Preview Gent-Wevelgem 2025 | De Moeren (with wind), the three times Kemmelberg and 34 kilometers to Wevelgem

If you look at the list of winners of Gent-Wevelgem, you will quickly discover a trend: only champions win here. Ten years ago, the legendary 2015 edition was won by Luca Paolini, in which the weather gods were given free rein, and a heroic race was ridden. Gigantic echelons, Geraint Thomas in the ditch: that kind of thing. Suggestion: if you have some time, watch that edition.

Greg Van Avermaet, Peter Sagan, Alexander Kristoff, Wout van Aert, Biniam Girmay, and Christophe Laporte won the race in the following years. Last year, Mads Pedersen won for the second time after a duo attack with Mathieu van der Poel.

2024 Mads Pedersen
2023 Christophe Laporte
2022 Biniam Girmay
2021 Wout van Aert
2020 Mads Pedersen
2019 Alexander Kristoff
2018 Peter Sagan
2017 Greg Van Avermaet
2016 Peter Sagan
2015 Luca Paolini

Although the name might suggest otherwise, the race does not start in Ghent. This has been the case for years. Deinze was the starting point for many years, but since 2020, Ypres has had the honor. An appropriate starting place, as Gent-Wevelgem is also known as the race in 'Flanders Fields,' with a fitting reference to the battles in the region during the First World War.

In the first part of the race, the peloton heads towards Veurne, where the famous Moeren is on the program. The riders then head for Heuvelland, where the Monteberg, the Baneberg, the Scherpenberg, and, of course, the Kemmelberg are on the program. This hill - which is, of course, a symbol of Gent-Wevelgem - must be climbed three times.

After the last Kemmel - at 34.3 kilometers from the finish - the race continues to Wevelgem, where we usually see a smaller group or peloton battling for victory. Or will we see a similar scene as last year, when it turned into a duel between Pedersen and Van der Poel?

Climbs
147.9 km: Scherpenberg (400 meters at 3.1%)
158.7 km: Baneberg (370 meters at 6.1%)
162.8 km: Monteberg (1,000 meters at 7.3%)
164.4 km: Kemmelberg (3,000 meters at 4.0%)
192.7 km: Monteberg (1.000 meters at 7.3%)
194.5 km: Kemmelberg (3,000 meters at 4.0%)
202.0 km: Scherpenberg (400 meters at 1.3%)
210.7 km: Baneberg (370 meters at 6.1%)
218.0 km: Kemmelberg (2,500 meters at 4.4%)

Plugstreets
176.9 km: Hill 63 (2000 meters)
179.4 km: Cristmas Truce (1300 meters)
181.7 km: The Catacombs (600 meters)  

Weather
What is the wind like in De Moeren? That is the first thing you look at in Gent-Wevelgem. And for the fans of echelons, it could turn out well because it seems like the wind will be blowing diagonally from behind at force three on the Beaufort scale. In the final, the wind will be at our backs. The temperature will be around 12 degrees Celsius, and there will be some sun.

Times
Start: 04:40 AM EST
Finish: around 10:15 AM EST

There will be no Tadej Pogacar and, for the time being, no Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel at the start of Gent-Wevelgem. That works to the advantage of one category of participants: the sprinters. It has been a while since Wevelgem ended in a bunch sprint, but it could happen with this year's field of participants. Of course, we must still consider factors such as De Moeren and Kemmelberg.

Last season, Lidl-Trek disrupted the Ghent-Wevelgem formula, which could be the case again this year. With two-time winner Mads Pedersen, the super-fast Jonathan Milan, tough guys Mathias Vacek and Jasper Stuyven, and crucial pawns like Alex Kirsch, Daan Hoole, and Edward Theuns, they once again have a very strong team that can make its mark on the race in several scenarios.

Milan is not the only fast man who has set his sights on Gent-Wevelgem. Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step), and Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike) would also love to add this race to their list of achievements. However, in the case of the latter two, it remains to be seen to what extent they can recover from a crash in Classic Brugge-De Panne. Merlier has fellow fast rider Paul Magnier at his side, while Kooij will be counting on potential attackers such as Tiesj Benoot and Dylan van Baarle.

The Big Three may not be there, but we can add Filippo Ganna of INEOS Grendiers to that list based on Milan-Sanremo. The Italian and fellow riders Joshua Tarling and Ben Turner will be participating. We can also expect something from them based on how INEOS is racing this year.

As a former winner, Biniam Girmay will be leading the troops of the troubled Intermarché-Wanty team, where they will be hoping for a sprint with a reduced group. Other riders such as Mike Teunissen (XDS-Astana), Madis Mikhels (EF Education-EasyPost), Jordi Meeus, Laurence Pithie, Tim van Dijke (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Matteo Trentin (Tudor), Luca Mozzato (Arkéa - B&B Hotels) and Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla) will also try their luck.

Regarding attacking riders, we are looking at the UAE Emirates-XRG camp, where, in the absence of Pogacar, they have Florian Vermeersch and Tim Wellens, Matej Mohoric, and Fred Wright's Bahrain Victorious. Should it come down to a bunch sprint, those teams will count on Juan Sebastian Molano and Phil Bauhaus. Other outsiders are Soren Waerenskjold, Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X), Ivan Garcia Cortina (Movistar), and sprinter Milan Fretin of Cofidis.

Top favorites: Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
Outsiders: Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers), Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Long shots: Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), Florian Vermeersch, Tim Wellens (UAE Emirates-XRG), Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step), Joshua Tarling (INEOS Grenadiers), Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek), Mike Teunissen (XDS-Astana), Jordi Meeus, Laurence Pithie (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) and Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla)

Sporza (VRT1) will broadcast the team presentation and the first kilometers live. This will be available from around 04:15 AM EST. After a short break, they will go live all afternoon! Eurosport will also broadcast the Flemish race live at around 07:40 AM EST.