Ronde van Vlaanderen Race Preview: The Tour of Flanders is the best one-day race in the World, okay, I said it. Paris-Roubaix is phenomenal, but it’s flat. Vlaanderens Mooiste (Flanders’ Most Beautiful) has cobbles, but also has murderously short, steep climbs. It also has the crazy, Flemish bike fans. De Ronde never disappoints. Here is the PEZ 2025 Flanders Preview:
2024 Tour of Flanders
2024 Tour of Flanders
Last year Mathieu van der Poel was expected to win the 2024 Tour of Flanders, but the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider took an epic Ronde with solo effort in the Flemish rain, going solo from the Koppenberg. Surprisingly, Luca Mozzato (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) was second and Michael Matthews was third, but the Australian was declassed in favour of Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates). After 20 kilometres a group of eight made their escape: Bert Van Lerberghe (Soudal Quick-Step), Luke Durbridge & Elmar Reinders (Jayco AlUla), Damien Touzé (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale), Lionel Taminiaux (Lotto Dstny), Stanislaw Aniolkowski (Cofidis), David Dekker (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) and Jelle Vermoote (Bingoal WB). At first they were chased, but it suited the team’s of the favourites and so their lead was allowed to increase. Alpecin-Deceuninck and Lidl-Trek took control of the peloton for Mathieu van der Poel and Mads Pedersen and so the break soon had a lead of 4:20, but that was their maximum. There was a lot of fans at the roadside, this caused at least three crashes one looked particularly bad for a woman spectator. Strangely, the first counter-attack came from Alpecin-Deceuninck, but Visma | Lease a Bike chased down Axel Laurence and then, with 110 kilometres to go, Matteo Jorgenson kept going. Pedersen also made a move, but everything calmed down again. On the Molenberg, 100 kilometres from the finish, there was more fireworks.
Mads Pedersen managed to ride up the Koppenberg
Once again it was Pedersen, this time with Jorgenson and Van der Poel on his wheel. A very strong group broke away from them, which was a dangerous situation for the World champion. A group of Pedersen, Dylan van Baarle, Tiesj Benoot, Nils Politt and Oliver Naesen had a gap. The Alpecin-Deceuninck men didn’t allow the gap to get too big and then Van der Poel closed the gap on the Valkenberg with a strong effort. Pedersen wasn’t finished and went again, but he had Gianni Vermeersch on his wheel, MvdP’s teammate. Pedersen and Vermeersch stayed off the front and climbed Berg Ten Houte without any problems. In the peloton, Alpecin-Deceuninck were in control and kept the gap small. Stefan Küng, who crashed with spectators, was able to return. The rain and wet roads made the race very nervous in the run-up to the second passage of the Oude Kwaremont. Oier Lazkano put the pressure on, on the Kwaremont, but Van der Poel closed the gap to Pedersen and Vermeersch. At the top, only Pedersen, Lazkano, Dylan Teuns, Laurence Pithie and Tim Wellens were still on the wheel of the World champion, after which a group including Jorgenson and Matej Mohorič was able to join them. The first time over the Paterberg the race was split, but the gaps were still small. In the run-up to the Koppenberg the groups of favourites came back together. Iván García jumped away and started the cobbles climb of the Koppenberg with a slight lead, but he had a mechanical problem and had to stop. Mathieu van der Poel came storming past with Matteo Jorgenson and Mads Pedersen behind him. The others were not so lucky and had to run up the climb.
Mathieu van der Poel solo after the Koppenberg
The pace that Van der Poel set on the Koppenberg was the decisive move of the day. Jorgenson had the World champion in sight over the top, but Van der Poel now had the bit between his teeth and took time on everyone. By the Traaiberg the lead was already 50 seconds on the American, who had to drop back to a group with Bettiol, Teuns, García, Wellens, Pedersen and Laurenz Rex. The cooperation was not good and so Van der Poel over one and a half minutes with 30 kilometres to go. He still had the Oude Kruisberg/Hotond, Oude Kwaremont and the Paterberg to tackle. Behind Van der Poel, the battle for the other podium places was on. On the Hotond, Teuns and Bettiol broke away, but they were nearly 2 minutes behind Van der Poel. The World champion had to endure booing and a beer shower the last time on Kwaremont. No problems on the Paterberg before the 13 flat kilometre to Oudenaarde. Van der Poel took his third victory in the Tour of Flanders, after his victories in 2020 and 2022. More than 1 minute behind Van der Poel, Bettiol and Teuns were racing for the podium, but there was a large group coming up from behind. In the finishing straight, Teuns and Bettiol started to play a game of poker, allowing the chasing group to catch them in the last 200 metres. Surprisingly second place went to Luca Mozzato (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), who had a big battle with Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla). After the finish the race jury declassed the Australian for his ‘switch’ to one side. Nils Politt (UAE Team Emirates) was awarded third place.
Van der Poel’s third Ronde win in 2024
2024 Ronde van Vlaanderen Result:
1. Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Alpecin-Deceuninck in 6:05:17
2. Luca Mozzato (Ita) Arkéa-B&B Hotels at 1:02
3. Nils Politt (Ger) UAE Team Emirates
4. Mikkel Bjerg (Den) UAE Team Emirates
5. António Morgado (Por) UAE Team Emirates
6. Magnus Sheffield (USA) INEOS Grenadiers
7. Oliver Naesen (Bel) Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale
8. Dylan Teuns (Bel) Israel-Premier Tech
9. Alberto Bettiol (Ita) EF Education-EasyPost
10. Toms Skujiņš (Lat) Lidl-Trek.
Tom Boonen on three De Ronde wins
Achiel Buysse, Fiorenzo Magni, Eric Leman, Johan Museeuw, Tom Boonen, Fabian Cancellara and Mathieu van der Poel are all on three wins, can the Dutchman take the record?
The last 10 Winners of De Ronde:
2024: Mathieu van der Poel (Ned)
2023: Tadej Pogačar (Slo)
2022: Mathieu van der Poel (Ned)
2021: Kasper Asgreen (Den)
2020: Mathieu van der Poel (Ned)
2019: Alberto Bettiol (Ita)
2018: Niki Terpstra (Ned)
2017: Philippe Gilbert (Bel)
2016: Peter Sagan (Slov)
2015: Alexander Kristoff (Nor).
Johan Museeuw also on three wins
Route:
The Tour of Flanders started in Antwerp last year, so this year it is the turn of Brugge and the peloton will leave from the Markt at 10am. There are a few small changes to previous years: The run-up to the finale has been adjusted slightly, but the finale itself is unchanged.
2025 De Ronde van Vlaanderen map
In the first hundred kilometres of the race, the riders will pass through Beernem, Aalter and Zulte, and other towns/villages. After 109 kilometres, the riders will hit the first obstacle, the cobblestones of Doorn, then there is the first of three climbs of the Oude Kwaremont. The second climb is the Eikenberg, which was not part of the route in 2024, when the start was in Antwerp. There is also a change compared to 2023, the last time the Tour of Flanders started in Bruges. After the Eikenberg, Wolvenberg and Holleweg, the Karel Martelstraat replaces the cobbles of Kerkgate. So there are a few changes, but the finale of the Tour of Flanders stays the same. Starting with the cobbles of Jagerij, the climb of the Molenberg, the Paddestraat, the Berendries and finally the Valkenberg, all within thirty kilometres.
Mads Pedersen on the Koppenberg
The summit of the Valkenberg is just under 90 kilometres from the finish, after 180 kilometres. An attack on the Berg Ten Houte or the Hotond, the next hills on the course is possible, but very early. After the Hotond, the route goes to the Oude Kwaremont for the second time and then the Paterberg. The first passage of the Paterberg always provides action, as the Koppenberg is coming up. The very tough Koppenberg is where the favourites will show their hand. The Steenbeekdries and Taaienberg come very soon. Then the Hotond, which it is about ten kilometres before the last passage of the Oude Kwaremont.
2025 De Ronde van Vlaanderen profile
That last passage of the Oude Kwaremont comes 16.7 kilometres from the finish. This is where a leading group of top men will put the pressure on for the penultimate time. 13.2 kilometres from the finish the Paterberg comes again, it is less than 400 metres long, but made for the puncheurs. After the top of the Paterberg, there are 13 flat kilometres to Oudenaarde. A solo isn’t impossible, but the wind will be a factor as it can be quite strong. If a large group is still together, then tactics will be important. The finish is on the wide Minderbroedersstraat in Oudenaarde. Perfect for a group sprint or a solo victor.
When will Mathieu van der Poel make his move
Climbs
1. Oude Kwaremont (2,200 metres at 4%)
2. Eikenberg (1,200 metres at 5.1%)
3. Wolvenberg (645 metres at 7.9%)
4. Molenberg (463 metres at 7%)
5. Berendries (940 metres at 7%)
6. Valkenberg (540 metres at 8.1%)
7. Berg Ten Houte (1,100 metres at 6%)
8. Hotond/Nieuwe Kruisberg (2,500 metres at 5%)
9. Oude Kwaremont (2,200 metres at 4%)
10. Paterberg (360 metres at 12.9%)
11. Koppenberg (600 metres at 11.6%)
12. Steenbeekdries (700 metres at 5.3%)
13. Taaienberg (530 metres at 6.6%)
14. Hotond/Nieuwe Kruisberg (2,500 metres at 5%)
15. Oude Kwaremont (2,200 metres at 4%)
16. Paterberg (360 metres at 12.9%).
Cobbles
1. Doorn (1,650 metres)
2. Holleweg (900 metres)
3. Karel Martelstraat (1,300 metres)
4. Jagerij (800 metres)
5. Paddestraat (2,500 metres)
6. Mariaborrestraat (2,400 metres)
7. Stationsberg (600 metres).
Those Flemish cobbles
The Favourites
The two top men of the moment, Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar, will meet up again in the Tour of Flanders for a repeat (we hope) of their battle in Milan-Sanremo. Pogačar attacked in La Primavera, but Van der Poel was able to respond just before the summit of the Poggio and then sprint to victory on the Via Roma. There is a good chance that we will see a duel again in Flanders on Sunday.
Another duel on Sunday
If we look at the recent result, Van der Poel has a slight advantage. The Dutchman’s ‘worst’ result was a fourth place on his first appearance in 2019. His other results are 1st in 2020, 2nd in 2021, 1st in 2022, 2nd in 2023 and 1st in 2024. If he takes his fourth victory this year, he will become the record holder. At the moment, he is on three wins with Johan Museeuw, Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen, Eric Leman, Fiorenzo Magni and Achiel Buysse. Van der Poel has won 50% of his participations, but the same goes for Pogačar. The Slovenian started in 2022 and 2023. In his first participation he finished 4th, but a year later, Pogačar dropped everyone, including Van der Poel, on the Oude Kwaremont and then soloed to victory in Oudenaarde. Pogačar can make a difference sooner than in Milan-Sanremo. The climbs come one after the other in rapid succession in the finale and the Koppenberg and Paterberg are relatively short, but a lot steeper than the Cipressa and Poggio. There is also the Oude Kwaremont, where he can try again. Pogačar will have to get rid of the Dutchman (and everyone else), because if it comes to a sprint between the two, he will more than likely finish second. Van der Poel showed his sprint in Milan-Sanremo, he is a faster and smarter sprinter than Pogačar.
There are more places for Pogačar to attack in De Ronde
There are other contenders: Wout van Aert is always a main challenger, but the Belgian is not at his best (Don’t mention Wednesday’s Dwars Door Vlaanderen). He was disappointing in the ‘Opening Weekend’ and in the E3 Saxo Classic, after his altitude training camp in Tenerife, he was also unable to impress. The Visma | Lease a Bike Belgian rode an invisible race and finish in fifteenth place. But we can’t write Van Aert off. Riders sometimes need some time after an altitude training camp to find their best form and the next two weekends is when he wants to peak. The Tour of Flanders is also a different race from all the previous races of the season, especially for a Belgian, a Flemish one at that. Van Aert seemed to have trouble positioning himself in the E3 Classic, but the extra kilometres in Flanders will slim down the peloton before the final, making positioning easier. There has been a lot of discussion on Van Aert having a problem and criticism, especially in the Belgian press, of his preparation and race schedule, so Van Aert will have the pressure on his shoulders to show his real worth and he doesn’t hold back from a fight.
Don’t write Van Aert off
Then there is the other man on form at the moment, Mads Pedersen. After an impressive final weekend in Paris-Nice, the Dane was not so good in Milan-Sanremo, but he had been ill the week before ‘La Primavera’. In the E3 Saxo Classic, Pedersen was back to full fitness. The Lidl-Trek rider attacked on the Taaienberg and was the strongest rider in the race… behind Van der Poel. He lost more than a minute to the Dutchman, but he also put a minute into Filippo Ganna. Then you’re in good shape. Two days later, Pedersen was the favourite to win Gent-Wevelgem and he didn’t disappoint. With an impressive solo of 56 kilometre, he took the win. This was his third Gent-Wevelgem win, but to do the same in De Ronde is a different proposition. Pedersen rode his best Flanders in 2018, his Ronde debut, he finished second, behind Niki Terpstra. He has ridden the Tour of Flanders six more times, finishing in the top ten twice. Eighth in 2022, third in 2023. He must be one of the ‘best of the rest’.
Mads Pedersen has the form, but…
Filippo Ganna should finish higher than he has before in De Ronde. The Italian didn’t finish in 2018 and was 98th in 2019. It has been six years since he has ridden the Tour of Flanders, so we can’t really draw any conclusions from his past results, but in recent weeks, Ganna has been in storming form. In Tirreno-Adriatico he finished second overall after winning the first stage and holding the lead for five days. He then took second place in Milan-Sanremo behind Van der Poel and ahead of Pogačar, and a third place in the E3 Saxo Classic. In Sanremo he was the only one who could go with the ‘Big Two’ in the finale. In the E3 he took his first podium place in a Flemish classic. In both races Ganna looked good, but he was always following. Also on the short climbs he is on the heavy side to have the needed explosiveness for the Tour of Flanders. In the E3 Saxo Classic he suffered on the short, steep Flemish climbs.
Third again for Ganna? If he is lucky
Visma | Lease a Bike doesn’t only have Wout van Aert. The biggest contender in the Dutch team could be Matteo Jorgenson. The winner of Paris-Nice is also a budding Classics-man and he has looked more alert in the one-day races than Van Aert. The American takes initiative and is full of self-confidence. Jorgenson was in the early first peloton of the E3 Saxo Classic, although he had to go ‘full gas’ to get in that group and burnt too many of his matches. “I felt good, but it wasn’t a good race,” the 25-year-old rider told WielerFlits after the race. If the winner of last year’s Dwars door Vlaanderen can ride a more sensible race in the Tour of Flanders, he should have a good result.
Matteo Jorgenson – Visma’s No.1?
Jorgenson was in the same E3 Saxo Classic group with Jasper Stuyven and Stefan Küng. That must have been a boost for Stuyven, because he had a hard crash in the final stage of Tirreno-Adriatico. He has apparently recovered enough to do well in the Tour of Flanders. Together with Pedersen, he can form a dangerous duo for Lidl-Trek. Küng was sixth in Harelbeke for yet another top result in a cobbled Classic. The flat roads of Paris-Roubaix are probably better suited for the Swiss rider, but he can also ride well in Flanders. He finished fifth in 2022 and sixth in 2023. Winning will be a lot harder for Küng, but a solo with others looking at each other behind, is a possibility.
Stefan Küng could surprise?
Biniam Girmay will be hoping for a group finish in Oudenaarde. The Intermarché-Wanty leader hasn’t had the best preparations for the Spring Classics due to his wife giving birth to their second daughter. But he did ride well in Milan-San Remo, where he was fourteenth and Gent-Wevelgem, taking seventh. Milan-Sanremo was his first race in almost a month, so he should have the ‘race rhythm’ back in his legs for Sunday.
Biniam Girmay should be back in form
Tim Wellens rode a strong Milan-Sanremo. The Belgian will be Pogačar’s domestique, but if he is in a lead group with the World champion, they can play an attacking game. In this situation, Wellens could be a winner. He is certainly on form at the moment, as he showed on the Cipressa, he finished eighth in the E3 Saxo Classic and third in Strade Bianche.
Tim Wellens – UAE’s second man?
The Outsiders: Valentin Madouas (Groupama-FDJ), Toms Skujiņš (Lidl-Trek), Oliver Naesen (Decathlon AG2R), Tim van Dijke (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Magnus Sheffield (INEOS Grenadiers), Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla), Dylan Teuns (Cofidis), Luca Mozzato (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Tiesj Benoot & Dylan van Baarle (Visma | Lease a Bike), Florian Vermeersch & Jhonatan Narvàez (UAE Emirates XRG), Søren Wærenskjold & Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility), Julian Alaphilippe, Matteo Trentin & Rick Pluimers (Tudor).
If Pogačar can’t get rid of Van der Poel before the finish, it’s hard to see the Dutchman lose
Who are the top favourites?
Top Favourites: Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar
Next Best: Mads Pedersen
Probable: Wout van Aert, Filippo Ganna and Matteo Jorgenson
Possible: Stefan Küng, Jasper Stuyven, Biniam Girmay and Tim Wellens.
* The start line-up might change before Sunday. *
# Stay PEZ for the race report on Saturday and all the news from Flanders in EUROTRASH Monday. #
Go easy on the beer – It’s a long day!
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