2025 Gent-Wevelgem Race Preview: As we get our breath back from Saturday’s stunning Milano-Sanremo, the WorldTour moves north to Belgium and the cobbled Classics. Gent-Wevelgem is this Sunday, it’s not De Ronde van Vlaanderen, but it is a real Classic where a surprise rider can cause an upset. Here is the PEZ 2025 race preview.
Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields – A very special race
In 2024, the two strongest men in the race, Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) tore Gent-Wevelgem apart until they were the only men left standing after the last time over the Kemmelberg. At the finish the Dane had just the edge on the Dutch World champion to take the win. Jordi Meeus (BORA-hansgrohe) brought in the peloton just 16 seconds later.
2024 Gent-Wevelgem
Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields 2024
1. Mads Pedersen (Den) Lidl-Trek in 5:36:00
2. Mathieu van der Poel (Ned) Alpecin-Deceuninck
3. Jordi Meeus (Bel) BORA-hansgrohe at 0:16
4. Jasper Philipsen (Bel) Alpecin-Deceuninck
5. Jonathan Milan (Ita) Lidl-Trek
6. Olav Kooij (Ned) Visma | Lease a Bike
7. Biniam Girmay (Eri) Intermarché-Wanty
8. Tim Merlier (Bel) Soudal Quick-Step
9. Dylan Groenewegen (Ned) Jayco AlUla
10. Matteo Trentin (Ita) Tudor.
Mads Pedersen last year – No surprise
In 2024, Mads Pedersen surprisingly beat Mathieu van der Poel in a two-man sprint, the year earlier, Wout van Aert gave teammate Christophe Laporte the victory and in 2022, Biniam Girmay took a historic victory. So we can see, over the years there has been some surprises, but a nobody is never the first man to cross the line in Wevelgem.
The Last 10 Winners of Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields
2024: Mads Pedersen
2023: Christophe Laporte
2022: Biniam Girmay
2021: Wout van Aert
2020: Mads Pedersen
2019: Alexander Kristoff
2018: Peter Sagan
2017: Greg Van Avermaet
2016: Peter Sagan
2015: Luca Paolini.
2023 Van Aert and Laporte
Parcours
The start of Gent-Wevelgem is not in Gent, the West Flemish town of Ieper (Ypres) has been the start point of the cobbled Classic since 2020. With its history, its connections with the first World War and the iconic Menin Gate, Ieper is the perfect place to start Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields. The name refers to the famous war poem ‘In Flanders Fields’, written by the Canadian John McCrae. The name is also a reference to the route, which passes through a number of important locations of ‘The War to End all Wars’.
In Flanders Fields
The main thing about the course is that there is no rest. The first 100 kilometres are almost flat, but the wind is the biggest obstacle. It’s a long way to the finish, but your race could be over early if you miss an echelon. After the first 100 kilometres, the race passes through De Moeren, where the wind always has something to say.
Gent-Wevelgem’25 map
This is where the race can split for the first time. Next up, there will be tough racing in the first real hilly section. The passage through the Heuvelland has the climbs of the Scherpenberg and the Baneberg. Then, at about 85 kilometres from the finish, there is the Monteberg and Kemmelberg, the cobbled Kemmel is ridden up the longer, but less steep eastern side of Belvedère.
Gent-Wevelgem’25 profile
After these hills, the race leaves West Flanders for a loop through Hainaut and three gravel strips: Hill 63, Christmas Truce and The Catacombs. The peloton then returns to West Flanders for the finale. First there is the Monteberg and Kemmelberg for the second time. Via the Scherpenberg and the Baneberg, the Kemmel is then climbed for the third time. This time via the steeper western side, Ossuaire, this is where the race will be won or lost. This is probably the most important part of the Gent-Wevelgem route. After the top of the Kemmel, there 34 kilometres to the finish in Wevelgem. The road isn’t easy, the section just after the passage through Ieper is always a crucial point. There are no real climbs before the finish on the Vanackerestraat in Wevelgem, but the race can be won, or worse lost on the run-in.
The finale into Wevelgem
Who Will Win?
Gent-Wevelgem quite often ends with a sprint from an escape group that has managed to get away on one of the climbs around the Kemmelberg. But, these days, the top riders are quite happy to change the pattern of any race. Last year, Mathieu van der Poel attacked on the Kemmelberg and was joined by Mads Pedersen, for a two-man sprint. At the time of writing this, Van der Poel’s participation wasn’t certain, but it is another race he would like to add to his palmarès. I think we all hope that Van der Poel will be in Ieper, as he will enliven any race.
Will we see Mathieu van der Poel in Gent-Wevelgem?
We now know that Tadej Pogačar will not participate in Gent-Wevelgem, he will now ride his first Paris-Roubaix. “Originally, Tadej Pogačar was intended to participate in the E3 Saxo Classic and Ghent-Wevelgem. However, after consultation with the team, it was decided that he will adjust his calendar and instead focus on the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. He wants to be in top shape in these iconic races,” his team said in a press release. This leaves the door open for other riders. We first think of Filippo Ganna, who battled it out with Pogačar and Van der Poel in Sanremo. The Italian is a powerful rider who could split the race on the short steep climbs.
Ganna looks stronger than ever
If Mads Pedersen was to repeat his race of last year, but with Ganna, instead of Van der Poel. Although, Ganna would probably have less chance of a win that he did last Saturday. The Dane is also on good form at the moment, he won’t be dropped on the climbs in Flanders and his sprint is very strong, even after 250 kilometres of hard racing. He was ill after Paris-Nice and he wasn’t at 100% in Milano-Sanremo, will he be at full strength on Sunday?
Two years in a row for Mads Pedersen?
Most of the other big teams will work for a large group sprint. It’s unlikely we’ll see a bunch sprints in Wevelgem these days, although a big group of thirty or forty riders, like the group that sprinted for third place last year, is very possible. Jordi Meeus was third in 2024 and the Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe fast-finisher will have a good shot again this year.
Jordi Meeus for a ‘bunch’ sprint win?
There are other sprinters who have a good chance in Wevelgem. My personal choice would be Jasper Philipsen, he is probably one of the fastest men in the peloton at the moment and he is also a Classics-man on the cobbles. With or without Van der Poel in the Alpecin-Deceuninck team, Philipsen will have his chance, as MvdP would work for Philipsen’s chances in a sprint finish. In the past, that combination has often proven unbeatable. Philipsen can also hold his own as leader.
Jasper Philipsen – sprinter and Classics-man
If there was a big group, Philipsen might not get it all his own way. There will also be that fast-man, Jonathan Milan, who would be No.1 for Lidl-Trek ahead of Mads Pedersen in the group sprint scenario. Milan hasn’t won a Flemish Classic, but in Tirreno-Adriatico he was sprinting well, winning two stages and the points jersey.
If he is still there at the finish – Jonathan Milan would be a good bet
Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike) was beaten by Milan a few times in Tirreno, and in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne by Philipsen, but the Dutch sprinter seems to have moved up this season. In the final of Milan-Sanremo he sprinted to an eighth place. In the absence of Wout van Aert, the team has a better chance with him than with Tiesj Benoot.
Tim Merlier winning would be good for Soudal Quick-Step
The fastest of the others is probably Tim Merlier. Gent-Wevelgem is his dream race and probably also the biggest Classic he has the chance of winning, although on a good day he could do a ride in Paris-Roubaix. Merlier can save the spring for Soudal Quick-Step with the win in Wevelgem. The European champion is getting stronger every year, and after finishing eighth and sixth, he could step up to the podium. The home team also has Paul Magnier, who is the up-and-coming rider.
Can ‘Bini’ do it again?
There are quite a few ‘other’ riders who could pull off a shock: 2022 winner, Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), Phil Bauhaus (Bahrain Victorious), Arnaud Démare & Luca Mozzato (Arkéa-B&B Hotels), Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla), Mike Teunissen (XDS Astana), Arnaud De Lie (Lotto), Giacomo Nizzolo (Q36.5), Hugo Hofstetter (Israel-Premier Tech), Milan Fretin (Cofidis), Fernando Gaviria (Movistar), Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility) and Maikel Zijlaard & Matteo Trentin (Tudor).
Mads Pedersen again?
2025 Gent-Wevelgem Favourites:
Top: Mads Pedersen and Jasper Philipsen (Van der Poel, if he starts).
Good bet: Filippo Ganna, Olav Kooij, Jonathan Milan, Tim Merlier and Michael Matthews.
Possible: Biniam Girmay, Jordi Meeus and Paul Magnier.
*The start-list might change before Sunday.
# Stay PEZ for the 2025 Gent-Wevelgem ‘Race Report’ on Sunday and all the news in EUROTRASH Monday. #
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