The 2021 edition featured a more hilly and undulating course than those of the past few editions, with two ascents of the Muur van Geraardsbergen among the several cobbled climbs along the 205.3-kilometre (127.6 mi) route.[1]Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck–Quick-Step) took advantage of several breakaway companions going the wrong way with 18 kilometres (11 mi) to go before attacking and dropping Aimé De Gendt (Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux) about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) later. Evenepoel rode across the finish line solo to take his second one-day race victory in three days, having won Druivenkoers Overijse two days prior.[3] De Gendt held on for second while Tosh Van der Sande (Lotto–Soudal) won the bunch sprint to compete the podium.[4]
Teams
Six of the 19 UCI WorldTeams, nine UCI ProTeams, and five UCI Continental teams made up the twenty teams that participated in the race. Cofidis and Team TotalEnergies, with six riders each, were the only teams that did not enter a full squad of seven riders. Of the 138 riders who started the race, 88 finished.[5]