Gallery: Van Vleuten’s second Flanders win, 10 years in the making
Way back at the 2011 Tour of Flanders, a relatively unknown Dutch rider by the name of Annemiek van Vleuten took the biggest win of her fledgling career. The 28-year-old, just a couple years into life as a pro cyclist, got into the winning move of two in the final kilometres, then handily won the sprint.
A decade later, at Sunday’s 2021 Tour of Flanders, Van Vleuten snagged her second victory at ‘De Ronde’. Nowadays Van Vleuten is anything but anonymous in the bunch – she’s a former world champ, the reigning European champion, and the winner of more than 75 pro races. So when she soloed clear on the Paterberg with less than 15 km to go, it was always going to take something pretty special to pull her back.
As is so often the case, there was a lack of cohesion behind, and 38-year-old Van Vleuten rode to yet another big win, this one just days after her last at Dwars door Vlaanderen.
Joris Knapen was at the race shooting for Rhode.Photo, and Laura Fletcher was there for The Peloton Brief. Along with the Cor Vos photo agency they bring you the terrific photos you see below.
Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (right) and Brodie Chapman were two cards for FDJ Nouvelle Aquitaine Futuroscope on the day. 
Plantur-Pura is a team of cyclocross stars getting a chance to race on the road. 
Marianne Vos has won Flanders once, back in 2013. 
They’re not quite as rough as the cobbles at Paris-Roubaix, but still they’re far from easy to ride. 
There was something of a lull through the middle portion of the race as riders waited for the climbs in the back half. 
Belgian champ Lotte Kopecky (centre) was one of the riders to beat. 
French champ Audrey Cordon-Ragot spent some time off the front on her own, but was eventually reeled back in. 
Spectators weren’t allowed at the race, but if your house backs on to the race course, well, you’re in luck. 
A puncture for Kopecky came at an inopportune moment, likely costing her a shot at the victory. 
World champion Anna van der Breggen ramped up the pace on the Oude Kwaremont in the closing kilometres, shredding the field. 
The race was decided on the final climb: the Paterberg. 
Van Vleuten punched away … 
… and opened up a gap while the chasers tried to get organised behind. 
But it wasn’t to be. 
That’s two wins in a week for Van Vleuten who appears to be back to her best after a sluggish start to the season. 
Seventh for Uttrup Ludwig. 
German champ Lisa Brennauer (left) took out the sprint for second, ahead of Australia’s Grace Brown in third. 
But the day belonged to Annemiek van Vleuten. What will the Dutchwoman win next?
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