Tour of Flanders (2018) Photos March 30

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Glistening cobbles ready for the high point of the Flanders Classic, the big event Tour of Flanders	Seen in different light prior to Milan San-Remo, last year's Tour of Flanders winner Philippe GILBERT and retired 3x Tour of Flanders winner, Tom BOONEN	Team EF Education First - Drapac p/b Cannondale training
Sep VANMARCKE leading his EF EDUCATION FIRST - DRAPAC team during recon before he leads them into Tour of Flanders	2015 Tour of Flanders winner, Alexander KRISTOFF (UAE Team Emirates)	Jasper STUYVEN (Team Trek Segafredo)
Vincenzo NIBALI and Team Bahrain - Merida	This year's Milan Sanremo winner Vincenzo NIBALI decided late to race Tour of Flanders	Michal KWIATKOWSKI and Team Sky talking strategy?
BORA - HANSGROHE recon	World Champ and race favorite, Peter Sagan	Jonathan VAUGHTERS (USA) General Manager of Team EF Education First - Drapac shakes hands with Sep VANMARCKE and Sebastian LANGEVELD after signing them to new contracts prior to Tour of Flanders
Greg VAN AVERMAET (BMC Racing Team) and general manager Jim OCHOWICZ: “Flanders is the race that suits me best, it’s the one with 260k, which makes it different to Harelbeke and Gent-Wevelgem.”	Tiesj BENOOT (Lotto Soudal): “It's normal that I am one of the favourites for Sunday after my performances of the past weeks. I am not the main favourite though. Sagan and the Quick-Step team as a whole are one step higher than riders like Van Avermaet, Vanmarcke and me.”	Jasper STUYVEN and John DEGENKOLB at the Trek-Segafredo press conference. Jasper STUYVEN: “I managed to finish in the top 10 in every classic [this year] until now”
Wout VAN AERT (Veranda’s Willems - Crelan): “I'm in the best shape I can be. I'm really looking forward to my first Tour of Flanders. But I don't consider myself a favourite.”	Peter Sagan press conference: “I think our team has improved a lot since last year”	Peter Sagan was impressed with the turn out for his press conference
Media scrum	Thor Hushovd greets the current god of thunder Peter Sagan	Peter Sagan and Specialized launch the 'Sagan Collection' with a look inspired by Sagan's love of muscle cars and American design
The informal press gathering for Oliver NAESEN's (AG2R La Mondiale) press conference: “Of course, having crashed before a big event is never ideal, nevertheless, I am very motivated.”	Philippe Gilbert admits he's not as strong as when he won last year as he sits beside his teammate and E3 Harelbeke winner Niki Terpstra

Stage 2:    Full Results and Report

Peter Sagan signing in early for Tour of Flanders	EF EDUCATION FIRST - DRAPAC rolling in for the teams presentation in Antwerpen	The crowded downtown square in Antwerpen, like the start of no other race but Ronde Van Vlaanderen
Last year's winner, Philippe GILBERT (BEL/QUICK - STEP FLOORS). Finished 3rd + 20s this year.	Bora - Hansgrohe during the teams presentation	Peter SAGAN (SVK/BORA - HANSGROHE) and the MCs
Peter SAGAN (SVK/BORA - HANSGROHE) all business now		Wet cobbles
22 year-old Mads PEDERSEN (DEN/TREK - SEGAFREDO) leading the break before hanging on to finish 2nd + 12s		Big crash with 100 km to go which took down the Belgian champ, Oliver NAESEN (BEL/AG2R LA MONDIALE) who got up to finish 11th + 25s
Peter SAGAN (SVK/BORA - HANSGROHE) on Muur van Geraardsbergen	Philippe GILBERT (BEL/QUICK - STEP FLOORS) followed by Wout VAN AERT (BEL/VERANDA'S WILLEMS - CRELAN) on Muur van Geraardsbergen	Niki TERPSTRA (NED/QUICK - STEP FLOORS) quickly nullified Vincenzo NIBALI's (ITA/Bahrain - Merida) attack before launching his solo bid on the Kruisberg
Niki TERPSTRA (NED/QUICK - STEP FLOORS) leading up the 18th and final climb, the Paterberg, with 14 km to go followed by Mads PEDERSEN (DEN/TREK - SEGAFREDO)		Peter SAGAN (SVK/BORA - HANSGROHE) attacks
Peter SAGAN (SVK/BORA - HANSGROHE) got some distance on the chasing group before he was reeled back in. He finished 6th + 25s	Sep VANMARCKE (BEL/EF EDUCATION FIRST - DRAPAC) and Tiesj BENOOT (BEL/LOTTO SOUDAL) finished in the pack 25s back	Another solo win at Tour of Flanders
11th classics win this year by QUICK - STEP FLOORS and the biggest yet and 3rd win by Niki TERPSTRA (NED/QUICK - STEP FLOORS)	Your 2018 Ronde Van Vlaanderen podium: 2nd Mads PEDERSEN (DEN/TREK - SEGAFREDO) + 12s, 1st Niki TERPSTRA (NED/QUICK - STEP FLOORS) 6:21:25 and 3rd Philippe GILBERT (BEL/QUICK - STEP FLOORS) + 17. At 22 years and 104 days, Mads Pedersen is the youngest person to make the podium at RVV in 40 years.	Terpstra and Gilbert have had lots of practice celebrating on the podium this year. Eight victories in Belgian races for Quick-Step Floors this season: Le Samyn, Dwars door West-Vlaanderen, Nokere Koerse, Handzame Classic, Driedaagse Brugge - De Panne, E3 Harelbeke, Dwars door Vlaanderen and Ronde van Vlaanderen.
Peter Sagan: "It was a very hard and fast Tour of Flanders, right from the outset, with Quick-Step, Sky and BMC setting a strong pace. I'm happy with my performance as well as that of the rest of my teammates, who were there, together with me, whenever it was possible. I gave my best effort to close the gaps, but on my own it was impossible. I'm happy with my condition and I now look forward to Paris-Roubaix, a week from now."