The 2025 Women’s Tour of Flanders remains one of the crown jewels of the cycling calendar. Since its debut in 2004, the race has grown into a cornerstone of the Spring Classics season—renowned for its brutal combination of cobbles, climbs and unpredictable conditions. The honour roll is littered with some of the biggest names the sport has seen, including Nicole Cooke, Zulfia Zabirova, Ina-Yoko Teutenberg, Marianne Vos, Anna van der Breggen and Annemiek van Vleuten.
Part of the race’s intrigue lies in its sheer unpredictability. Until Annemiek van Vleuten claimed a second win in 2021, only Judith Arndt and Mirjam Melchers had ever doubled up. That list expanded with Lotte Kopecky’s back-to-back victories in 2022 and 2023, but her attempt at a third in 2024 was undone in slippery conditions on the Koppenberg. Instead of a record third win for Kopecky in 2024, it was a new member of the two-wins club in Elisa Longo Borghini. The two wins happened almost 10 years apart, a sign of how long the Italian has been at the top of the sport.
The 2024 edition was defined by that key moment on the Koppenberg, where much of the peloton—including Kopecky and Demi Vollering—were forced off their bikes and left chasing. That opened the door for a decisive move from the Lidl-Trek duo of Shirin van Anrooij and Elisa Longo Borghini, joined by Kasia Niewiadoma. Van Anrooij did much of the work to keep the distance to the chasers, setting up a three-rider sprint into Oudenaarde. Longo Borghini emerged victorious, just ahead of Niewiadoma, with van Anrooij claiming third. The trio finished nine seconds clear of the first chasing group, which included Puck Pieterse, Marianne Vos, Silvia Persico and Kopecky. Vollering came in a further six seconds behind, rounding out a tough day for SD Worx.
The race’s parcours has seen several evolutions – once concluding atop the Muur and Bosberg in Meerbeke, it now finds its climax in Oudenaarde. So naturally gone are the days of that finale, which now features in Omloop het Nieuwsblad, replaced by the now-standard closing sequence of the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg, followed by a 10km run-in to the finish. That final pairing of climbs remains decisive, with the narrow, cobbled ascents and the technical run to Oudenaarde offering both the launchpad for solo glory and the trapdoor for those who mistime their effort.
Previous Winners
2024
Elisa Longo Borghini
2023
Lotte Kopecky
2022
Lotte Kopecky
2025 Tour of Flanders Women Race Profile
Live TV Coverage
Sunday 6th April 2025
Live on Discovery+/Max/TNT Sports Online across most of Europe
Live from 13:45-17:00
All times in BST
Twitter: #RVV25 or #RVVwomen
Startlist: FirstCycling
2025 Tour of Flanders Women 2025 Contenders
The defending champion from UAE Team ADQ, Elisa Longo Borghini, returns to the Tour of Flanders with history on her side. A two-time winner (2015, 2024) and holder of eight top-10 finishes, she has an unmatched ability to time her moves on the toughest parts of the course. Whether it’s a solo attack over the Paterberg or simply grinding rivals down, she’s proven every method works here. Supporting her, Silvia Persico has quietly built a very solid record, finishing 4th and 7th in the last two editions. If she reaches the finale, her ability to sprint from a reduced group will make her dangerous again. Irish rider Lara Gillespie, meanwhile, makes her Flanders debut and brings great momentum into the race. This will be a new level of test, but her rise this spring has been rapid enough to warrant attention.
From SD Worx, no one is under more scrutiny than Lotte Kopecky, who will attempt to win Flanders for a third year. With victories in 2022 and 2023 and five top-10s overall, she’s been one of the standout performers on this parcours. She can win from practically any race scenario and knows every metre of this route. Alongside her, Lorena Wiebes is a legitimate secondary threat. Though 11th is her best finish here, she’s climbing better this season and may be one of the fastest left if the bunch is trimmed down but not fully shattered. She’s said her aims are to be with the front group a little longer than previous years. Then there’s Anna van der Breggen, a former winner herself (2018) and six times in the top-10, who continues to sharpen her form in her comeback season. The team has talked of her as an elite domestique here but her form so far in 2025 puts in her in with a chance of her teammates falter.
The Canyon SRAM zondacrypto squad brings real depth, led by Kasia Niewiadoma, who came heartbreakingly close to winning last year, finishing 2nd. Her record is remarkably consistent with seven top-10 finishes, and she’s one of the best at timing attacks over the Kwaremont. A podium contender again, especially if the race breaks up late. Close behind in terms of pedigree, Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig has a 3rd place from 2019 and tends to thrive when things get chaotic and selective. Her form in 2025 hasn’t quite arrived yet though. Chloe Dygert remains a wildcard — 43rd last year, and she’s shown power and race-winning ability and will be a contender in any group arriving at the line in a sprint. And also with Soraya Paladin, there’s always activity — twelve editions raced, and never higher than 12th, but she has a knack for getting into moves and forcing others to chase, plus is another fast finisher potentially.
Fenix-Deceuninck come armed with a genuinely strong trio, led by Puck Pieterse, who stormed to 6th last year in just her first real crack at the cobbled classics. Since then, she’s gone from promising off-road crossover to legitimate podium contender on the road, blending raw power with sharp race intuition. Her ability to attack over short, steep climbs makes her one of the few riders who could break things apart over the Paterberg and go solo — and she won’t be waiting for a sprint if she can. Christina Schweinberger adds another dimension to the squad. She’s been quietly consistent this spring, and while she’s better known for her time trial strength, her tenacity often sees her hanging tough when races become attritional. Julie de Wilde, who races just down the road from Oudenaarde, will relish the home crowds. She’s previously finished in the top-20 here and comes in after a strong win at GP Oetingen, making her a solid threat from a reduced group or if she slips into a well-timed breakaway.
One of the breakthrough performers in 2024, Shirin van Anrooij claimed 3rd last year for Lidl-Trek and will be keen to back that up — fitness allowing — after a crash at Dwars Door Vlaanderen. If she’s fully recovered, her all-round engine is perfectly suited to the Ronde. Alongside her, Anna Henderson adds tactical depth and increasing leadership presence. She finished 9th here in 2023 and has developed into a rider who can read the race well, climb with the favourites, and either cover moves or launch her own. Her recent form suggests she could play an even bigger role this year, especially if Van Anrooij isn’t 100%. Emma Norsgaard may take on more of a support role, but her 13th place in 2022 shows she has the grit to survive the climbs and the speed to finish well if she finds herself in the right group.
Still one of the biggest names in the sport, Marianne Vos keeps showing that experience and sharp instincts can still compete with pure firepower. Her win back in 2013 remains iconic, and she very nearly added another podium in 2024, finishing 4th after perfect positioning late on. Few can match her sprint from a small group on a tough race, and if the climbs don’t fully split things, she’ll be one of the most marked riders in the finale. Her Visma teammate Pauline Ferrand-Prevot returns to Flanders for the first time since 2018, bringing with her a solid history — including 7th place in 2015 — but limited recent road racing. Fresh from altitude, her form is a question mark, but if she finds herself in the right group late on, her talent alone could carry her deep into the race.
Photo Credit: GettyMarlen Reusser remains one of the most feared riders in the peloton when the road opens up. The Swiss time trial specialist has three top-10 finishes here and looked strong again last year before crashing out and fracturing bones in her ear canal and more. If the bunch hesitates, she has the power to ride away alone, like at Dwars Door Vlaanderen — and few riders can match her in a solo effort. Liane Lippert, for all her climbing strength and strong finishes elsewhere, surprisingly has never placed higher than 26th in this race. That record doesn’t reflect her capability, and she’s shown better form in 2025. With freedom to attack, she could rewrite her Flanders story. Cat Ferguson will be getting her first taste of the Ronde, and though expectations will be tempered, the British teenager has adapted quickly to the WorldTour and could make it deeper into the race than many anticipate.
Letizia Paternoster is starting to look more and more at home in the Spring Classics. She managed 9th last year with a fast finish and smart riding over the climbs — if she can repeat that and find a similar scenario again, she’s got another top-10 and maybe higher available if a big group comes to the line this year. Her teammate Quinty Ton continues to build on her best season to date. Often used in a support role, she’s proven she can hold position deep into tough races, finishing 17th at Gent-Wevelgem and 23rd at Brugge-De Panne while working for others. If Paternoster gets distanced or the race favours an early move, Ton could find herself with the green light.
It feels inevitable that Pfeiffer Georgi will crack the top-10 at Flanders sooner rather than later. She’s been steadily climbing the results sheet in the cobbled classics, and her 13th-place finish in 2024 was another example of her growing comfort on the steep, punishing climbs of the Flemish Ardennes. Already a tactically mature rider, she consistently places herself well at key points in races and rarely misses the front group when selections start to form. What’s often missing is just that final 10% of punch to hold on over the Paterberg or close gaps on the Kwaremont — but it’s coming. Her sprint at the end of a tough race could prove useful too.
Victoire Berteau has quietly carved out a role as one of the most dependable riders in these grippy Belgian one-day races. She was 14th last year at Flanders, backing up similar rides this year at Le Samyn and Nokere Koerse, and has made a habit of staying calm when others crack. She rarely goes early, preferring to manage her effort and grow into the race, which often sees her passing dropped riders in the final 30km. That strategy suits Flanders well, especially if teams cancel each other out on the climbs and a larger group reforms on the run-in. If she times her positioning well and paces the early efforts, another top-15 looks not just likely but realistic. And in a race where positioning is everything, her calm under pressure is a serious asset.
There are few more committed attackers in the peloton than FDJ-Suez newcomer Elise Chabbey, and Flanders is exactly the sort of race that rewards her approach. She was 11th last year after launching another of her trademark long-range digs and has a history of animating races rather than simply surviving them. That suits her physical attributes — high endurance, strong climbing, and an ability to sustain tempo over lumpy terrain — and allows her to bypass the high-speed sprints that don’t play to her strengths. She’s unlikely to wait until the Paterberg, maybe going on the second ascent of the Kwaremont or even earlier. If the favourites hesitate, Chabbey will be the rider dangling off the front and forcing others to work. She’s not just a nuisance — if the conditions align, she’s a genuine contender for a podium.
With each passing race, Kim Le Court is looking more at home in the elite classics. Her 23rd-place finish on debut in 2024 was a solid start, but it’s what she’s shown since that’s most compelling. A strong showing at Gent-Wevelgem and top-20s at punchy, cobbled races like Oetingen suggest she’s climbing with more fluidity and holding position better in the peloton. She doesn’t panic under pressure and has the rare combination of strength on the climbs and speed in a reduced sprint — the perfect profile for a race like the Ronde. Whether she’s riding in service or gets her own chance, she’s one of the strongest cards AG Insurance-Soudal can play. Ilse Pluimers, by contrast, is still searching for her breakthrough moment. Her best result at Flanders remains a distant 71st, and while she’s been more visible in breakaways and support roles this season, making it past the final selection would still represent a big leap in the Tour of Flanders Women.
For Letizia Borghesi, the 2025 spring campaign has already looked more promising than previous years, and she arrives at Flanders with some momentum. Her previous best here is 31st, but she’s been racing with more conviction this season, particularly in races where long efforts and repeated climbs are the order of the day. She’s strong enough to cling on to the back of the lead group if things start to split late, and if she’s anywhere near the front into the final 10km, she’ll believe she can hang on for a strong finish. Noemi Rüegg is in the same boat with her podium at Sanremo Women a standout performance. Two DNFs from two starts at the Tour of Flanders don’t tell the full story, so the first goal will be to finish but the sky is the limit. She’s got the engine — it’s just about keeping contact over the final key efforts. Reaching the last 20km in the front group would be a big step forward.
2025 Tour of Flanders Women 2025 Outsiders
Riding for VolkerWessels, Margot Vanpachtenbeke has quietly built a strong spring campaign, consistently finishing in the top-30 in lower-tier races and showing a knack for surviving hard racing. While her best result at Flanders remains outside the top-40, this season feels different — she’s more confident, better positioned, and increasingly visible when the racing gets selective. If a break goes early and the major teams hesitate, she has the legs to take advantage.
At Human Powered Health, Lily Williams continues to impress in the shadows, especially when it comes down to sprints. A 29th-place finish here in 2024 gave her a taste of what it takes to survive the full Ronde distance, and her 7th at Gent-Wevelgem this year shows she’s stepping up. She thrives when races get messy and unpredictable, and if this year’s edition turns into one of attrition rather than sharp accelerations, she could ride into the top-20 and beyond.
Both of the Ceratizit pair of Daniek Hengeveld and Sarah Van Dam have had good seasons so far, but the toughness of the course here works against them. Yet neither should be discounted completely. Both have been active in spring races and have shown they can hold their position when things get hectic. If the front group fractures late or the peloton misjudges a move, either could be the last name hanging on — especially if a reduced bunch reforms before the final climb.
It’s been two DNFs from two starts for Marte Berg Edseth at the Tour of Flanders, but 2025 brings a different context. She’s riding with far more assurance this season, finishing 18th at Dwars Door Vlaanderen and showing signs that she can cope with repeated efforts across the bergs. Simply reaching the final would be progress compared to previous years, but if she can get into the right move or draft behind strong teammates deep into the race, there’s every chance she could push beyond expectations.
Top 3 Prediction
⦿ Elisa Longo Borghini
⦿ Lorena Wiebes
⦿ Marianne Vos
