the Kwaremont-Paterberg.

The Dutchman puts in a surge on the Kruisberg and while Pogacar can go with him, Van Aert can't and the Belgian duly drops back. Something similar happened in E3 and he ended up winning - but could this be curtains for Van Aert today?

The Jumbo-Visma rider was actually on the front when Van der Poel put in his unseated surge. Pogacar had to dig really deep to sweep past Van Aert and then close the gap.