🎥 They didn't show this on TV: This is what the peloton did with Wout van Aert on the Paterberg and after the Oude Kwaremont

As a result, we didn’t see in which position the Belgian favorite climbed the Paterberg and Oude Kwaremont, simply because there were no television images available. Fortunately, the YouTube channel Cycling Flanders Cross fills in the gaps with footage from the Paterberg and the Karnemelkbeekstraat — also known as the E3 Hill — which follows shortly after the Kwaremont.

In the footage, we first see Van der Poel, Pedersen, and Ganna powering past, along with the strong Casper Pedersen and Aimé De Gendt. The group with Jorgenson, Wellens, Matteo Trentin, Stefan Küng, Jasper Stuyven, and Joshua Tarling was already known to be chasing, but everything happening in the peloton is fresh insight.

On the Paterberg, Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X) is leading the big group, closely followed by Mike Teunissen of XDS-Astana. The strong-riding Dutchman eventually won the peloton sprint for tenth place. Also well-positioned were Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ), Arjen Livyns (Lotto), Rasmus Tiller (Uno-X), and Gianni Vermeersch (Alpecin-Deceuninck), with Van Aert just behind them.

On the Oude Kwaremont, Florian Vermeersch (UAE Emirates-XRG) attacked with Van Aert on his wheel, bringing the duo just ahead of the peloton into the Karnemelkbeekstraat. There, teammate Tiesj Benoot bridged across, along with Madouas, Livyns, Nils Politt (UAE Emirates-XRG), Toms Skujins (Lidl-Trek), and Markus Hoelgaard from Uno-X. Eventually, it all came back together, and Van Aert finished in fifteenth place.

What they did show on TV were the behind-the-scenes moments before the podium ceremony. Filippo Ganna, Mathieu van der Poel, and Mads Pedersen were seen relaxing together on a couch, with a heater blasting warmth at the trio. It was much needed, as the final hour of racing had been soaked in rain. While the announcer was giving it his all in the background, the three stars had a few minutes to casually chat among themselves.

"Are you riding Gent–Wevelgem?" Van der Poel asks Ganna. The Italian replies no: "I have to ride the Tour of Flanders," he responds, sounding rather gloomy. Van der Poel raises an eyebrow—"Isn't that nice?" he wonders. "For you maybe," Ganna retorts. "You're flying." The INEOS leader clearly isn’t thrilled about the Belgian monument, but his podium companions try to lift his spirits. "This is much harder than Flanders. This is one of the toughest spring classics," says Pedersen. Ganna cracks a smile: "I wanted to cry in the last 20 kilometers," he laughs.