After successes in 2020 and 2024, Mads Pedersen (Lidl - Trek) celebrates victory at Gent-Wevelgem 2025 for the third time. His success at the 2025 edition is particularly impressive. He pulled away from his rivals on the Kemmelberg 56 kilometres before the finish and was then unstoppable. Pedersen gradually extended his lead to over two minutes ahead of the peloton. A few kilometres before the finish, the Dane was able to slow down a little and celebrate. At the finish Pedersen had a lead of almost a minute over the peloton, which fought out a bunch sprint for second place. Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) had the fastest legs in the peloton, with Pedersen's team-mate Jonathan Milan (Lidl - Trek) in third.
Strong Pedersen outclasses the competition
After Mads Pedersen had already attacked on a cobblestone section 75 kilometres before the finish and, with Arjen Livyns (Lotto) on his wheel, made the connection to the leading group at lightning speed, he also proved to be very strong in this group. Pedersen only rode a few kilometres in the leading group before he launched his attack on the Kemmelberg. He playfully left his rivals Marco Haller (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) and Victor Campenaerts (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) behind. As a result, he successfully defended his lead and did not show that he was the strongest rider at Gent-Wevelgem 2025. Pedersen is also a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders monuments.
"It's unbelievable. I didn't think I could ever achieve what I did today. To have won here again is outstanding." - Mads Pedersen
The results of Gent-Wevelgem 2025
Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields ME: Ypres - Wevelgem
Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields ME 2025: Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields ME, Ypres - Wevelgem
| Rnk. | Riders | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lidl - Trek | 05:30:21 |
| 2 | Soudal Quick-Step | +00:00:49 |
| 3 | Lidl - Trek | +00:00:49 |
| 4 | Uno-X Mobility | +00:00:49 |
| 5 | Israel - Premier Tech | +00:00:49 |
| 6 | XDS Astana Team | +00:00:49 |
How Gent-Wevelgem 2025 went
The 250-kilometre route between Ypres and Wevelgem saw a flurry of attacks shortly after the start of the race. As a result, it didn't take long for the first four-man breakaway group around Jasha Sütterlin (Team Jayco-AlUla) and Marco Haller (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) to break away. Behind them, a chasing group of five riders around Alexys Brunel (Team TotalEnergies) and Rui Oliveria (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) split off again and caught up with the leading group shortly afterwards. A total of nine riders were now at the front of the race. The nine riders were let go - the race situation stabilised for the time being.
Crosswinds cause unrest
Around 150 kilometres before the finish, the race regained momentum. Crosswinds not only pulled the peloton apart, but also caused it to split up. Many riders from the INEOS Grenadiers team, among others, found themselves in one of the rear groups of the torn peloton. 30 kilometres later, however, a larger group came together again. But there were also riders who didn't find their way back into the peloton. Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) and Sören Waerenskjold (Uno-X Mobility) missed the connection to the peloton and had to bury their ambitions for the day early on.
In the peloton, the various teams worked well together and kept taking turns in the chase. The gap to the nine breakaway riders was already quite small early on.
Campenaerts closes the gap to the top
Johan Jacobs (Groupama - FDJ) and Victor Campenaerts attacked as a duo with 102 kilometres to go and chased down the leading group. While Jacobs had to let go after a few kilometres, Campenaerts quickly managed to catch up with the front group. With him, the leading group now comprised ten riders.
Meanwhile, Mads Pedersen tested the legs of the competition for the first time. On the first section of the Kemmelberg, the Dane and several riders opened up a small gap, which was subsequently closed. Pedersen was then unstoppable on a cobbled section 75 kilometres from the finish. Although Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Olav Kooij (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) were able to follow the Dane at first, they then had to let go. Philipsen had a technical defect on his bike, while Kooij first lost Pedersen's rear wheel and then crashed a short time later.
Pedersen attacks on the Kemmelberg
With Arjen Livyns on his rear wheel, Pedersen quickly caught up with the leaders, who were about to explode. With 56 kilometres to go, Pedersen set off on a solo ride on the Kemmelberg, while behind him a trio formed around Campenaerts, Haller and Livyns. The rest of the former leading group was quickly swallowed up by the peloton. Although the chasing trio put up a good fight for a long time, they were powerless against the ever-closer peloton. With 26 kilometres to go, they were dropped, while Pedersen still had a solid lead of around one and a half minutes at the front.
Pedersen then defended his clear lead and was able to celebrate his victory in the Gent-Wevelgem 2025 one-day race on the final straight. The peloton crossed the finish line almost a minute behind the day's winner. Tim Merlier secured second place in the bunch sprint, while Jonathan Milan finished third.
