The GP Lucien van Impe is still a young race on the international calendar, but its roots go deeper than its short UCI history suggests. The first women’s edition was held as a non-UCI race in 2023, where Katrijn De Clercq took the win, before being elevated to international status the following season. That 2024 edition produced a breakthrough moment for Evy Kuijpers of Fenix-Deceuninck, who outsprinted Anastasiya Kolesava from a sprint-a-deux in Erpe-Mere to claim her first professional victory. Sofie van Rooijen led home the chasing group to complete the podium, in what was a big season for the Dutch rider in which she secured a move to UAE Team ADQ for 2025.
For 2025, the route once again starts and finishes in Erpe-Mere, a town deeply tied to Lucien van Impe, the former Tour de France winner and six-time king of the mountains after whom the race is named. The parcours spans 139 kilometres and takes in some testing Flemish hills, including La Houppe, the Leberg, and Hostellerie, all of which are set to shape the dynamics before the finale. The combination of sharp climbs and flat run-ins creates a race that balances opportunities for attackers with the possibility of a decisive sprint.
Photo Credit: Sophie RichezLucien van Impe remains one of Belgium’s great cycling figures. Known for his climbing skill, he won the 1976 Tour de France and secured nine grand tour stage victories across his career, along with a string of mountain classification titles in both the Tour and Giro. His 6 Tour King of the Mountain titles were a record until beaten by Richard Virenque in 2004. His longevity and consistency made him a household name in the 1970s and 1980s, and his legacy now lives on in this race that honours his achievements while providing a platform for the next generation of riders.
The GP Lucien van Impe may only be in its second international edition, but its combination of history, challenging terrain, and connection to one of Belgium’s iconic champions ensures it is already carving out a distinct identity on the women’s calendar.
Which teams are racing at GP Lucian van Impe 2025?
- AG Insurance-Soudal Team
- BePink-Imatra-Bongioanni
- CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto Generation
- Carbonbike Giordana by Gen Z
- Cofidis Women Team
- Cyclingteam Belco/Van Eyck
- Cynisca Cycling
- DD Group Pro Cycling Team
- Fenix-Deceuninck
- Handsling Alba Development Road Team
- Hess Cycling Team
- Human Powered Health
- Keukens Redant Cycling Team
- Laboral Kutxa-Fundacion Euskadi
- Liv AlUla Jayco
- Lotto Ladies
- Movistar Team
- Pato Bike BMC Team
- St Michel-Preference Home-Auber 93
- Team Coop-Repsol
- Team SD Worx-Protime
- UAE Team ADQ
- Uno-X Mobility
- Velopro-Alphamotorhomes
- VolkerWessels Pro Cycling Team
What does the GP Lucian van Impe race profile look like?
Where can I watch the 2025 GP Lucian van Impe?
Shown live on Pickx
Live: 13:30-17:20
Who are the main riders to watch?
- Sofie van Rooijen
- Francesca Pellegrini
- Sofia Bertizzolo
- Cat Ferguson
- Gladys Verhulst-Wild
- Shari Bossuyt
- Evy Kuijpers
- Julie de Wilde
- Marthe Truyen
- Daria Pikulik
- Lily Williams
- Cristina Tonetti
- Catalina Soto Campos
- Anna van Wersch
- Anastasiya Kolesava
- Georgia Baker
- Lucinda Stewart
- Sigrid Ytterhus Haugset
- India Grangier
