For the Belgians the Tour of Flanders It's the most beloved race, the one that's worth a career and, above all, the love of its people. The Belgians have won it 69 times, although it's been three years since the race eluded them. Behind them, with 11 wins, are the Netherlands and Italy. Flanders has often smiled on the Italians, just think that between the victory of Argentine in '90 and Ballan in 2007 There are 14 podium appearances, but the Italian successes began well before.
Starting from Fiorenzo Magni, which will always remain the Lion of FlandersThree victories for him, the only one to achieve a hat-trick from '49 to '51, and his last victory is the most legendary, among the Belgians enraged by the treason, certain that on a day of torment the Italian would collapse. Instead, in the wind and rain, Magni had twice the energy of his rivals. He was gone 70 kilometers from the finish, and only the Frenchman Gauthier, second at 5'35", remained under 10 minutes behind. A bitter lesson for the locals.
The most unexpected Flanders
In 1967 the favourite is Eddy Merckx, at the beginning of his Cannibal career. At Salvarani the tip is gimondi, but an expert strategist like Luciano Pieces he knows that a special marking must be provided for Merckx, entrusted to Dino Zandegù, who doesn't leave him alone during the race, annoying him quite a bit. In the end, there are only three left: Eddy, Dino and the Belgian Drilled. Everyone would bet on Merckx, but instead it's Zandegù who attacksForé follows him, Eddy is out of breath. Nor is the other one, who doesn't even sprint, and Zandegù sings "O Sole Mio" on stage to greet the many Italian immigrants present.
Damn, what a risk…
1994, the great fear of ashlar: they show up at the decisive sprint with 4 riders, the former world champion is in good shape, the sprint is imperious, but it lasts a little too short, raises his arm to the sky when there is still space and the Belgian Johan Museum he grabs it. A matter of millimetres, which takes endless minutes to decipher while De Zan In his commentary, he combines his pessimism with barely concealed irritation over the Lombard's glaring error. Fortunately, the judges' verdict was favorable.
Bartoli, the first Monument
Two years later it's the turn of Michele Bartoli, who establishes himself as a specialist in the classics winning the first of his five Monuments (opening photo). On the Kapelmuur he goes wild, causing all the specialists to go into crisis, Museeuw in the lead, reaches the top with a handful of seconds that will progressively increase, showing a supremacy that smacks of great ability to tackle such a particular route, between walls and cobblestones.
Flanders, suburbs of Tuscany…
Flanders seems to have become the land of Tuscany… In 2002 Andrea Go He puts the seal on his fifteen-year career, which also included the triumph in Roubaix, achieving a success that no one expected anymore, on the threshold of his 36th birthday, interpreting an always attacking race, shining on the Paterberg and the Taienberg until on the Kapelmuur there are only five left, including his teammate Nardello. The ending is a free-for-all, but the right thrust is his, 4 km from the end, taking advantage of the tiredness of his rivals.
Bettiol, the freshest
The last seal is from 2019, signed Alberto Bettiol, who sets off on the Kwaremont to catch up with the two escapees of the day and then finds himself alone, without anyone being able to catch him from behind despite the attacks of Van der Poel e AsgreenIt is the 11th Italian victory (the others are from Bortolami and in 2001 Ballan in 2007), but the series is still open, who wants to join?
