2017 Tour of Flanders

{{Infobox cycling race report

| name = 2017 Tour of Flanders

| series = 2017 UCI World Tour

| race_no = 13

| season_no = 37

| image =

| image_caption =

| image_size =

| date = 2 April 2017

| stages = 1

| distance = 260.8

| unit = km

| time = 6h 23' 45"{{cite web|url=http://uitslagen.kbwb-rlvb.com/index_bestanden/pdf2017/04-02RVVLAANDERENELITEUITSLAG.pdf|title=Uitslag - Résultat - Result|work=KBWB-RVLB.com|publisher=Royal Belgian Cycling League|date=2 April 2017|access-date=2 April 2017}}

| speed =

| first = Philippe Gilbert

| first_team = {{UCI team code|QST|2017}}

| first_nat = BEL

| second = Greg Van Avermaet

| second_team = {{UCI team code|BMC|2017}}

| second_nat = BEL

| third = Niki Terpstra

| third_team = {{UCI team code|QST|2017}}

| third_nat = NED

| previous = 2016

| next = 2018

}}

The 2017 Tour of Flanders ({{langx|nl|Ronde van Vlaanderen 2017}}) was the 101st edition of the Tour of Flanders, a one-day cycling classic, that took place on 2 April 2017. It was the second monument race of the 2017 cycling season and the thirteenth event of the 2017 UCI World Tour.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-expands-worldtour-to-37-events/ |title=UCI expands WorldTour to 37 events |access-date=2 October 2016 |work=Cycling News}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.uci.ch/pressreleases/the-uci-reveals-expanded-uci-worldtour-calendar-for-207/ |title=The UCI reveals expanded UCI WorldTour calendar for 2017 |access-date=2 October 2016 |work=UCI}} The race marked the pinnacle of the Flemish Cycling Week.

The race was won by Belgian national champion Philippe Gilbert from the {{UCI team code|QST|2017}} team, after a solo attack on the Oude Kwaremont and holding off the rest of the field over the remaining {{convert|55|km|adj=off}}.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-flanders-2017/results/|title=Philippe Gilbert wins Tour of Flanders after epic solo break|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Immediate Media Company|date=2 April 2017|access-date=2 April 2017}} Second place went to another Belgian, Greg Van Avermaet of the {{UCI team code|BMC|2017}}, beating Dutch riders Niki Terpstra ({{UCI team code|QST|2017|nolink=yes}}) and Dylan van Baarle from {{UCI team code|EFD|2017}} in a three-up sprint finish for the podium placings.

Route

File:'De_Reus_Café_at_Grote_Markt_22'_by_Tania_Dey.JPG hosted the start of the race on its central Market Square for the first time.]]

File:Ronde van Vlaanderen 2017 lap1.png

File:Ronde van Vlaanderen 2016 lap2.png

The city of Antwerp staged the start of the event for the first time, after 19 starts in Bruges, marking the first time the Tour of Flanders addressed the province of Antwerp.{{cite web|title=Muur van Geraardsbergen returns for 2017 Tour of Flanders|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/muur-van-geraardsbergen-returns-for-2017-tour-of-flanders/|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Immediate Media Company|access-date=10 October 2016}} The race finished in Oudenaarde for a total distance of {{convert|260.8|km|adj=off}} and saw the renewed inclusion of the Muur van Geraardsbergen, one of the emblematic climbs of the race.{{cite web|title=101° Ronde van Vlaanderen|trans-title=101st Tour of Flanders|language=nl|url=http://www.rondevanvlaanderen.be/sites/default/files/rvv2017-elite-men-roadmap_0.pdf|work=|publisher=Flanders Classics|access-date=31 March 2017|archive-date=1 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401061006/http://www.rondevanvlaanderen.be/sites/default/files/rvv2017-elite-men-roadmap_0.pdf|url-status=dead}}

The first {{convert|116|km|adj=off}} of the race are on all-flat roads from Antwerp via Sint-Niklaas, Dendermonde, Aalst and Zottegem towards Oudenaarde, where the race passes for the first time after {{convert|101|km|adj=off}}; before addressing the first of 18 climbs, the Oude Kwaremont after {{convert|116|km|adj=off}}. The Oude Kwaremont, which has been the focal point of the Ronde in the last few years, appears three times on the route and its last two appearances are paired with the Paterberg three kilometres later.{{cite news|last=Fletcher|first=Patrick|title=Tour of Flanders 2017 preview|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-flanders-2017/preview/|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Immediate Media Company|date=31 March 2017|access-date=2 April 2017}} The Muur van Geraardsbergen is the ninth categorised climb at {{convert|95|km|adj=off}} from the finish.

The final {{convert|75|km|adj=off}} were identical to previous editions. Of the final nine climbs, first was the Kanarieberg, then the first combination of Oude Kwaremont–Paterberg, followed just {{convert|6|km|adj=off}} later by the roughly-cobbled Koppenberg, the steepest climb of the race. The Koppenberg was immediately followed by the flat cobbled sector of the Mariaborrestraat, leading to the Steenbeekdries and Taaienberg climbs. The Kruisberg in Ronse came at {{convert|26|km|adj=off}} from the finish, before heading to the final two climbs. The second pairing of Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg represented the end game of the race, preceding the {{convert|13.2|km|adj=on}} run-in to the finish.

=Categorised climbs and cobbles=

File:Geraardsbergen - Oudeberg top 2.jpg, with gradients touching 20%, is re-included in the course after a five-year absence.]]

File:Paterberg 2014 - België.jpg in Kluisbergen is the last climb of the race with just a {{convert|13.2|km|adj=on}} run-in remaining to Oudenaarde.]]

File:Sint-Kornelis-Horebeke - Haaghoek 2.jpg

Eighteen categorised climbs are programmed, of which 12 are cobbled. In addition to the climbs, five sectors of flat cobbled roads are included.

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" \|+ Climbs and cobbled sections in the 2017 Tour of Flanders
scope=col rowspan=2\| {{abbr\|No.\|Number}} ! scope=col rowspan=2\| Name ! scope=col colspan=2\| Distance from ! scope=col rowspan=2\| Surface ! scope=col rowspan=2\| Length (metres) ! scope=col colspan=2\| Gradient (%)
scope=col \| Start ({{abbr\|km\|kilometres}}) ! scope=col \| Finish ({{abbr\|km\|kilometres}}) ! scope=col \| ({{Tooltip\|ave.\|average}}) ! scope=col \| ({{Tooltip\|max.\|maximum}})
– ! scope=row \| Lippenhovestraat \| 85.2 \| 175.6 \| cobbles \| 1300 \|colspan=2\| —
– ! scope=row \| Paddestraat \| 86.6 \| 174.2 \| cobbles \| 1500 \|colspan=2\| —
1 ! scope=row \| Oude Kwaremont \| 116.3 \| 144.5 \| cobbles \| 2200 \| 4% \| 11.6%
2 ! scope=row \| Kortekeer \| 126.8 \| 134.0 \| asphalt \| 1000 \| 6.4% \| 17.1%
3 ! scope=row \| Eikenberg \| 134.5 \| 126.3 \| cobbles \| 1200 \| 5.2% \| 10%
4 ! scope=row \| Wolvenberg \| 137.6 \| 123.2 \| asphalt \| 645 \| 7.9% \| 17.3%
– ! scope=row \| Holleweg \| 137.7 \| 123.1 \| cobbles \| 1500 \|colspan=2\| —
– ! scope=row \| Haaghoek \| 143.4 \| 117.4 \| cobbles \| 2000 \|colspan=2\| —
5 ! scope=row \| Leberg \| 146.4 \| 114.4 \| asphalt \| 950 \| 4.2% \| 13.8%
6 ! scope=row \| Berendries \| 150.5 \| 110.3 \| asphalt \| 940 \| 7% \| 12.3%
7 ! scope=row \| Tenbosse \| 155.5 \| 105.3 \| asphalt \| 450 \| 6.9% \| 8.7%
8 ! scope=row \| Muur van Geraardsbergen \| 165.8 \| 95.0 \| cobbles \| 1075 \| 9.3% \| 19.8%
9 ! scope=row \| La Houppe \| 184.5 \| 76.3 \| cobbles \| 2800 \| 3.3% \| 10%
10 ! scope=row \| Kanarieberg \| 190.3 \| 70.5 \| asphalt \| 1000 \| 7.7% \| 14%
11 ! scope=row \| Oude Kwaremont \| 206.2 \| 54.6 \| cobbles \| 2200 \| 4% \| 11.6%
12 ! scope=row \| Paterberg \| 209.6 \| 51.2 \| cobbles \| 360 \| 12.9% \| 20.3%
13 ! scope=row \| Koppenberg \| 216.2 \| 44.6 \| cobbles \| 600 \| 11.6% \| 22%
– ! scope=row \| Mariaborrestraat \| 220.3 \| 40.5 \| cobbles \| 2000 \|colspan=2\| —
14 ! scope=row \| Steenbeekdries \| 221.6 \| 39.2 \| asphalt \| 700 \| 5.3% \| 6.7%
15 ! scope=row \| Taaienberg \| 224.1 \| 36.7 \| cobbles \| 530 \| 6.6% \| 15.8%
16 ! scope=row \| Kruisberg \| 234.3 \| 26.5 \| asphalt \| 2500 \| 5% \| 9%
17 ! scope=row \| Oude Kwaremont \| 244.1 \| 16.7 \| cobbles \| 2200 \| 4% \| 11.6%
18 ! scope=row \| Paterberg \| 247.6 \| 13.2 \| cobbles \| 360 \| 12.9% \| 20.3%

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ Climbs and cobbled sections in the 2017 Tour of Flanders

scope=col rowspan=2| {{abbr|No.|Number}}

! scope=col rowspan=2| Name

! scope=col colspan=2| Distance from

! scope=col rowspan=2| Surface

! scope=col rowspan=2| Length
(metres)

! scope=col colspan=2| Gradient (%)

scope=col | Start
({{abbr|km|kilometres}})

! scope=col | Finish
({{abbr|km|kilometres}})

! scope=col | ({{Tooltip|ave.|average}})

! scope=col | ({{Tooltip|max.|maximum}})

–

! scope=row | Lippenhovestraat

| 85.2

| 175.6

| cobbles

| 1300

|colspan=2| —

–

! scope=row | Paddestraat

| 86.6

| 174.2

| cobbles

| 1500

|colspan=2| —

! scope=row | Oude Kwaremont

| 116.3

| 144.5

| cobbles

| 2200

| 4%

| 11.6%

! scope=row | Kortekeer

| 126.8

| 134.0

| asphalt

| 1000

| 6.4%

| 17.1%

! scope=row | Eikenberg

| 134.5

| 126.3

| cobbles

| 1200

| 5.2%

| 10%

! scope=row | Wolvenberg

| 137.6

| 123.2

| asphalt

| 645

| 7.9%

| 17.3%

–

! scope=row | Holleweg

| 137.7

| 123.1

| cobbles

| 1500

|colspan=2| —

–

! scope=row | Haaghoek

| 143.4

| 117.4

| cobbles

| 2000

|colspan=2| —

! scope=row | Leberg

| 146.4

| 114.4

| asphalt

| 950

| 4.2%

| 13.8%

! scope=row | Berendries

| 150.5

| 110.3

| asphalt

| 940

| 7%

| 12.3%

! scope=row | Tenbosse

| 155.5

| 105.3

| asphalt

| 450

| 6.9%

| 8.7%

! scope=row | Muur van Geraardsbergen

| 165.8

| 95.0

| cobbles

| 1075

| 9.3%

| 19.8%

! scope=row | La Houppe

| 184.5

| 76.3

| cobbles

| 2800

| 3.3%

| 10%

! scope=row | Kanarieberg

| 190.3

| 70.5

| asphalt

| 1000

| 7.7%

| 14%

! scope=row | Oude Kwaremont

| 206.2

| 54.6

| cobbles

| 2200

| 4%

| 11.6%

! scope=row | Paterberg

| 209.6

| 51.2

| cobbles

| 360

| 12.9%

| 20.3%

! scope=row | Koppenberg

| 216.2

| 44.6

| cobbles

| 600

| 11.6%

| 22%

–

! scope=row | Mariaborrestraat

| 220.3

| 40.5

| cobbles

| 2000

|colspan=2| —

! scope=row | Steenbeekdries

| 221.6

| 39.2

| asphalt

| 700

| 5.3%

| 6.7%

! scope=row | Taaienberg

| 224.1

| 36.7

| cobbles

| 530

| 6.6%

| 15.8%

! scope=row | Kruisberg

| 234.3

| 26.5

| asphalt

| 2500

| 5%

| 9%

! scope=row | Oude Kwaremont

| 244.1

| 16.7

| cobbles

| 2200

| 4%

| 11.6%

! scope=row | Paterberg

| 247.6

| 13.2

| cobbles

| 360

| 12.9%

| 20.3%

Participating teams

25 teams competed in the race. The 18 UCI WorldTeams were automatically invited and obliged to participate in the race,{{cite web|url=http://www.uci.ch/mm/Document/News/Rulesandregulation/16/82/39/2-ROA-20150619-E_English.pdf|title=UCI Cycling Regulations: Part 2: Road Races page 110 article 2.15.127|work=Union Cycliste Internationale|access-date=20 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702030045/http://www.uci.ch/mm/Document/News/Rulesandregulation/16/82/39/2-ROA-20150619-E_English.pdf|archive-date=2 July 2015}} while an additional seven Professional Continental teams were given wildcard entries, when these were announced on 28 February 2017.{{cite news|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tour-of-flanders-announces-seven-wildcard-teams-for-2017/|title=Tour of Flanders announces seven wildcard teams for 2017|work=Cyclingnews.com|publisher=Immediate Media Company|date=28 February 2017|access-date=31 March 2017}} Jens Keukeleire of {{UCI team code|ORS|2017}} pulled out of the race on the morning of the start,{{cite news|last=Dirkx|first=Niels|date=2 April 2017|title=Keukeleire komt niet aan de start van de Ronde|language=nl|trans-title=Keukeleire does not start the Ronde|url=http://www.sport.be/nl/wielrennen/article.html?Article_ID=799516|work=Sport.be|publisher=Golazo Media NV|access-date=2 April 2017}} making a total peloton of 199 riders.{{cite web|url=http://www.rondevanvlaanderen.be/sites/default/files/pdf/rvv17_provisionalstartlist_v3103_1.pdf|title=Ronde van Vlaanderen - Tour des Flandres: List of participants|work=|publisher=Flanders Classics|access-date=31 March 2017|date=31 March 2017|archive-date=1 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401144409/http://www.rondevanvlaanderen.be/sites/default/files/pdf/rvv17_provisionalstartlist_v3103_1.pdf|url-status=dead}}

{{cyclingteamlist|ALM|AST|TBM|BMC|BOH|EFD|DDD|FDJ|KAT|TLJ|LTS|MOV|ORS|QST|SKY|SUN|TFS|team1={{UCI team code|UAD|2017b}}|title = UCI WorldTeams|year=2017}}

{{cyclingteamlist|title = UCI Professional Continental teams|year=2017|COF|DEN|RNL|SVB|VWC|WGG|WIL}}