Can Mathieu van der Poel repeat his victory from last year and become the sole record winner of the Tour of Flanders?
Image: Keystone
Wearing the world champion's jersey this year and aiming for his second victory in the Tour of Flanders after 2023: Tadej Pogacar
Image: Keystone
Hoping for the big coup: Stefan Küng
Image: Keystone
Marlen Reusser is the Swiss trump card in the women's race
Image: Keystone
Julian Alaphilippe from the Swiss Tudor team misses the Tour of Flanders due to illness
Image: Keystone
Can Mathieu van der Poel repeat his victory from last year and become the sole record winner of the Tour of Flanders?
Image: Keystone
Wearing the world champion's jersey this year and aiming for his second victory in the Tour of Flanders after 2023: Tadej Pogacar
Image: Keystone
Hoping for the big coup: Stefan Küng
Image: Keystone
Marlen Reusser is the Swiss trump card in the women's race
Image: Keystone
Julian Alaphilippe from the Swiss Tudor team misses the Tour of Flanders due to illness
Image: Keystone
The Tour of Flanders kicks off the next round of the spring classics season on Sunday. The most important facts about the most popular one-day race in Belgium at a glance.
06.04.2025, 04:01
06.04.2025, 09:27
SDA
The route
The "Ronde van Vlaanderen", a piece of Belgian cultural heritage, will be held for the 109th time. The start is in Bruges, the route leads over the notorious Hellinge and Kasseien over almost 270 km to Oudenaarde. The cobbled climbs on the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg could once again decide the outcome of the race.
The favorites
The main focus will be on the duel between superstars Tadej Pogacar and Mathieu van der Poel. The two recent winners are the most frequently named contenders for victory. After Pogacar was narrowly beaten by Van der Poel in the first Monument of the year at Milan-Sanremo two weeks ago, the three-time Tour de France winner from Slovenia is now looking for revenge. Van der Poel could become the sole record winner of the Tour of Flanders with a fourth triumph. Since last year, the Dutchman has been on a par with Fabian Cancellara and five other triple winners.
The Swiss
With Stefan Küng, a Swiss rider is at least among the extended circle of favorites. The man from Thurgau, who is enjoying good form, has finished fifth (2022) and sixth (2023) in the past. Küng's teammate Johan Jacobs, Stefan Bissegger, Fabio Christen, Silvan Dillier and Fabian Lienhard are also on the provisional start list. The latter is riding for the Swiss team Tudor, which has to make do without former world champion Julian Alaphilippe at short notice due to illness.
The women
The women's course is around 100 km shorter, but the final is identical to that of the men. Marlen Reusser has already finished the Tour of Flanders in 5th, 7th and 9th place, but does not have fond memories of her participation last year. In a crash just 10 km after the start, Reusser suffered a fracture to her right jawbone - it was the beginning of an epidemic year in which she not only had to miss the Olympic Games, but also the home World Championships. In addition to Reusser, Elise Chabbey, Noemi Rüegg and Linda Zanetti are also registered for Sunday's race.
