Lorena Wiebes continued her winning streak in one-day races in the 2025 season at Gent-Wevelgem. In the sixth classic, she won the fourth race in a bunch sprint at Gent-Wevelgem. The Dutchwoman from Team SD Worx - Protime is currently in a class of her own among the sprinters. At the finish, the day's winner was satisfied and pointed to her team's preparatory work: "It felt good today. I had Lotte Kopecky in the final, and the other team-mates did a great job before that. After Lotte Kopecky made a long lead-out, I pulled off the sprint."
Wiebes hard to beat on the home straight
After all escape attempts at Gent-Wevelgem 2025 were unsuccessful, a large peloton came onto the finishing straight. The SD Worx - Protime team was particularly active, with Lotte Kopecky at the head of the peloton. The Belgian acted as the lead-out rider for Lorena Wiebes. She pushed the pace and rode in the wind for a long time. Around 200 metres before the finish, Wiebes then left the rear wheel of her rider and was unstoppable. Although Elisa Balsamo (Lidl - Trek) tried to attack from Wiebes' rear wheel, she quickly realised that her attempt would be unsuccessful. Wiebes clearly won ahead of the Italian, who didn't really get out of the winner's slipstream. Charlotte Kool (Team Picnic PostNL) then finished well behind in third place.
The results of Gent-Wevelgem Women 2025
Gent-Wevelgem In Flanders Fields WE: Ypres - Wevelgem
Gent-Wevelgem In Flanders Fields WE 2025: Gent-Wevelgem In Flanders Fields WE, Ypres - Wevelgem
| Rnk. | Riders | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Team SD Worx - Protime | 04:11:19 |
| 2 | Lidl - Trek | +00:00:00 |
| 3 | Team Picnic PostNL | +00:00:00 |
| 4 | Arkéa - B&B Hotels Women | +00:00:00 |
| 5 | CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto | +00:00:00 |
| 6 | UAE Team ADQ | +00:00:00 |
How the women's Ghent-Wevelgem 2025 went
The 169-kilometre route between Ypres and Wevelgem was on fire right from the start. Seven riders broke away after the start of the race. Among them were Katia Ragusa (Human Powered Health), Maaike Boogaard (VolkerWessels Women's Pro Cycling Team) and Franziska Brauße (CERATIZIT Pro Cycling Team). The quintet was left behind by the peloton. The maximum lead of the escapees was five minutes at one point.
Crosswinds tear the peloton apart
The race was characterised by crosswinds, which caused unrest in the peloton. Time and again, the peloton broke up into several windy squadrons, but the groups always came together again. The pace at the front of the peloton was relatively high due to the unrest. This led to the gap to the leading group shrinking early on. 80 kilometres before the finish, the five escapees were even caught by the first part of the peloton.
The race remained nervous as a result. Firstly, attacks by Anna Henderson (Lidl - Trek) or Cat Ferguson (Movistar Team) were unsuccessful, then a group managed to open up a gap. However, six riders around Mischa Bredewold (Team SD Worx - Protime) and Lucinda Brand (Lidl - Trek) only rode ahead for a few kilometres before being caught again.
Dangerous breakaway groups do not make it through
With 35 kilometres to go and the wind still blowing, a strong breakaway group formed around Lorena Wiebes, Lotte Kopecky (both Team SD Worx - Protime) and Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ). But after less than ten kilometres, they too were history. Gradually, many groups came together again - a bunch sprint became more and more likely.
Under the control of Team SD Worx - Protime, further attacks by Anneke Dijkstra (VolkerWessels Women's Pro Cycling Team) and others were levelled out by the peloton. It came to a bunch sprint. Lorena Wiebes was the clear winner ahead of Elisa Balsamo and Charlotte Kool.
