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Ultimate Guide to Betting on the Tour of Flanders

Ultimate Guide to Betting on the Tour of Flanders

The Tour of Flanders, known as De Ronde van Vlaanderen in its native Belgium, is a national event and one of cycling’s five hallowed monuments. The inaugural edition in 1913, won by Belgian war hero Paul Deman, took over 12 hours to complete. The winner averaged a sluggish 26.88 kilometers per hour on the rough, pre-war roads. This stands in stark contrast to the fierce winning speed of over 44 km/h seen a century later. The latter was a testament to the race’s evolution over the years.

In this guide, NXTbets will help you understand this legendary event from a bettor’s perspective. We will look at the race’s background, the decisive terrain that dictates the outcome, the various types of bets available, and the strategies necessary to find an edge in the betting market. Let’s transform your passion for the Ronde into a source of informed and profitable bets.

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Why the Tour of Flanders is a Bettor’s Prize

The Tour of Flanders is unpredictable in nature, and you need specialized knowledge to navigate its markets. The race’s character is defined by its immense length and a constant succession of short and steep cobbled climbs, known as bergs. This harsh combination makes it a high-stakes event where a small mistake or a moment of tactical brilliance can shift the outcome in an instant.

Market Features

Even though the Ronde receives immense media attention and generates significant betting liquidity, it remains a niche market for the uninitiated. This creates a substantial advantage if you are an informed bettor. 

Tactical Volatility

While public sentiment and name recognition usually inflate the odds on the most popular riders, you can identify significant value on overlooked contenders if you understand the impact of form, rider profiles, and team tactics. The chaotic nature of the race increases the probability of upsets and creates prime opportunities for you to capitalize on the ever-shifting live odds. This is always amplified by external factors like rain, wind, and the relentless punishment of the cobbles.

The cultural significance of the Tour of Flanders in Belgium is a strategic element that also fuels this unpredictability. The race is celebrated like a national holiday, and fans even line the streets to cheer on their favorites. This passionate atmosphere can push riders, especially Belgian contenders, to their absolute limits.

A rider fueled by the crowd’s energy can launch a decisive move that no one expects. The outcome? A significant change to the race and creation of a valuable betting opportunity if you recognize the moment and act quickly.

The Tour of Flanders’ Background & History

The Tour of Flanders was founded in 1913 by Karel van Wijnendaele. His vision was to create a race that celebrated the strength and resilience of Flemish cycling – the event has since become a deeply ingrained part of Belgian culture. It holds a privileged place on the professional cycling calendar as one of the five monuments (five of the most prestigious one-day races in cycling).

Timing of the Ronde

The Ronde takes place in early April at the end of the Spring Classics season. Its position follows other key cobbled classics like Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, E3 Saxo Bank Classic, and Gent-Wevelgem, which serve as crucial indicators of a rider’s form and readiness for the race.

Race Format and Route

The format is a single-day race on a route covering between 250 and 275 kilometers. The modern route is structured around a series of loops through the Flemish Ardennes. The region is defined by its narrow roads and short & steep climbs. 

For the 2025 edition, the race starts in the historic city of Bruges and ends in Oudenaarde. This route has become iconic for the race’s modern era. The 2025 course features a total of 16 climbs and seven flat cobbled sectors, which are all designed to wear down the peloton before the decisive finale.

Here are some key details for the 2025 Tour of Flanders:

The route changes slightly from year to year, so you have to stay updated on the latest course map.

Key Terrain & Decisive Sectors in the Tour of Flanders

The Tour of Flanders is decided by its signature bergs; these are short, steep, and brutally cobbled climbs. These ascents are where the race’s character is forged and where the strongest riders launch their decisive attacks.

Oude Kwaremont

The Oude Kwaremont is a legendary climb that is tackled three times in the modern edition of the race. At 2.2 kilometers long, it is the race’s longest cobbled climb. While its average gradient is a modest 4.2%, it feels far more punishing due to its rough and unforgiving surface. 

The Ronde’s relentless nature wears down riders with each ascent. The final climb often serves as the perfect launchpad for a powerful solo attack that can stick, as it saps the energy of any chaser.

Paterberg

Unlike the Kwaremont, the Paterberg is a short and sharp shock to the system. At just 360 meters, it is a wall of cobblestones with an average gradient of nearly 13% and a maximum pitch over 20%. Its brevity and extreme steepness make positioning at the base of the climb absolutely critical. 

The Paterberg is almost always the final climb of the day. It is crested with just 13 kilometers remaining, hence making it the final and decisive launchpad for a winning move or a last-ditch effort to drop a rival.

Koppenberg / Muur van Geraardsbergen

The inclusion of other legendary climbs like the Koppenberg or the Muur van Geraardsbergen fundamentally changes the race dynamic. The Koppenberg is infamous for its extreme steepness and worn, rutted cobbles, which make it a treacherous ascent in wet conditions. This always forces riders to dismount and walk. 

Cobbled Flats & Exposure Sectors

A common mistake for novice bettors is to focus solely on the climbs. However, the flat cobbled sectors, such as the Holleweg or Mariaborrestraat, can be just as decisive. 

In windy conditions, these exposed stretches can lead to the formation of echelons, where the peloton splinters into groups strung out in the crosswinds. A rider caught on the wrong side of an echelon can see their chances of winning evaporate in a matter of minutes. This is a real-time event that offers a significant live betting opportunity.

Types of Bets for the Tour of Flanders

The diverse nature of the Tour of Flanders is mirrored in the variety of betting markets available:

Outright Winner / Race Winner

This bet requires a wager on which single rider will win the race. The challenge lies in predicting the winner from a field of over 100 starters, but the reward for a successful longshot can be substantial. If you are a punter with extensive knowledge of the sport, this market is ideal for finding value in a rider whose odds are undervalued by the public and bookmakers.

Top-3 / Top-5 / Top-10 Markets

These markets offer a safer alternative to betting on the outright winner. Instead of predicting the champion, you place a bet on a rider to finish within a specified range, such as the top five or ten. This strategy is popular for bettors seeking a higher success rate and a more reliable return, especially on consistent performers who may not be a favorite to win but are almost guaranteed to be in the mix.

Head-to-Head (Rider A vs Rider B)

If you are a classics specialist, the head-to-head (H2H) market is a powerful strategy. It simplifies the complex field into a direct matchup between two riders. This allows you to leverage your specific knowledge of rider-to-rider dynamics, recent form, and course suitability to find an edge that is often more profitable and less susceptible to the unpredictability of the full field.

Intermediate Sector Prop Bets

Some sportsbooks, particularly those with a deep cycling market, may offer prop bets on specific race events. These can include bets on which rider will be the first to crest an iconic climb like the Oude Kwaremont or Paterberg. These props reward a deeper understanding of a rider’s explosive power and strategic positioning at key moments.

Other Markets and Live Betting

Other markets include betting on the nationality of the winner, which team will have the most riders in the top 10, or even the type of finish (a solo victory versus a small group sprint). For the most dedicated bettors, live or in-play betting allows you to place bets as the race unfolds. This provides an opportunity to react to real-time events like crashes, mechanicals, or tactical moves that change the complexion of the race.

For a clear overview, here is a breakdown of common bet types and their strategic appeal:

How to Analyze Riders & Form for Cobbled Classics

Winning the Tour of Flanders is a matter of a months-long progression of form. The key to informed betting lies in analyzing a rider’s performance in the lead-up races of the Spring Classics season. A strong performance in these events is the most reliable indicator of fitness and readiness for the Ronde.

Rider Profile Fit

The ideal rider for the Ronde is described as a puncheur. This is a specialist who combines explosive power for the short and steep climbs with the endurance to handle a long and brutal day in the saddle and the bike handling skills to navigate the unforgiving cobbles. While pure sprinters or climbers might excel in other races, the Ronde demands this unique and all-around capability. 

However, the rise of a new generation of multi-talented superstars has created a significant shift in this traditional profile. Riders like Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel are not just classics specialists; they are all-around champions capable of winning Grand Tours and one-day races across all terrains. Their talent transcends traditional classifications, making them formidable favorites whose presence changes the entire tactical dynamic of the race. This evolution forces bettors to look beyond simple rider types and instead focus on the detailed analysis of a small group of all-around contenders.

Power/Data Proxies

While direct power data from professional cyclists is private since it is considered a key competitive advantage by their teams, you can rely on proxies. Public platforms like Strava can offer clues by showing how riders have performed on specific segments.

Team Depth and Roles

A rider’s strength is mostly only as good as their team’s depth. A common and highly effective tactic is the use of satellites, where a strong domestique is sent up the road in an early breakaway. 

This move forces other teams to expend energy chasing, as a result, softening up the field for the team’s designated leader to launch a decisive attack later in the race. 

Injuries or Equipment Choices

Last-minute checks for rider injuries or equipment choices can also give you a betting advantage. A small crash in a preceding race may have a downward effect on a rider’s form. 

Knowing a rider’s choice of wider and tubeless tires for better puncture protection and comfort on the cobbles can also offer a slight but meaningful advantage.

Betting Strategy & Bankroll Management for the Ronde

A successful betting strategy is built on discipline and an understanding of value, not emotion. The primary goal is to find value bets where the odds offered by a sportsbook are higher than the true probability of an event, as determined by your own analysis. 

This involves avoiding the common crowd bias where popular names are given disproportionately low odds due to public backing. A simple way to assess this is to convert a rider’s odds into an implied probability and compare it to your own data-backed estimate. If your probability is higher than the bookmaker’s, then you have found a value bet.

Responsible Tour of Flanders Betting

Responsible bankroll management is the cornerstone of long-term profitability. A wise strategy involves unit sizing – placing smaller units on high-risk longshots and larger units on lower-variance bets like H2H matchups where your edge is clearer. 

Live Betting Signals

Live betting offers a dynamic opportunity, but it requires a disciplined approach and a checklist of signals to watch for, such as a favorite becoming isolated, a sudden mechanical issue or crash on a leader, or the formation of an echelon in a crosswind.

Long-Term Approach

The final and most crucial element is a long-term perspective. A profitable betting strategy will inevitably have losing streaks, and the single greatest mistake is chasing losses with impulsive and emotional wagers. Tracking your long-term ROI is far more important than a simple hit rate, as it provides a clear measure of your success.

Best Sportsbooks & Promotions for the Tour of Flanders

The best platforms are those that offer a wide range of markets, reliable live betting interfaces, and flexible cash-out options.

Some of the top-rated platforms for cycling betting offer distinct advantages. Some excel in their loyalty programs, thus rewarding consistent play. Others provide an extensive range of bet types, including prop bets and the ability to bet against riders. 

It is important to note that sports betting regulations vary by region, and it is your responsibility to ensure legal access to any platform before placing a wager.

Luckily, NXTbets has done some research and compiled a list of some of the best sportsbooks to make your Tour of Flanders betting experience worth it:

  • Bet365: Known for extensive odds on major tours and a user-friendly interface for placing wagers.
  • DraftKings: It is praised for its insane variety of props and wide range of markets and bet types. The live betting platform is quick and offers a variety of markets. DraftKings also provides customizable odds boosts and offers profit boost tokens and other incentives.
  • FanDuel: A market leader with a sleek, intuitive app and a wide variety of betting options and markets. They offer promotions such as Profit Boost tokens and Parlay Insurance. 

It is important to note that the availability and legality of these platforms vary by region. Always verify that a sportsbook is legally accessible and licensed in your location before placing any bets.

Where to Watch the Tour of Flanders

Live coverage of the Tour of Flanders should be your best friend as a bettor. Watching the race unfold provides real-time signals that can unlock profitable live betting opportunities. The following table lists official broadcast partners for the 2025 edition: 

Beyond the live broadcast, you can gain a betting edge by monitoring other real-time data feeds. These include GPS trackers that provide live gap data between groups, official race timing apps, and social media channels from race organizers, teams, and journalists. These sources can provide crucial, market-moving information, such as a last-minute mechanical issue or a crash, before it is widely known.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Betting on the Tour of Flanders

Betting on the Tour of Flanders is fun, but it is also a minefield for common mistakes that can sink your bet slips:

  • A fundamental error is betting purely on a rider’s name recognition without checking their recent form, course fit, or any last-minute injuries. 
  • Another pitfall is ignoring the importance of team depth; a strong leader can be neutralized if they lack the support of a powerful team to execute a tactical plan.
  • Chasing losses after a chaotic early split is a surefire way to bleed a bankroll and should be avoided at all costs. 
  • Over-exposing a bankroll to parlay on an unpredictable one-day race is a high-risk strategy that rarely pays off. While the potential returns are tempting, the inherent unpredictability of the Ronde makes a single-bet approach a far more disciplined and effective strategy.

Sprint to the Win with NXTbets

The Tour of Flanders is a test of strength, skill, and endurance, and successfully betting on it requires the same discipline. The keys to success lie in understanding the race’s unique terrain, analyzing a rider’s form and profile, knowing the various bet types, and using real-time signals to your advantage.

NXTbets serves as the ultimate resource for every stage of this journey. We provide a comprehensive suite of resources to ensure that you are always in a position to find value and make informed decisions. 

We encourage you to subscribe to our newsletter for alerts on our preview pages, odds comparison from multiple sportsbooks, and access to live tools on race day to capitalize on every shift of the Ronde!

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Frequently Asked Questions

The race historically favors riders with explosive power to handle the steep climbs and the stamina for a long distance. However, in recent years, multi-talented superstars have challenged this traditional profile.

Both offer unique advantages. Pre-race betting is ideal for finding value on longshots or H2H matchups before public bias shifts the odds. Live betting is better for capitalizing on in-race chaos like crashes, mechanicals, or isolated leaders.

The race’s difficulty makes solo or small-group victories common, but they are most often from a late-race attack by a favorite, not a large early breakaway.

Yes, some specialist sportsbooks may offer these intermediate prop bets, but their availability can vary. This is an excellent market for an informed bettor to seek out.

Adverse weather, such as rain and wind, dramatically increases the probability of crashes, mechanicals, and echelons. This adds an element of luck and can create unexpected value bets on riders who thrive in brutal conditions.