Tour of Flanders 2025 Preview: Who Will Conquer the Cobbles?

This Sunday, April 6th, 2025, marks a pivotal moment in the cycling calendar: the Tour of Flanders, or De Ronde van Vlaanderen. As the first cobbled Monument of the season and a cornerstone of cycling's "Holy Week," this race holds immense prestige and promises high drama. Both the men's and women's pelotons have spent the past month testing their legs and equipment on the challenging terrain of Flanders in lead-up races like Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, E3 Saxo Classic, and Gent-Wevelgem. Now, they face the ultimate test over the iconic cobbled climbs and sectors.

While the early season saw some surprising results, recent weeks have brought familiar names back to the forefront. Mathieu van der Poel has shown formidable form, while Lorena Wiebes has collected sprint victories. However, success in the preparatory races doesn't automatically translate to glory in Flanders. The unique demands of De Ronde, particularly the sequences involving legendary climbs like the Koppenberg, Oude Kwaremont, and Paterberg, require a special combination of strength, skill, and tactical acumen. Let's examine the key contenders poised to make their mark this Sunday.

The Men's Contenders: Titans and Challengers

The men's race, starting first on Sunday, features a highly anticipated clash between the sport's biggest one-day racing stars.

• Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck): The Dutchman enters as a clear favourite. He remains undefeated in one-day races so far in 2025, capturing Le Samyn, Milan-San Remo, and the E3 Saxo Classic with varying tactics, showcasing his versatility. His record at Flanders is exceptional: three wins and two second-place finishes in the last five editions. Since 2020, he has amassed an impressive tally of Monument victories alongside Tadej Pogačar. His dominant performance at E3, often called the "Little Tour of Flanders," where he distanced strong rivals, signals he is primed for another podium finish, if not the top step.
• Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG): The Slovenian phenomenon returns after winning Flanders decisively in 2023, learning from a near-miss in 2022 where tactical errors cost him a podium. Pogačar began 2025 in imperious form, winning Strade Bianche despite a crash. While narrowly outsprinted by Van der Poel at Milan-San Remo, his performance indicated he possesses the power to challenge anyone. His decision to skip E3 suggests a laser focus on Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, indicating high confidence. Expect another epic duel between him and Van der Poel.
• Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike): Van Aert's season has been less straightforward. After playing a supporting role during Opening Weekend and undertaking an altitude camp, his performance at E3 was subpar, missing the crucial move in a race he's won twice previously. Consequently, he starts with more question marks than his main rivals. With only one Monument win (Milan-San Remo 2020) despite his widely recognized talent, the pressure is mounting. He needs a significant result to reassert his status, especially with teammate Matteo Jorgenson showing strong form.
• Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek): Often battling in the shadow of the top names, Pedersen is a consistent performer in the Classics, with two previous podium finishes at Flanders. His climbing has visibly improved, evidenced during Paris-Nice. While out of contention at Milan-San Remo, he rode aggressively at E3, initiating a key move before Van der Poel proved too strong. His subsequent victory at Gent-Wevelgem (where Van der Poel was absent) boosts his confidence. Supported by a robust Lidl-Trek squad, a podium is a realistic goal, potentially elevating him into the top echelon of contenders.
• Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers): Initially not scheduled for Flanders, Ganna's participation was confirmed following impressive recent performances, including podiums at Milan-San Remo, Tirreno-Adriatico, and E3. Declaring himself in the best road form of his career, the Italian time trial powerhouse brings immense engine capacity. His climbing has proven sufficient to stay with the leaders in recent demanding races. Returning to Flanders after a six-year absence, Ganna's power on flatter sections could be instrumental in securing a high placing if he can navigate the key climbs with the front group.

Men's Outsiders and Team Depth: Beyond these primary figures, Visma-Lease a Bike fields recent Paris-Nice winner Matteo Jorgenson as a strong secondary option. UAE Team Emirates XRG possesses significant depth with Tim Wellens, Jhonatan Narváez, Nils Politt (third last year), and Florian Vermeersch, offering tactical flexibility. Veterans like Alexander Kristoff (a previous winner) and Michael Matthews (denied a podium last year) remain dangerous. Stefan Küng (Groupama-FDJ) and Casper Pedersen (Soudal Quick-Step) could also feature if circumstances align.

The Women's Contenders: A Dynamic Field

The women's race saw Lidl-Trek execute a tactical masterclass in 2024, leading to Elisa Longo Borghini's victory. This year, the landscape appears slightly different.

• Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime): The Belgian star is widely considered the top favorite. A two-time previous winner, Kopecky enters in good shape, demonstrated by crucial support roles for teammate Lorena Wiebes at Milan-San Remo and Gent-Wevelgem, despite limited race days herself this season. Kopecky possesses both the explosive power needed for the Flemish climbs and a formidable sprint for a small group finish. She leads a powerhouse SD Worx team that includes the returning Anna van der Breggen.
• Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ): The defending champion lines up for her new team, UAE Team ADQ. A proven performer on cobbles (also a past Paris-Roubaix winner) with excellent climbing ability, she commands respect. Although she won the UAE Tour earlier this year, recent Classics results have been less dominant, and her focus is shifted slightly towards the Ardennes Classics. Nevertheless, she cannot be discounted.
• Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM-Zondacrypto): The reigning Tour de France Femmes champion boasts an impressive record at Flanders, finishing second last year and achieving seven top-ten results overall, though victory has remained elusive. Her climbing ability is unquestioned, allowing her to match the best on the bergs. After recovering from a crash at Strade Bianche, she showed good form at Milan-San Remo. To win, Niewiadoma will likely need to launch a solo attack on the final circuits of the Oude Kwaremont or Paterberg to avoid a sprint.
• Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck): One of cycling's most exciting multi-discipline talents, Pieterse has quickly become a force in the road Classics. She achieved high placings at Flanders and Strade Bianche last spring and has maintained consistency this year with top-ten finishes in every start, including top-fives at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Omloop Het Hageland. Her off-road skills benefit her on the cobbles, and she possesses a strong sprint, giving her multiple potential paths to victory.

Women's Outsiders and Team Depth: While the favorites are strong, surprises can happen. Noemi Rüegg (EF Education-Oatly) has enjoyed a stellar 2025, winning the Tour Down Under and achieving podiums or top-tens at Milan-San Remo, Strade Bianche, and Trofeo Binda, yet remains somewhat overlooked. Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike), a winner way back in 2013, has shown solid form but withdrew from a recent warm-up race due to fitness concerns. SD Worx has depth with Blanka Vas and Anna van der Breggen. FDJ-Suez's Amber Kraak and AG Insurance-Soudal's Kim Le Court are also in good form. Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (Visma-Lease a Bike), another multi-discipline star, could step up if Vos isn't at her best.

The Decisive Battleground

Both races will ultimately be shaped on the series of short, steep, often cobbled climbs – the hellingen. The final loops featuring the punishing trio of the Koppenberg, Oude Kwaremont (tackled multiple times), and the Paterberg are traditionally where the winning moves are made, shattering the peloton and testing the limits of endurance and power.

My Picks

Mathieu van der Poel and Lotte Kopecky remain unbeatable.