As we build up to De Rode van Vlaanderen, we catch up with all the other news from the peloton in a full EUROTRASH. Video from the men’s Dwars Door Vlaanderen, where Neilson Powless embarrassed Wout van Aert, Tiesj Benoot and Matteo Jorgenson of the Visma | Lease a Bike team. And Elisa Longo Borghini won the women’s race. Results, reports and rider quotes from Belgium.
TOP STORY:
- Suspended prison sentence for controversial doctor of Nairo and Dayer Quintana
Rider news:
- Protective clothing and speed limit – Patrick Lefevere sees no point
- Sep Vanmarcke and Greg Van Avermaet agree: “Olav Kooij’s crash was his own fault”
- Mathieu van der Poel not in Spain to prepare for the Tour of Flanders
- Johan Bruyneel on Visma | Lease a Bike: “They are losing the essence of cycling”
- Matteo Jorgenson defends Wout van Aert: “One of the best riders of all time”
- Is Alexander Kristoff in his last season as a professional cyclist?
- Fabio Jakobsen halts cycling for foreseeable future due to flow limitations in the iliac arteries
Team news:
- Pogačar returns to lead UAE for Tour of Flanders
- Fifth year as a ProTeam, fifth participation in the Giro d’Italia for Polti VisitMalta
- Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team to race Giro d’Italia
- Winspace Orange Seal selected for the 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift
- The Next Races for Team Picnic PostNL
- Soudal Quick-Step has a medical update on several of its injured riders
Race news:
- CIC-Mont Ventoux cancelled in 2025
- 2025 Tour de France teams
- 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift teams
- 2025 Giro d’Italia teams
Cobbles and coffee time.
TOP STORY: Suspended prison sentence for controversial doctor of Nairo and Dayer Quintana
Fredy Alexander Gonzáles Torres, the Colombian doctor who assisted brothers Nairo and Dayer Quintana during the 2020 Tour de France, has been given a six-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 15,000 euros. The Marseille court convicted the controversial doctor of ‘possession and administration of prohibited substances/methods.’
The French justice system began its investigation during the 2020 Tour, after suspicious substances were found in the possession of Arkéa-Samsic medical supervisors. The riders were questioned at the time, but were allowed to continue racing. Last month, the trial against the doctor finally began. The Marseille Public Prosecutor’s Office sought a one-year suspended prison sentence and a fine of 5,000 euros. According to Gonzáles Torres’ lawyer, his client was forced to reveal facts that were covered by medical confidentiality and protected by a professional clause. “The doctor’s guilt could not be established” and was “based on mere assumptions,” the defence said.
A document from the Public Prosecutor’s Office stated that Gonzáles Torres had at his disposal “equipment, tools, products and devices for performing perfusions and/or intravenous injections.” He also had to explain whether he administered to the Quintana brothers on September 16, 2020, without medical justification, a “substance or method prohibited in the context of a sports competition.”
The court has now ruled that the doctor did indeed have prohibited substances in his possession and used illegal methods on riders. The two Quintana brothers riders didn’t test positive for doping in 2020, when they were riding for the French Arkéa-Samsic team. The question is whether the conviction of Gonzáles Torres will have any consequences for the career of Nairo Quintana, who has been competing for Movistar since the beginning of 2024.
The 35-year-old climber has always maintained his innocence. “I have been a clean athlete with a flawless blood passport throughout my entire top-level sports career. I want to make it clear to the general public, my fans and cycling followers that I have never used illegal substances in my career – as a junior, promising athlete and professional – to improve my sports performance and to break the principles of the sport. I have and have never had anything to hide.”
Quintana’s doctor sentenced:
Dwars Door Vlaanderen 2025
Neilson Powless won Dwars door Vlaanderen on Wednesday. The EF Education First rider was in a break with three Visma | Lease a Bike riders in the final, then at the finish he beat Wout van Aert, Tiesj Benoot and Matteo Jorgenson in a sprint. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) took 5th place at 45 seconds.
With Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel missing, the Dwars door Vlaanderen still had an interesting start-list, with Jasper Philipsen, Van Aert, Jonathan Milan, Jorgenson, Mads Pedersen and Biniam Girmay.
In the first 50 kilometres no one could get away from the peloton, while at the back, Jenno Berckmoes, Danny van Poppel and Tour of Flanders winner Alberto Bettiol abandoned. It was after about 60 kilometres that 8 riders managed to escape: Taco van der Hoorn, Joshua Giddings, Lewis Askey, Mikkel Bjerg, Fabio Christen, Rasmus Pedersen, Ceriel Desal and Petr Kelemen. Their lead grew to 1 minute, but it didn’t last long. On the Knokteberg, with 91 kilometres to go, Van Aert put on the pressure, thinning out the peloton and reducing the gap to the break. Then on the Hotond, it was Pedersen’s turn to put the hammer down.
In the counter-attack, Neilson Powless, Fabio Vandenbossche and Joshua Tarling broke away from the peloton and caught the lost riders from the leading group and then also the last remaining riders, Pedersen and Bjerg. The peloton let the gap grow to 50 seconds. On the way to the Berg Ten Houte, Visma | Lease a Bike decided it was time for a show of power. The team decided to hit the front of the peloton with van Aert, Edoardo Affini, Tiesj Benoot, Dylan van Baarle and Jorgenson. They went so fast that gaps appeared in the peloton. Van Baarle, in fifth place, let a gap go.
The four Visma riders rode away from the peloton and caught up with the riders at the front and then dropped them, except for Powless. The Visma team started the last hour of racing with Benoot, van Aert, Jorgenson and Powless with a lead of over 40 seconds. In the last 40 kilometres there were only the Eikenberg and the Nokereberg twice to make a differences. For a long time, the gap between the leading group of four and the second group remained the same, so there was a chance of the race coming back together. Mads Pedersen, Arjen Livyns, Alec Segaert, Tibor Del Grosso, Dries De Bondt and Stefan Küng went on the counterattack with 19 kilometres to go and were within 35 seconds of the Van Aert group. In the final kilometres, it was clear that the leaders would not be caught and there would be a battle between Benoot, Jorgenson, Van Aert and Powless. Visma | Lease a Bike gambled on Van Aert’s sprint at the finish in Waregem. But it was Powless who had the speed to take the win, to everyone’s surprise. Van Aert second, Benoot third and Jorgenson fourth.
Race winner, Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost): “I can’t believe it. I felt really strong, but I didn’t think I had a chance to win in that group. I thought I was riding for second place. I’ve had a really tough spring so far, but I’m happy to be back where I belong. I thought Wout van Aert would be the strongest, the team put everything on him for a reason. I never in a million years thought I would beat him. But I came out of the last corner with a lot of speed, I was already riding 3 or 4 kilometres per hour faster than Wout when the sprint started. It wasn’t that far anymore. It was just starting to sprint and praying for a good outcome. It was a constant ‘inner struggle’. My sports director didn’t really know whether I should ride, because we had quite a few riders behind. I felt good on the cobbles and certainly didn’t want to sprint in a big group. It didn’t take that much energy to ride along. Otherwise they might have attacked and ridden me off. That also became apparent when Tiesj took me off the back. After that I knew that I had to keep going and that we had to keep working well together.”
2nd, Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike): “I made the call to sprint, it is my fault. It will take me a while to see the positive side of this. If you don’t win with three men in a group of four, you always make a mistake. I said I wanted to go for the sprint, so now I have to take responsibility and be hard on myself. It is not the fault of the team management. I was so convinced of my sprint that they went along with my story. I was too selfish. After all the criticism and bad luck of the past months, I thought about myself. It is a huge mistake. This is not who I am and I am very disappointed in myself. Apply the right tactics. We should have attacked earlier, in turns, then we could not have blamed ourselves. We played too high a game.”
3rd, Tiesj Benoot (Visma | Lease a Bike): “I wanted Wout to win more than I did, and that was a stupid decision. I think we are doing a good race, it was the first time in these Classics that we were able to execute our plan. Almost perfectly. In the last lap we all wanted Wout to win after what happened last year (Van Aert crashed). We took it a bit too easy. In retrospect, we should have attacked Neilson in the last five kilometres. Before that, it was still too risky, given that the pursuers were not that far behind us. We wanted Wout to want us so much that we took too many risks to take Neilson with us. Why that decision? It grew of course. Matteo won last year and I have just spent a long time with Wout in Tenerife. I wanted him to win more than I did. I just really wanted to see him win, but it was a stupid decision. All credits to Neilson. He was very strong and rode a large part of the race. We just should have put him under pressure a lot more. We were finally able to race the way we like to do. We were looking for that for a while in the classics, but today we succeeded. We deserved to finish it and we can say that we are collectively very strong across the board.”
4th, Matteo Jorgenson (Visma | Lease a Bike): “We had a good race until 10km left. We decided to go for the sprint with Wout, and it was the wrong decision; we can be honest about that. We also underestimated Neilson Powless, congratulations to him because he put in a great sprint. I wouldn’t say it’s such a surprise; I know Neilson, how fast he is, super explosive.”
Dwars Door Vlaanderen Result:
1. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-EasyPost in 3:57:14
2. Wout van Aert (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike
3. Tiesj Benoot (Bel) Visma | Lease a Bike
4. Matteo Jorgenson (USA) Visma | Lease a Bike at 0:05
5. Mads Pedersen (Den) Lidl-Trek at 0:45
6. Tibor Del Grosso (Ned) Alpecin-Deceuninck
7. Dries De Bondt (Bel) Decathlon-AG2R La Mondiale at 0:47
8. Arjen Livyns (Bel) Lotto
9. Stefan Küng (Sui) Groupama-FDJ
10. Alec Segaert (Bel) Lotto.
Dwars Door Vlaanderen’25:
Dwars Door Vlaanderen – Women 2025
Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) won the women’s race Dwars door Vlaanderen. She rode a long solo to Waregem, Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime) and Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) finish second and third, 30 seconds later.
The 2025 Dwars door Vlaanderen had to do without Marianne Vos. The leader of Visma | Lease a Bike couldn’t start the race due to illness. World champion Lotte Kopecky, Longo Borghini, Elisa Balsamo, Kasia Niewiadoma, Marlen Reusser, Puck Pieterse and Mischa Bredewold were all at the start.
In the 128.5 kilometre race, there were no serious attacks for a long time, but the peloton was slowly thinning out. Kopecky put in a first attack 70 kilometres from the finish, but nothing came of it. A few kilometres later it was Reusser who broke away and took Lucinda Brand, Amber Kraak and Femke Gerritse with her. The four were off the front for a long time, although Gerritse and Brand had to let go after about 30 kilometres. Reusser then dropped Kraak. At that moment, Longo Borghini attacked from what was left of peloton. The Italian champion first caught Kraak and then Reusser, while Kopecky couldn’t keep up. Once she caught Kraak and Reusser, Longo Borghini went solo.
In the last 10 kilometres Longo Borghini still had a lead of 45 seconds. The Nokereberg was still to come, where Pieterse went ‘full gas’ and took 20 seconds off the lead, which made for an exciting finale. In the last kilometres, Longo Borghini defended her lead. The elite group with Kopecky, Pieterse and Niewiadoma was caught. Kopecky eventually sprinted to second place and Elisa Balsamo finish third at 30 seconds.
Race winner, Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ): “It was more like revenge for Milan-Sanremo where they caught be with 150m to go. I was very hungry for the victory here. I really wanted to prove that I was strong. There was some frustration in the last weeks, and I need to thank my trainer who is always keeping me calm. It is always nice to win with the tricolour and UAE jersey.”
2nd, Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime): “The race started well, until the Eikenberg, I actually felt okay. But there, it really didn’t go well. I had a bad moment and almost was at a standstill. Luckily, afterwards Mischa Bredewold and I were able to join forces and make it back to the front group. After that, I just tried to get the most out of the race. I don’t know what happened. I had a very strange feeling. A really tough moment. I’m not exactly sure what caused it. The legs just weren’t there. In the end, it’s pretty amazing we still managed to finish second, thanks to an incredible lead-out by Mischa Bredewold. How I could still sprint for second place despite not having the best feeling? Once you smell the finish line, you just go all in for the highest achievable. Mischa was ahead of me in the group, I called her name and she immediately knew what to do. She gave me a good lead-out. Elisa Longo-Borghini was super strong today. That I could still finish second behind her gives me a boost. It obviously wasn’t the best feeling. But on the other hand, I think we need to stay calm. Maybe this was exactly what I needed to be ready for the Ronde van Vlaanderen. To really suffer and go deep again. I just hope Sunday will be better. What I take from today is that I have amazing teammates. Mischa was really strong and did an excellent job in the finale. Now it’s all about recovering well and being at the start in a top shape on Sunday. Today wasn’t my best day, but let’s hope Sunday is.”
Dwars Door Vlaanderen – Women Result:
1. Elisa Longo Borghini (Ita) UAE Team ADQ in 3:12:49
2. Lotte Kopecky (Bel) SD Worx-Protime at 0:29
3. Elisa Balsamo (Ita) Lidl-Trek
4. Puck Pieterse (Ned) Fenix-Deceuninck
5. Mischa Bredewold (Ned) SD Worx-Protime
6. Liane Lippert (Ger) Movistar
7. Vittoria Guazzini (Ita) FDJ-SUEZ
8. Maria Giulia Confalonieri (Ita) Uno-X Mobility
9. Elise Chabbey (Sui) FDJ-SUEZ
10. Marte Berg Edseth (Nor) Uno-X Mobility.
Dwars Door Vlaanderen’25:
Protective Clothing and Speed Limit – Patrick Lefevere Sees No Point
The past week of racing saw a number of crashes, including Tim Merlier in the Classic Brugge-De Panne and three early abandonments in the E3 Saxo Classic, not great for Soudal Quick-Step. Patrick Lefevere, the former team manager of the Belgian WorldTeam, is again getting involved in the safety debate.
“We can’t ignore it: there are a lot of crashes in racing,” Lefevere writes in his column for Het Nieuwsblad. “Ruben Desmet, the big man at Unilin (Quick-Step owner), was already pulling my ears five years ago. ‘American listed companies prefer not to sponsor sports with so many serious injuries.’ It is clear that something needs to be done.”
As for a solution, Lefevere agrees with Philippe Gilbert, who advocates more routes with circuits. “I see only advantages in the approach of Montréal and the Tour of Flanders: riders explore the finish line during the race, supporters see the riders pass by more often and organisers can offer VIPs better formulas. Everyone wins. I spoke to my good friend Carlo Lambrecht who is in the organisation of Dwars door Vlaanderen. The minds will have to mature, but why shouldn’t their race evolve in that direction too?”
However, there are also ideas that Lefevere ‘strongly disagrees with’. “Protective clothing? We are currently very far from that. The trend is just lighter and more aero. Riders also wear sprint suits in the classics that offer zero protection. That causes abrasions that are bigger and certainly much more visible than we used to have in our woollen jersey. There are many people lobbying for a reduction in gears. José De Cauwer and our own CEO Jurgen Foré to name them. I do not agree. Why should we go back to ‘my time’ of 53-12 or 54-14 or God forbid the fixed wheel? Cycling is a different sport today, with athletes who reach an unprecedented level. The equipment follows that evolution of the sport.”
According to Lefevere, there is no ‘magic formula’ to rid cycling of all crashes in one go. “But let us start with the races. Not like in De Panne in the middle of the final from three lanes to one. And not necessarily wanting to finish right in front of the town hall. Even the stubborn and inflexible Tour de France has understood that by now.”
More crashes:
Sep Vanmarcke and Greg Van Avermaet Agree: “Olav Kooij’s Crash was His Own Fault”
Olav Kooij broke his collarbone in Gent-Wevelgem. The Visma | Lease a Bike sprinter crashed on one of the gravel sections, where Jasper Philipsen had a puncture. These incidents raised the question of whether the gravel sections belong in this race. Former riders Sep Vanmarcke and Greg Van Avermaet think so, they said after the race in the Sporza studio. Both stated that Kooij’s crash was mainly his own fault.
Vanmarcke believes that the gravel should remain in Gent-Wevelgem, also because of the historical aspect. In addition, they bring a ‘physical added value’, he states. “Because Pedersen made the selection. Philipsen’s flat tyre is unfortunate, but they were cleaned up very nicely. Apart from the holes, there weren’t too many stones left.”
And what about Kooij’s crash? “I don’t want to be too harsh, but that fall was also his own fault. We did a recon on Saturday and we said then to stay calm in that bend. You have to know that as a rider and then it’s a bit your own fault.”
Van Avermaet agrees with his former comrade. “For me, they can stay on the course. I’ve always been a fan of it. It’s technical and difficult and Mads makes the difference. I attribute Kooij’s fall to knowledge of the course. I can still remember that corner. You pick up speed and it’s slippery. You have to be lucid enough, even if you’re making an effort. But you have to leave some distance and go in without too much risk. I know that a lot of people will criticise it now, but I think it’s a nice passage that’s part of this race.”
It was Olav Kooij’s own fault:
Mathieu van der Poel Not in Spain to Prepare for the Tour of Flanders
After his victory in the E3 Saxo Classic, Mathieu van der Poel haD no Races on his programme until the Tour of Flanders. Enough time to fly back and forth to Spain, you would think. But the leader of Alpecin-Deceuninck is preparing at home in Belgium.
On Friday, after his victory in the E3 Saxo Classic, Van der Poel did not yet know whether he would travel to Spain to train there. “I don’t know yet. Maybe I will go to Spain. I still have to decide”, he told WielerFlits. In the meantime, he has decided to stay in Belgium. Not surprising, because the weather here will be very good in the run-up to De Ronde. The sun is shining every day, while it could even be 20ºC on Thursday and Friday.
During the press conference on Friday, Van der Poel sounded like he had a bit of a cold. The result of the bad weather in Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-Sanremo. “My nose is a bit blocked,” Van der Poel said. “Almost everyone who has ridden Tirreno-Adriatico or Paris-Nice suffers from that. The weather was also bad in Milan-Sanremo. When you are on the bike for so long in those conditions, it is almost impossible to prevent. For me, an extra reason to give the body some extra rest.” For that reason, he also skipped Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday.
Van der Poel not in Spain after winning the E3:
Johan Bruyneel on Visma | Lease a Bike: “They are losing the essence of cycling”
Visma | Lease a Bike has not yet made an impression in the spring Classics. While the Dutch team was successful in the stage races last week, the team was unable to compete for victory in the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem. Johan Bruyneel also sees this and does not hide his opinion in the podcast TheMove.
“Something is not going well at Visma | Lease a Bike”, the former rider and team manager says after the E3 Saxo Classic and Gent-Wevelgem. “Things go wrong too often in the spring Classics. So we can conclude that it is not working. They perform well in other races, but it does not show in the Classics. I do not know what it is.”
Normally Visma | Lease a Bike has a possible winner: Wout van Aert, but the Belgian was unable to compete in the E3 Saxo Classic last Friday. According to some analysts, his poor performance in this Classic was due to a lack of racing rhythm, but the team saw no reason to add Gent-Wevelgem to its race programme.
Bruyneel disagrees. “Wout van Aert should always have appeared at the start of Gent-Wevelgem, that is my personal opinion. At Visma | Lease a Bike they work with a plan and they do not deviate from it. They are unable to adapt to the circumstances. I see that with more teams. They are very rigid at Visma | Lease a Bike. The focus is on the plan and the details. Take the extremely short 150 cranks. They focus on so many small details that they lose the essence of cycling. If you look at Alpecin-Deceuninck and Lidl-Trek, that is the opposite. Of course they also look at the details, but they race and know how to adapt to the circumstances. At Visma that does not work.”
Is the Dutch team still able to turn the situation around, with the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix coming up? “Miracles do not exist in cycling. At Visma, Jorgenson and Van Aert are the leaders, but I do not believe that they will reach the level of Van der Poel, Pogačar, Pedersen and Ganna in Flanders and Roubaix. Van Aert simply does not have the legs at the moment,” said Bruyneel.
Buyneel not impressed by Visma | Lease a Bike:
Matteo Jorgenson Defends Wout van Aert: “One of the Best Riders of all Time”
Wout van Aert has not been at his best this spring. This has earned the Belgian some criticism, but teammate and co-leader Matteo Jorgenson doesn’t think that is fair. “Look at Wout’s palmarès: he is one of the best riders of all time,” said the American said on the Sporza cycling talk show Vive le vélo, long live the Ronde.
“If you ride a few bad races and then get a lot of criticism… Then I think: we understand that they want to see Belgians triumph, but the fans have to understand that riders are only human too,” said Jorgenson. “I have also been to Tenerife, so I know what Wout’s days – without his wife and two children – looked like. The only thing he could do was get up in the morning, weigh his food and train. He lives for cycling and does his best. He really can’t do more.”
“I would like to see Wout achieve a result in Dwars door Vlaanderen. That way he can boost his confidence a bit for Sunday. I hope that we will colour the final together”, says the 25-year-old rider, who so far makes a better impression than Van Aert. He recently finished ninth in the E3 Saxo Classic. Afterwards, however, he did not want to say that he was the best rider of Visma | Lease a Bike in that race. “Was I the best rider of the team today? I have no idea. I felt good, but it was not a good race.”
Matteo Jorgenson speaks up for Wout:
Is Alexander Kristoff in his Last Season as a Professional Cyclist?
Alexander Kristoff has been a professional cyclist for more than fifteen years, but he may well be in his last season. But he is seriously considering his retirement from cycling.
“My contract expires this year,” the Norwegian explained in a recent interview. “But I am almost 38 years old, so I am thinking about quitting. I am quite calm about it. I think this is my last year in the peloton. I am starting to get the feeling that I want to do other things with my life.”
The Uno-X Mobility rider is keeping the door open and is not announcing his retirement just yet. Kristoff currently has 97 victories as a professional and wants his 100 victories. “So I definitely want to celebrate three more victories.” Kristoff started his professional career in 2010 for BMC Racing Team, but it was only as a rider with Katusha (2012-2017) that he became a multiple winner. For the Russian team, he won Milan-Sanremo (2014), the Tour of Flanders (2015) and several stages in the Tour de France.
After his very successful period with Katusha, Kristoff also rode for UAE Team Emirates (2018-2021) and Intermarché-Wanty (2022). He now races for his home team, Uno-X Mobility. Despite his age, Kristoff is still at a high level. He won a stage in the Ruta del Sol this year and was fourth in Gent-Wevelgem last Sunday.
Kristoff in his final season:
Fabio Jakobsen Halts Cycling for Foreseeable Future Due to Flow Limitations in the Iliac Arteries (FLIA)
Determined to hit the ground running in their second season together, Team Picnic PostNL put in strong work in the winter period, building Jakobsen’s shape and base form nicely; ready to tackle 2025 head on. However, in the high intensity moments in those early-season races, Jakobsen found himself unable to push on the pedals as hard as he previously could.
Conducting further tests with the team’s medical staff, it was revealed that Jakobsen has flow limitation in the iliac artery in both of his legs.
Team Picnic PostNL doctor Camiel Aldershof explained: “Unfortunately after conducting recent tests, we have discovered that Fabio has flow limitation of the iliac arteries. As the diagnosis is very clear and currently limiting him on the bike, he will undergo surgery to attempt and fix the issue. Thankfully, he has a more favourable prognosis to return due to the type of limitation; however, this can take some time to come back from. The surgery means that Fabio will be off the bike for around six weeks initially, with no other strenuous physical activity allowed. In the meantime, we will monitor his progress and from there, when he is ready, we will gradually have him return to training and slowly build up intensity again.”
Fabio Jakobsen added: “I trained well this winter and came into the season with some confidence. We picked up some top ten results at UAE Tour and Paris-Nice, but when it came to those key moments and high intensity sprint efforts I suffered; my legs simply weren’t working as they should. It’s mentally of course a setback, but now that we have found the cause of the issue, I am hopeful that the surgery can then solve it. Sometimes you need to take one step back to be able to make two forward, and I hope that’s what I’m going to do now.”
Jakobsen will undergo surgery on Wednesday 2nd April, before a period off the bike and his rehabilitation begins. His race program for the remainder of 2025 remains open and is dependent on how his recovery goes.
Another set-back for Fabio Jakobsen:
Pogačar returns to lead for Tour of Flanders
Second monument of the season for UAE Team Emirates-XRG
After an impressive podium at Milano – San Remo, Tadej Pogačar returns to Belgium to take on the biggest of the Flanders Classics: the Ronde Van Vlaanderen (6 April) on Sunday. With 23 victories already on the board this season, the Emirati team go into the weekend with their tails up and in search of a big result.
The team brings a wealth of classics experience to the table, most notably through veterans Nils Politt and local favourite Tim Wellens, who boast a combined 15 starts in the historic monument race. The 2023 ‘De Ronde’ Champion Pogačar comes into the race as one of the favourites and reflects on good memories on Flemish roads.
Pogačar: “Flanders is an amazing race and for sure ranks as one of the most important victories in my career. The energy of the race and the passion for cycling in this region is something special. The team is very strong and I think we can give a really good showing to try and ride for the victory. In Milano- San Remo we had a great race and a good battle between the rivals and I’m looking forward to doing it all again on Sunday, albeit in different circumstances.”
Sports Directors Fabio Baldato (Ita) and Marco Marcato (Ita) will guide the team from the car.
Ronde van Vlaanderen – Tour des Flandres [1.UWT] – 06-Apr-2025
Mikkel Bjerg (Den)
Tadej Pogačar (Slo)
Rui Oliveira (Por)
Antonio Morgado (Col)
Jhonatan Narvaez (Ecu)
Nils Politt (Ger)
Tim Wellens (Bel).
Fifth year as a ProTeam, Fifth Participation in the Giro d’Italia for Polti VisitMalta
Five years in the Professional category, five participations in the Giro d’Italia: RCS Sport, the leading cycling race organiser in Italy, has officially granted a wild card to Team Polti VisitMalta for the corsa rosa which will take place from May 9 to June 1.
From 2021 to 2025 colours and team names have changed, but what remains and continues to grow is the prominent role of the Fundación Contador’s structure in both Italian and international cycling. This status has been legitimised at the Giro by two stage victories and a consistently proactive racing approach — exemplified last year by the team’s dominance in the breakaway classification.
Team principal Ivan Basso commented: “Receiving our fifth invitation to the Giro d’Italia fills us with pride and increases both our responsibility and ambition to impress. Our steady growth has allowed us to earn credibility with both race organisers and the wider audience, building a community that started with the fans of the two founders and has expanded to include supporters of Team Polti from the 1990s as well as today’s cycling enthusiasts.”
General manager Fran Contador added: “We thank RCS for the trust they continue to place in us. This shows how much we have stood out, not only through our victories on Zoncolan (2021) and Gran Sasso (2023) but also through the ambitious commitment we intend to bring to the Giro and other major races again this year.”
Polti-VisitMalta to the Giro again:
Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team to Race Giro d’Italia
On Monday it was announced that Q36.5 Pro Cycling will receive a wildcard to take part in the Giro d’Italia. It’s the first of the three Grand Tours this year and it starts on Friday 9 May in Albania.
Team principal Doug Ryder was elated with the news: “I am really happy we received this invitation, and I would like to thank RCS for inviting us. It’s truly a privilege to be a part of the Corsa Rosa this year. With seven victories so far this season, we have demonstrated what we are capable of. Starting our first Grand Tour as Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team is a dream come true. Our connection to Italy runs deep, with our title partner, Q36.5, a high-performance cycling apparel brand based in Italy, now set to be showcased in the country’s most prestigious race. Looking at the course, I believe it suits our riders well, particularly our team leader, Tom Pidcock, who has already shown his strength on Italian roads this year in Strade Bianche and Tirreno-Adriatico. While there are specific stages we are especially excited about, above all, I am incredibly proud of our team, our staff, and the founding partners who have supported us on this journey to the highest levels of the sport.”
Tom Pidcock raced the Giro d’Italia U23 back in 2020, winning three stages and the overall classification. This will be his first Giro d’Italia as a pro.
Tom Pidcock said: “I think it is a fantastic opportunity for us as a team. It’s what we have wanted to be a part of since I joined this team, and now it’s become a reality. I think it’s going to be a pretty exciting race with lots of different opportunities. I am looking forward to racing with the team and showcasing our partners, especially Q36.5 as an Italian brand. I’m glad we have this opportunity, and I’m motivated to make the most of it.”
Q36.5 is an Italian brand and Luigi Bergamo, CEO & Head of Research and Development is happy to see the team in the biggest race in Italy. “We are very proud and excited about the Giro d’Italia invitation. This team is a continual source of inspiration for us to push the barriers of innovation forward. As title sponsor, we feel a big responsibility to our young riders. This three-week long adventure will bring them more strength, experience and satisfaction! We already started this season aware that the team is ready and more mature to compete on the highest level. On our side we take on the challenge. We re-invented our race clothing to elevate performance in aerodynamics and protection against bad weather conditions. As Q36.5 we did this without compromising our core mission about thermoregulation! We are ready for the Giro d’Italia! All the best to the riders!”
For Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, this invitation is more than just a race entry—it’s a statement of progress and belief in the journey we are on. From our inception, we have strived to redefine performance and innovation in professional cycling. Now, as we take our place on the start line of the Giro d’Italia, we do so with a team that is hungry to compete to win and to showcase the values that drive us forward. This is our Grand Tour debut, and we are ready to make it count.
Q36.5 to the Giro:
Winspace Orange Seal Selected for the 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift
We are incredibly proud to announce our selection for the 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift
Our deepest thanks go to ASO and the entire TdFF team for placing their trust in us. Being chosen as one of the 22 selected teams is a tremendous honour. We know where we come from, and we fully understand the value and responsibility of this invitation.
We will do everything in our power to honour this selection — with heart, flair, and unwavering determination. We will fight to leave our mark, to put on a show, and to prove that we deserve our place at the highest level.
We also thank the UCI, whose support helped us reach the Women’s ProTeam status. That recognition was a turning point, allowing our project to grow and achieve this historic milestone: joining the world’s top 22 women’s professional cycling teams.
A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors: Winspace, Lún Wheels, Orange Seal, Autowürks, Hutchinson, Intermarché, the Charente-Maritime department, French Cyclard… and all the behind-the-scenes partners who make this adventure possible.
But above all, our deepest gratitude goes to the women who carry this project with their strength and spirit: our bold, brave, and brilliant riders. And to those who support them every day from behind the scenes — our passionate and devoted staff.
Thank you.
Jean-Christophe Barbotin, Co-Manager & Sports Director: “Being selected for the Tour de France Femmes is the culmination of years of hard work and a long-term vision. We’re a young team, without a men’s structure, but with immense heart. We will give everything to honour this jersey and the unique opportunity we’ve been given.”
Damien Pommereau, Sports Director: “This selection is a tremendous source of pride, but also a responsibility. We will approach each stage with humility, precision, and ambition. Our strength lies in the unity of this team, its flair, and its deep desire to go beyond the limits.”
The Next Races for Team Picnic PostNL
Gran Premio Miguel Indurain – APR 05
Christian Guiberteau – Team Picnic PostNL coach: “The GP Miguel Indurain is a race that always delivers an exciting and unpredictable battle. It’s a day where timing and positioning are everything, as the race often explodes long before the final climb. For us, Oscar will be our finisher, with Kevin also well-suited to this kind of race. In the earlier phases, Warren and Gijs can play an important role in anticipating moves, whether by staying ahead of the action in the pre-final or even making it into a strong breakaway. A small early move isn’t a concern, but if a big and dangerous group goes, we’ll need to be present. It’s all about racing smart, reading the race well, and making sure we are in the right places when it matters most.”
Line-up:
Warren Barguil (FRA)
Romain Combaud (FRA)
Bjoern Koerdt (GBR)
Gijs Leemreize (NLD)
Juan Guillermo Martinez (COL)
Oscar Onley (GBR)
Kevin Vermaerke (USA)
Volta NXT Classic – APR 05
Bennie Lambregts – Team Picnic PostNL coach
“The Volta NXT Classic presents a fantastic opportunity for our Development program riders to gain valuable experience in a demanding race. We’re lining up with a mixed team that includes five riders from our Development program and two from our Men’s program; with Frank van den Broek as our finisher. Having an experienced rider like Frank in the team will be an important learning moment for the young guys, as they navigate the challenges of positioning, pacing, and race dynamics on this tough circuit. This year’s course differs slightly from the usual edition, but the organisers have created a challenging and selective route that should lead to an exciting race. We will aim to support Frank as best as possible for the finale, while ensuring that the younger guys make the most of this opportunity to learn and grow. It’s a great challenge, and both the riders and staff are highly motivated for the day ahead.”
Line-up:
Vincent Bodet (FRA)
Frank van den Broek (NLD)
Jacob Bush (GBR)
Robbe Dhondt (BEL)
Ryan Gal (NLD)
Oliver Peace (GBR)
Pavel Sumpik (CZE)
Ronde van Vlaanderen – APR 06
Pim Ligthart – Team Picnic PostNL coach: “It’s time for one of the most iconic and demanding races of the spring, where only the strongest riders remain in contention. This is not a race to sit back and wait—we want to be part of the action from start to finish. Teamwork will be crucial, as making the right decisions at the key moments can make all the difference. Our goal is to be present ahead of the important phases of the race, so that we are in the right place when the race truly comes to life. From there, we will then give it our all on the way to Oudenaarde to come away with the best result possible.”
Line-up:
John Degenkolb (DEU)
Patrick Eddy (AUS)
Nils Eekhoff (NLD)
Sean Flynn (GBR)
Enzo Leijnse (NLD)
Tim Naberman (NLD)
Timo Roosen (NLD)
Ronde van Vlaanderen – APR 06
Callum Ferguson – Team Picnic PostNL coach: “De Ronde is a race that demands strength, resilience, and smart racing. With its relentless cobbled climbs and ever-changing race dynamics, positioning and timing are crucial. We’re lining up with a strong and experienced team, featuring riders who have excelled here in the past. We have multiple cards to play—Franzi and Marta can be active in the pre-final, while Pfeiffer will be our key rider for the deep final. It’s all about executing our race plan and reading the race well on the day.”
Line-up:
Francesca Barale (ITA)
Marta Cavalli (ITA)
Pfeiffer Georgi (GBR)
Megan Jastrab (USA)
Franziska Koch (DEU)
Mara Roldan (CAN)
Itzulia Basque Country – APR 07 – APR 12
Phil West – Team Picnic PostNL coach: “Itzulia Basque Country always delivers hard and unpredictable racing, with relentless climbs, technical descents, and an electric atmosphere created by passionate fans. We return to the race with a strong group, including Oscar and Warren, who were part of our squad here last year. Our main goal is to support Oscar as our finisher in the GC battle—we believe he has the ability to do well here, given the progress he has made since last season. The key will be racing as a united team, staying structured throughout the week, and making the right moves when opportunities arise. Along the way, we also want to be active and aggressive in the daily battles, making the most of each stage. We’re looking forward to another exciting week of racing in the Basque Country.”
Line-up:
Warren Barguil (FRA)
Romain Combaud (FRA)
Bjoern Koerdt (GBR)
Gijs Leemreize (NLD)
Juan Guillermo Martinez (COL)
Oscar Onley (GBR)
Kevin Vermaerke (USA)
Région Pays de la Loire Tour – APR 08 – APR 11
Asbjørn Kragh Andersen – Team Picnic PostNL coach: “Région Pays de la Loire Tour is a great opportunity for our Development program, and we’re excited to be on the start line. It’s a race that can unfold in different ways, with opportunities for both aggressive racing and sprint finishes. Our goal is simple: to make the most of each stage, race with ambition, and show our colours at the front. The team is highly motivated, and we’re ready to take on the challenge every day.”
Line-up:
Vincent Bodet (FRA)
Ryan Gal (NLD)
Ko Molenaar (NLD)
Christiaan van Rees (NLD)
Matteo Vanhuffel (BEL)
Jurgen Zomermaand (NLD)
Sean Flyn to ride De Ronde:
Soudal Quick-Step has a medical update on several of its injured riders
Following his withdrawal from last week’s Volta a Catalunya, Valentin Paret-Peintre underwent a medical examination where it was revealed that he has a fracture of the coccyx. He has to remain off the bike for at least two weeks.
Dries Van Gestel had an operation Monday at the hospital in Herentals, on the scaphoid that he broke in last Friday’s E3 Saxo Classic. This will see Dries in a cast for three weeks after which his progress will be reevaluated.
Martin Svrcek has been able to travel from the hospital in Italy where he has stayed since his accident at Milano-Sanremo and will continue his recuperation at the hospital in Herentals.
Valentin Paret-Peintre out for weeks:
CIC-Mont Ventoux Cancelled in 2025
The CIC-Mont Ventoux will not take place for the second year in a row. The French one-day race finishing on the slopes of the mythical Mont Ventoux was scheduled for 17 June, but the organisers had previously announced that it was struggling with financial problems. Now the 2025 edition has been cancelled.
In January, race director Nicolas Garcera already told Total Velo that two sponsors had dropped out and a third had significantly reduced the budget. The race organisation lost 50,000 euros due to the withdrawal of these sponsors. In addition, the costs for TV production have increased considerably, Garcera now says in an interview with La Provence. The CIC-Mont Ventoux must be removed from the calendar. The race was also cancelled last year, but that was because of the Olympic Games in Paris. Garcera hopes to be able to organise a race again in 2026.
The first edition of the CIC-Mont Ventoux took place in 2019, then under the name Mont Ventoux Dénivelé Challenge. The Spaniard Jesús Herrada was the first winner. Aleksandr Vlasov in 2020 and then Miguel Ángel López in 2021, Ruben Guerreiro 2022 and Lenny Martinez in 2023.
Lenny Martinez won in 2023:
2025 Tour de France Teams Selected
2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift Teams Selected
2025 Giro d’Italia Teams Selected
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