Tour of Flanders 2025: The most important facts in brief

• Date: Sunday, 06 April 2025
• Distance: 268.9 km
• Key points: Oude Kwaremont, Paterberg, Koppenberg
• Start: Bruges (10:00 am)
• Target: Oudenaarde ~ 16:15-16:50
• Nickname: Vlaanderens mooiste (Flanders' most beautiful in German)
• Last year's winner: Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands)
• Record winner: Achiel Buysse (BEL), Fiorenzo Magni (ITA), Eric Leman (BEL), Johan Museeuw (BEL), Tom Boonen (BEL), Fabian Cancellara (SUI), Mathieu van der Poel (three times each)
• German winners: Rudi Altig (1964), Steffen Wesemann (2004)
• Everything about the women's Tour of Flanders
• Tour of Flanders on Sunday in the TOUR live ticker
• To the race report of the men's Tour of Flanders
• To the race report of the women's Tour of Flanders

The Tour of Flanders is a national treasure in the Flemish part of Belgium. First held in 1913, the Ronde van Vlaanderen, as it is officially known, quickly captured the hearts of the people and became a symbol for the entire region, comparable to the carnival in the Rhineland or the Oktoberfest in Munich. The race is a huge folk festival with music, fries and beer. Thousands of cycling fans can be found along the route, tirelessly cheering on their heroes and waving Flanders flags.

To win the Tour of Flanders, you need an explosive start, extremely high speed and the ability to prevail in close position battles - combined with a preference for cobblestones. There is plenty of this at the Ronde. The race is characterised by short, steep climbs in the Flemish Ardennes, often on cobblestones and narrow roads. These climbs are called hellingen. There are also numerous changes of direction, which makes the Tour of Flanders more technically demanding than Paris-Roubaix. The luck factor plays less of a role here than in northern France due to the less rough cobblestones. As a rule, the winner of the Ronde is also the strongest rider in the race, whereas there are often surprise winners in Roubaix.

Tour of Flanders 2025: The route

After starting in Antwerp in 2024, it is Bruges' turn again this year. The finish remains unchanged, as it has been since 2012, in Oudenaarde. The famous Geraardsbergen Wall is not on the programme this year either. Until the introduction of the new circuit with Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg in 2012, the decision was often made there.

A total of 268.9 kilometres await this year - 1.9 kilometres less than in 2024. The number of climbs is also decreasing: from 19 in 2023 to 17 in 2024 and 16 in 2025. As in the previous year, there are also seven cobbled sections this year, the so-called Kasseien. This does little to change the hardness and characteristics of the Ronde. The centrepiece of the route remains the Oude Kwaremont (to be ridden three times in total) and the Paterberg (to be ridden twice).

Easy run-up, tough finale

No topographical difficulties or cobbled roads await on the first 100 kilometres. At kilometre 109, the route enters the Doorn pavé section, followed by the first crossing at the Oude Kwaremont. It takes another 16 kilometres or so to the Eikenberg before Wolvenberg, Holleweg, Karel Martelstraat, Jagerij, Molenberg, Paddestraat, Berendries and Valkenberg are taken under the tyres between kilometres 148 and 183.

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After a short breather of around ten kilometres, the riders will tackle Berg Ten Houte and Hotond as well as the second passage on the Alter Kwaremont and, for the first time, the up to 20 per cent steep ramp on the Paterberg. Afterwards, the battles for position in the peloton are likely to come to a head again as the race heads towards the notorious Koppenberg. The favourites will have to ride at the front in the narrow hollow lane. After the Koppenberg, there are still 45 kilometres to the finish with two cassées and five slip roads. The course leads via Mariaborrestraat, Steenbeekdries and Stationsberg to Taaienberg and Hotond, before the race is possibly decided on the third and final passage of the Kwaremont or Paterberg. Traditionally, there are hardly any shifts on the last 13 or so flat kilometres to the finish in Oudenaarde.

The slipways at a glance

1. Oude Kwaremont | kilometre 128.9
2. Eikenberg | kilometre 144.8
3. Wolvenberg | kilometre 147.9
4. Molenberg | kilometre 157.9
5. Berendries | kilometre 177.4
6. Valkenberg | kilometre 182.8
7. Ten Houte mountain | kilometre 195.2
8. Nieuwe Kruisberg/Hotond | kilometre 204.7
9. Oude Kwaremont | kilometre 214.6
10. Paterberg | kilometre 218.0
11. Koppenberg | kilometre 224.3
12. Steenbeekdries | kilometre 229.7
13. Taaienberg | kilometre 232.1
14. Oude Kruisberg/Hotond | kilometre 242.4
15. Kwaremont | kilometre 252.2
16. Paterberg | kilometre 255.7

The cobblestone sections

1. Doorn | kilometre 109.0
2. Holleweg | kilometre 148.0
3. Karel Martelsstraat | kilometre 149.2
4. Jagerij | kilometre 152.0
5. Paddestraat | kilometre 162.8
6. Mariaborrestraat | kilometre 228.3
7. Stationsberg | kilometre 230.2

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The favourites

It would be a bit of a surprise if the winner of the Tour of Flanders 2025 wasn't Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates - XRG) or Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin - Deceuninck). Everything points to a duel between the two exceptional riders. At Milan-San Remo, Pogačar pulled out all the stops to get the better of the Dutchman, but he held firm and put the Tour de France winner in his place. In terms of riding technique and experience on the cobbles, the advantages clearly lie with van der Poel, who is aiming for his fourth victory and thus the sole record in the Tour of Flanders. However, the climbs are in Pogačar's favour. He already won the Ronde in 2023, beating van der Poel on the Old Kwaremont. In our estimation, it's a 50:50 duel.

Behind this duo, Mads Pedersen (Lidl - Trek) joins the field of favourites. The Dane impressed with an incredible solo last weekend at the Ghent-Wevelgembut had previously been honoured on Friday at the E3 Harelbeke outsprinted by van der Poel in a man-to-man duel. In the past, we would have mentioned Wout van Aert (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) in the same breath as Pogačar and van der Poel, but not this year. The Belgian is not in the best shape. What's more, he and his team suffered a Across Flanders a memorable defeat. But van Aert should not be written off completely. Neither should some of the other top riders who are in with a chance. These include: Matteo Jorgenson (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Neilson Powless (EF Education - EaysPost), Filippo Ganna (INEOS Greandiers), Biniam Girmay (Intermarché - Wanty), Stefan Küng (Groupama - FDJ) and Magnus Sheffield (INEOS Grenadiers).

The favourites according to TOUR stars

***** Tadej Pogačar, Mathieu van der Poel

**** Mads Pedersen

*** Wout van Aert

** Filippo Ganna, Matteo Jorgenson, Neilson Powless

* Stefan Küng, Biniam Girmay, Magnus Sheffield

Results Tour of Flanders 2024

* The more stars a driver receives, the stronger he is rated

Tour of Flanders 2025: TV broadcast & live stream

Eurosport 1 will broadcast the Tour of Flanders 2025 live in full length on free TV. From 09:45 am will start on Sunday, the transmission is until 16:45 last. Afterwards, the final of the women's race will also be shown on Eurosport 1. There will also be Discovery Plus (via paid subscription) a live stream of the Ronde van Vlaanderen 2025.

>> Pogačar vs. van der Poel - next round in the giants' duel

Tour of Flanders: List of winners

• 1913 Paul Deman (Belgium)
• 1914 Marcel Buysse (Belgium)
• 1919 Henri van Lerberghe (Belgium)
• 1920 Jules van Hevel (Belgium)
• 1921 Rene Vermandel (Belgium)
• 1922 Leon Devos (Belgium)
• 1923 Henri Suter (Switzerland)
• 1924 Gerard Debaets (Belgium)
• 1925 Julien Delbecque (Belgium)
• 1926 Denis Verschueren (Belgium)
• 1927 Gerard Debaets (Belgium)
• 1928 Jan Mertens (Belgium)
• 1929 Joseph Dervaes (Belgium)
• 1930 Frans Bonduel (Belgium)
• 1931 Romain Gijssels (Belgium)
• 1932 Romain Gijssels (Belgium)
• 1933 Alfons Schepers (Belgium)
• 1934 Gaston Rebry (Belgium)
• 1935 Louis Duerloo (Belgium)
• 1936 Louis Hardiquest (Belgium)
• 1937 Michel D'Hooghe (Belgium)
• 1938 Edgard De Caluwe (Belgium)
• 1939 Karel Kaers (Belgium)
• 1940 Achiel Buysse (Belgium)
• 1941 Achiel Buysse (Belgium)
• 1942 Briek Schotte (Belgium)
• 1943 Achiel Buysse (Belgium)
• 1944 Rik van Steenbergen (Belgium)
• 1945 Sylvain Grysolle (Belgium)
• 1946 Rik van Steenbergen (Belgium)
• 1947 Emil Faignaert (Belgium)
• 1948 Briek Schotte (Belgium)
• 1949 Fiorenzo Magni (Italy)
• 1950 Fiorenzo Magni (Italy)
• 1951 Fiorenzo Magni (Italy)
• 1952 Roger Decock (Belgium)
• 1953 Wim van Est (Netherlands)
• 1954 Raymond Impanis (Belgium)
• 1955 Louison Bobet (France)
• 1956 Jean Forestier (France)
• 1957 Alfred De Bruyne (Belgium)
• 1958 Germain Derycke (Belgium)
• 1959 Rik van Looy (Belgium)
• 1960 Arthur De Cabooter (Belgium)
• 1961 Tom Simpson (Great Britain)
• 1962 Rik van Looy (Belgium)
• 1963 Nel Fore (Belgium)
• 1964 Rudi Altig (Germany)
• 1965 Jo de Roo (Netherlands)
• 1966 Ward Sels (Belgium)
• 1967 Dino Zandegu (Italy)
• 1968 Walter Godefroot (Belgium)
• 1969 Eddy Merckx (Belgium)
• 1970 Eric Leman (Belgium)
• 1971 Evert Dolman (Netherlands)
• 1972 Eric Leman (Belgium)
• 1973 Eric Leman (Belgium)
• 1974 Cees Bal (Netherlands)
• 1975 Eddy Merckx (Belgium)
• 1976 Walter Planckaert (Belgium)
• 1977 Roger De Vlaeminck (Belgium)
• 1978 Walter Godefroot (Belgium)
• 1979 Jan Raas (Netherlands)
• 1980 Michel Pollentier (Belgium)
• 1981 Hennie Kuiper (Netherlands)
• 1982 Rene Martens (Belgium)
• 1983 Jan Raas (Netherlands)
• 1984 Johan Lammerts (Netherlands)
• 1985 Eric Vanderaerden (Belgium)
• 1986 Adrie van der Poel (Netherlands)
• 1987 Claude Criquielion (Belgium)
• 1988 Eddy Planckaert (Belgium)
• 1989 Edwig van Hooydonck (Belgium)
• 1990 Moreno Argentin (Italy)
• 1991 Edwig van Hooydonck (Belgium)
• 1992 Jacky Durand (France)
• 1993 Johan Museeuw (Belgium)
• 1994 Gianni Bugno (Italy)
• 1995 Johan Museeuw (Belgium)
• 1996 Michele Bartoli (Italy)
• 1997 Rolf Sörensen (Denmark)
• 1998 Johan Museeuw (Belgium)
• 1999 Peter van Petegem (Belgium)
• 2000 Andrei Tchmil (Belgium)
• 2001 Gianluca Bortolami (Italy)
• 2002 Andrea Tafi (Italy)
• 2003 Peter van Petegem (Belgium)
• 2004 Steffen Wesemann (Germany)
• 2005 Tom Boonen (Belgium)
• 2006 Tom Boonen (Belgium)
• 2007 Alessandro Ballan (Italy)
• 2008 Stijn Devolder (Belgium)
• 2009 Stijn Devolder (Belgium)
• 2010 Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland)
• 2011 Nick Nuyens (Belgium)
• 2012 Tom Boonen (Belgium)
• 2013 Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland)
• 2014 Fabian Cancellara (Switzerland)
• 2015 Alexander Kristoff (Norway)
• 2016 Peter Sagan (Slovakia)
• 2017 Philippe Gilbert (Belgium)
• 2018 Niki Terpstra (Netherlands)
• 2019 Alberto Bettiol (Italy)
• 2020 Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands)
• 2021 Kasper Asgreen (Denmark)
• 2022 Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands)
• 2023 Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia)
• 2024 Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands)