Grace under pressure: Brown a top chance for first Aussie Flanders win

It’s a rare sight, an Australian lining up as one of the top favourites of the Tour of Flanders, but that is what Grace Brown (FDJ Nouvelle-Aquitaine Futuroscope) will be in the 2022 edition of the race.

Grace Brown of FDJ Nouvelle - Aquitaine Futuroscope attacks during Gent-Wevelgem In Flanders Fields 2022 Source: Getty Images

It’s fair to say that Australian cyclists push beyond their limit in the global pool of cycling, conquering many of the great races of the world. One of the few exceptions is the Tour of Flanders, the legendary race over the Flemish hellingen, angular cobbles on steep climbs that easily grow slick with the mud, sweat and blood from churning mass of the peloton.

Hundreds of riders all trying to be first through the final corner onto the climb, then battling to maintain position and find their way to the smoothest line up the hill, fight over the top at the front through the jarring, relentless pounding of the cobbles… and then prepare to do it again and again until the finish in Oudenaarde.

Australia’s best in the past have filled the runners-up step of the podium, Phil Anderson was second twice in his storied career in 1985 and 1988, more recently Heinrich Haussler (2009) and Gracie Elvin (2017) have joined the trailblazing Anderson in his feat.

That top step remains elusive, as Brown found last year as she produced an attacking ride for third in the race, though at several times she looked like she might ride away with the win, putting eventual winner Annemiek van Vleuten under significant pressure.

At the time, Brown recognised her accomplishment before immediately turning her sights to next year.

“You can’t be disappointed with a podium at Flanders,” said Brown in 2021. “Of course, I came here wanting to win it, but I am really happy with third and I can have bigger goals for next year I think.”

It’s now 'next year' and Brown looks as strong as anyone in contemplation for the final victory and Australia’s best chance in years at claiming the Flemish monument.

Brown has arrived in recent years with wins at Brugge-De Panne in 2021 and Brabantes Pijl in 2020 labelling her as one of the best classics riders around. She ended her 2021 season early, her injured shoulder requiring surgery, and the long lay-off meant a slower more deliberate start to the season, with her peak towards the cobbled classics, Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.

A win in the national time trial was expected but still impressive was the margin of victory and the time, she then built into her season in Europe, and while the results sheet for Brown isn’t littered with top placings in the bigger races, the performances have been eye-catching.

Her outing at Gent-Wevelgem was particularly worthy of recognition, as she gapped the peloton on the hardest climb of the race, the Kemmelberg, unfortunately without any like-minded attackers joining her. She then shot off the front in a last-ditch effort in the final three kilometres that was only brought back by the full commitment of the peloton, in particular an awe-inspiring turn of pace from Ellen van Dijk (Trek-Segafredo).

The good news for Brown is that the Tour of Flanders for women includes eleven hills, six cobbled sectors, and a flat final section of 13.3 kilometres. It rarely comes down to even a reduced bunch sprint and is almost always the stomping ground of the attackers, unlike recent races in the Women’s WorldTour.

Brown will have her rivals of course. Defending champion Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) is just as imposing as ever, and there a plethora of other top candidates, including Marianne Vos (Jumbo-Visma), Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM), Lorena Wiebes (Team DSM), Marta Bastianelli (UAE Team ADQ), Lotte Kopecky, Chantal van den Broek-Blaak, Demi Vollering (all SD-Worx), Ellen van Dijk, Lucinda Brand and world champion Elisa Balsamo (all Trek-Segafredo).

Brown can rely on an in-form fellow Aussie in Brodie Chapman for support in making the race tough along with regular team leader Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig and Marta Cavalli, who have all showcased world-class ability at times in their careers. A winning strategy might be to get Chapman or Cavalli up the road early and then have Uttrup Ludwig and Brown sit on moves until the time comes to strike out for home.

You sense if Brown gets her chance in a small group without a strong representation from another team, then she’ll be a favourite for victory.

Watch the women’s Tour of Flanders with Bridie O’Donnell and Gracie Elvin in commentary, starting from 2300 AEST via SBS On Demand, with the SBS VICELAND coverage commencing from 0045 AEST. The men’s race will precede the women’s race, with the livestream starting at 1755 AEST on SBS On Demand, with the SBS VICELAND broadcast getting underway at 2000 AEST.