Welshman Geraint Thomas will line up as an unlikely favourite when the usually Belgian-dominated Tour de Flanders begins today.

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Of the 98 editions of the second of five ‘Monument’ races, 68 have been won by Belgians. Yet this year, a Welshman, a Slovak, a Czech, a German and a Norwegian will be among the front-runners trying to succeed Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara as champion.

And one of the reasons they will be feeling confident is that Cancellara is injured, along with Tom Boonen, another of the most successful Flanders competitors.

Between them, that pair have won this race in six of the last 10 years but with Cancellara nursing two broken vertebrae in his back and Boonen recovering from a dislocated shoulder, it is wide open.

But it is Thomas who will likely be the most marked rider following his victory last week at E3 Harelbeke, which he won, and Gent-Wevelgem, where he was third.

He proved in those two cobbled classics that he is continuing to develop as a top Spring Classic specialist having spent much of his career until now as a jack of all trades.

Last year he finished eighth at Flanders and seventh at Paris-Roubaix, but he will be eyeing nothing less than victory on the cobbles and brutal short climbs around West Flanders.

He said: “It’s a race I grew up watching and to be one of the favourites is massive. I’m on a nice little roll and the team are too.”

Competition will be fierce, not least from Czech Zdenek Stybar, who was second to Thomas at E3 and won Strade Bianche last month. The cycling world is also waiting for Slovak Peter Sagan to deliver on his great potential by winning one of the Monuments.

There are also a couple of sprinters who could be in the mix. Norway’s Alexander Kristoff and John Degenkolb of Germany – the last two Milan-San Remo winners – both have the ability to keep in contact on the short climbs and the kick finish to leave everyone in their wake.