It's the most Belgian classic, perhaps the most beautiful, a kind of Easter for cycling even when it doesn't coincide with the Christian holiday as it does this year. The opening act of the Northern campaign, the Ronde offers the traditional route that over 271 kilometers distributes 16 climbs, most of them on pavé and in the second part of the race. Of these, the most iconic remains the Old Kwaremont, to be tackled three times, the first at mid-race, the other two combined with the terrible Paterberg, at 50 and 13 kilometers from the finish. This time we start from Antwerp, we arrive in Oudenaarde as has happened for over a decade, after traveling small roads made even narrower by the overflowing crowds, who at strategic points of the race pay hundreds of euros to watch the riders pass while drinking beer and eating french fries. In the roll of honor with a heavy Belgian imprint (69 victories in 109 editions), no one has ever won more than three times: seven have managed it, the locals Buysse, Leman, Museeuw and Boonen, the Swiss Cancellara, the Dutchman Van der Poel and our Fiorenzo Magni, the only one to do it in consecutive editions. Eleven Italian victories, the last with Bettiol in 2019. Here are the ten faces that are candidates for the top of the podium.

Tadej Pogacar. He wins because he wants to enter the elite of those who have managed to win three times, because he aims to conquer all the monument classics in the same season, because this year he is still unbeaten. He doesn't win because on this terrain Van der Poel is not inferior to him.

Mathieu Van der Poel. He wins because in this classic he has never finished outside the top four, because winning four times is one of his great objectives, because the last three times in even years he has always succeeded. He doesn't win because so far in the finales of longer races he hasn't appeared irresistible.

Wout Van Aert. He wins because he seems to be back to his form from a few years ago, because in the last two weeks he has seemed among the strongest, because in his home classic he can do very well after always performing well. He doesn't win because luck is also needed and he's been lacking it for a while.

Remco Evenepoel. He wins because in one-day races he manages to give his best, because debuting in this race has been on his mind for months, because he feels in form like in his best days. He doesn't win because the first time on pavé can always bring surprises.

Mads Pedersen. He wins because at Milan-San Remo he made a great comeback, because the toughest classics are the ones that excite him the most, because the three podiums he's achieved in eight participations feel too few. He doesn't win because the illness that stopped him a week ago could weigh on him.

Jesper Stuyven. He wins because it's the classic he knows best, because no one considers him but he always ends up at the front, because in the last month he has regularly placed himself among the best. He doesn't win because consistency and endurance are not enough against the superstars in circulation.

Matteo Trentin. He wins because among the underdogs he is one of the most experienced, because in these races he is still one of the most reliable Italians, because in the last month he has consistently finished in the top positions. He doesn't win because placing consistently is not a guarantee of success.

Jonas Abrahamsen. He wins because he is in his best form, because he has focused his season on the pavé classics, because on the roads of the North he has shown he can go strong. He doesn't win because compared to the strongest, he still lacks something.

Florian Vermeersch. He wins because on these roads he feels at home, because in the preparation phase he has revealed himself among the strongest, because if Pogacar should have problems he can become a primary contender. He doesn't win because protecting Pogacar will take away his energy anyway.

Christophe Laporte. He wins because in this season he has done well in all the Northern races, because on the stones he can go strong, because the bad luck that follows Van Aert could leave him space. He doesn't win because in monument races he has never appeared irresistible.