The Dwars door Vlaanderen this Wednesday should give us the classics fix we need between the knock-out battles of E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem, and the upcoming mega-classic Tour of Flanders.

Wout Van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike) is back, trying to make amends for his "stupid mistake" in E3, and Mads Pedersen, on the heels of a massive show-of-force win for him and Lidl-Trek in Gent-Wevelgem.

And before you ask... No, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) is not racing. He is taking some time to recover after his E3 victory and Gent-Wevelgem, potentially going to Spain, and then reappearing in the Tour of Flanders.

What about Tadej Pogacar? No. After crushing the classics in 2023, this year he is focused on the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France. He just dominated the Volta a Catalunya and next races in Liège-Bastogne-Liège before the Giro d'Italia.

The Dwars Door Vlaanderen 2024 Course

The Dwars door Vlaanderen is a mid-week classic, so fairly short at 188 kilometers. The riders will need to cover eight cobble sectors and 12 climbs on the way from Roeselare to the finish in Waregem.

The early sectors and climbs will play their part, think about the star attacks of Pogacar and Van der Poel in 2022, but the closing moments of the cobbled Nokereberg climb and two times on the Herlegemstraat sector give us our potential winners.

The Dwars Door Vlaanderen Favorites

Mads Pedersen will be riding on a high and will also allow his teammates like Jasper Stuyven and Toms Skujins a chance.

Wout van Aert will want to underline his star status, on equal ground with Mathieu van der Poel ahead of the Tour of Flanders on Sunday. He may go for the win himself. If he does not, he could set up Matteo Jorgenson.

Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) is back racing and one year after such a strong ride. Also other Americans Luke Lamperti (Soudal-Quick Step), Magnus Sheffield (INEOS Grenadiers), and Riley Sheehan (Israel-Premier Tech).

Besides Pedersen, Van Aert, and Jorgensen, the other favorites should be Tim Wellens (UAE Emirates), Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), and Dylan Van Baarle (Visma-Lease a Bike).

How To Watch The Dwars Door Vlaanderen?

FloBikes will show the race live for all of our viewers in Canada, the U.S., and Australia. Highlights, interviews, and on the ground coverage for everyone.

The Dwars Door Vlaanderen Weather?

More nasty Belgian weather is predicted for the Dwars door Vlaanderen this Wednesday. No rain, yet, is on the forecast, but high winds, gusts up to 29kph (18mph) from the south. It's going to be cold, 8 to 11°C or 46 to 51°F.

All of it should help produce a classic mid-week battle, just a few days out from the Tour of Flanders. Pedersen, Van Aert, or another star? Tune in Wednesday for Dwars door Vlaanderen.