VIDEO: Pogacar blows Tour of Flanders apart as Van der Poel and Evenepoel respond to decisive Kwaremont attack

Tadej Pogacar has ripped up the 2026 Tour of Flanders on the Oude Kwaremont, delivering the first truly decisive move of the race and forcing an immediate response from his closest rivals.

After a long phase of tension building through the Flemish Ardennes, the world champion made his move on the cobbles, accelerating hard to test the field and draw out the strongest contenders.

Wout van Aert was the first to react, quickly jumping onto Pogacar’s wheel as the pace surged on the climb. But the decisive development came just behind, where Mathieu van der Poel and Remco Evenepoel were forced into a sharp chase after starting the ascent slightly further back. Van der Poel in particular had to close a small gap under pressure, producing a rapid acceleration to bridge across, with Evenepoel following to ensure he was not left behind as the race split apart.

Within seconds, the expected scenario materialised. Pogacar, Van der Poel and Evenepoel moved clear at the front of the race, forming a leading trio that immediately put distance into the rest of the contenders. Van Aert, after initially responding, began to struggle with the sustained effort and was unable to hold the same pace in the latter part of the climb, leaving the three rivals to push on over the top.

Watch the Pogacar attack and the formation of the leading trio below!