The biggest day on the Belgian cycling calendar is here: the 2025 Tour of Flanders. And the question on everyone’s mind? Can anyone stop Mathieu van der Poel?

The Dutch superstar has already claimed this Monument three times, including a dominant win last year. With victories at Milano-Sanremo and the E3 Saxo Classic already in the bag this spring, and a well-drilled Alpecin-Deceuninck team backing him, the pressure’s on. This is his race to lose.

Quick programming note: Both the Tour of Flanders and Dwars door Vlaanderen this Wednesday are live and on demand on FloBikes for viewers in the USA and Canada. Paris-Roubaix, the following Sunday, is available exclusively for viewers in Canada.

The Tour of Flanders 2025 Route: A Brutal Belgian Classic

The route is vintage Flanders: 260 kilometers from Bruges to Oudenaarde, packed with cobbled climbs and punishing rhythm. The Oude Kwaremont features three times. Riders face the brutal Koppenberg, and the finale is the now-iconic Kwaremont–Paterberg combo, followed by a 13-kilometer flat run to the finish.

Conditions look near perfect: sunny and dry, with moderate northeast winds. Temperatures should stay around 13°C, chilly at the start but ideal once the pace picks up.

The Favorites For The 2025 Tour of Flanders

Mathieu van der Poel

The reigning champion and undisputed spring king so far. He’s the benchmark—and everyone else will be racing to beat him. His form is red-hot, and his team is firing on all cylinders.

Tadej Pogačar

The Slovenian world champion returns to Flanders after a podium at Milano-Sanremo. He won here in 2023 and knows exactly what it takes. It’s his first cobbled race of the season, but he’s got support in Nils Politt, Tim Wellens, Jhonatan Narváez, and Florian Vermeersch.

Wout van Aert

Still a question mark. He looked off at E3 Saxo Classic, and his Visma | Lease a Bike squad didn’t dominate as expected. But with Matteo Jorgenson, Tiesj Benoot, and Dylan van Baarle, the depth is there—if they can find the rhythm.

Mads Pedersen

A serious contender. The Dane won Gent-Wevelgem and podiumed at E3. Tough, aggressive, and backed by Jasper Stuyven and Toms Skujiņš, he’s built for this kind of battle.

Filippo Ganna

Runner-up in Milano-Sanremo, showing he’s evolving well beyond his time trial roots. He’s dangerous if the group hesitates—or if the Paterberg turns tactical.

Flanders 2025 Outsiders

Stefan Küng, Valentin Madouas, Magnus Sheffield, Michael Matthews, Neilson Powless, and Alberto Bettiol—a past winner who knows how to strike when the favorites hesitate.

And maybe, just maybe, a wildcard from Intermarché-Wanty, Lotto Dstny, or EF Education-EasyPost shakes things up.

The cobbles are calling. The stakes couldn’t be higher. And the strongest legs will decide everything in Flanders.