The 22nd edition of the Tour of Flanders Women takes place this Sunday, bringing the Spring Classics to one of their most iconic climaxes. Known locally as Vlaanderens Mooiste – Flanders’ Finest – the race covers 168.8km from Oudenaarde and features the cobbled climbs that define Belgian cycling. The key ascents of the Koppenberg, Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg are once again expected to shape the outcome, with the addition of the Eikenberg earlier in the day making this year’s route even more selective.
It’s a race that every Classics rider dreams of winning, with a history full of solo attacks, chaotic finales, and tactical masterclasses. Past winners such as Elisa Longo Borghini, Lotte Kopecky, Anna van der Breggen and Marianne Vos have all left their mark here, and the 2025 start list promises another high-quality contest. Most teams are bringing multiple options, and many riders have spoken ahead of the race about how they see their role, what shape they’re in, and what they’re expecting from the day. With the weather forecast set fair and the peloton stacked with proven winners and rising stars, anticipation is building for another hard-fought edition of Flanders’ biggest one-day race.
Below, we round up what the favourites and their teams have been saying in the final days before the flag drops in Oudenaarde on Sunday.
Lotte Kopecky: staying calm and trusting the process
Despite being a two-time winner and the reigning world champion, Lotte Kopecky is keeping expectations in check after a subdued performance at Dwars door Vlaanderen.
“I felt weird after the race,” she admitted. “The result didn’t matter, I was just looking for the good feeling – and I didn’t find it.” But she isn’t panicking: “We’re not robots. A couple of good nights of sleep and it should be fine. I’ve got enough experience to flip the switch and stay calm heading into Sunday.”
Her build-up to the Ronde has been more restrained than previous years, and she acknowledges a different rhythm. “I’ve only got three race days in the legs so far, which is a deliberate choice because I also want to peak later in the spring.” She does, however, notice the gap compared to her 2024 campaign.
When asked if she considers herself the favourite, Kopecky pointed elsewhere: “For me, Longo Borghini is the top favourite. She always was, and after her solo win at Dwars, it’s clear she’s on form.” Still, Kopecky remains a threat: “I can always bet on my sprint in the finale – not everyone has that card.”
Elisa Longo Borghini: back in love with Flanders
Fresh off a dominant solo win in Dwars door Vlaanderen, Elisa Longo Borghini is once again being viewed as the rider to beat. The Italian, now with UAE Team ADQ, seems to be thriving in her new surroundings.
“I needed a new stimulus and new chances,” she explained, and the move appears to have reinvigorated her. “I love racing in Flanders. It’s a big circus, and I find it really fun.”
Reflecting on her early years, she recalled a moment that perfectly encapsulates her connection to the region: “I rode up the Koppenberg without knowing it was the Koppenberg. Same with the Paterberg – you just find yourself on cobbles after turning down some tiny street.”
She doesn’t hide her ambition. “Of course I want to win again. Flanders has always been a goal, and I think I’m in good shape. I didn’t do any crazy altitude training, but we saw in Dwars how strong I am. It’s not impossible that I can win.”
Marianne Vos: relieved to make the start, but realistic
After illness ruled her out of Dwars door Vlaanderen, Marianne Vos was a late confirmation for Sunday. “The preparation hasn’t been ideal, but I’m feeling better now,” she said. “I’m happy I can be at the start. The Tour of Flanders is always special.”
Vos, who won the race in 2013, will share leadership at Visma-Lease a Bike with Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. Their DS, Jan Boven, is cautiously optimistic: “It’s hard to say if we’re in top shape, but both riders are capable of riding the final.”
Vos herself stressed the importance of legs over local knowledge: “Course knowledge and race experience are valuable, but ultimately the strongest riders come out on top in the final.”
Lorena Wiebes: eyeing Roubaix, not Oudenaarde
European champion Lorena Wiebes has been nearly unbeatable this spring, but she was quick to downplay her chances in De Ronde. “I don’t think I’ll win on Sunday. I’d like to save that for next week in Roubaix.”
She revealed that she’s even skipping Scheldeprijs – a race she’s won four times – to stay fresh for Paris-Roubaix. “It feels weird to skip it, but last year I wasn’t super in Roubaix, so this time I want to be better prepared.”
That said, Wiebes is still an asset for SD Worx-Protime. “If I get over the Oude Kwaremont, maybe I’ll be in the second group. Then I can be a card to play if Lotte gets caught.”
When asked about returning a favour for Kopecky’s efforts in recent races, Wiebes was clear: “You shouldn’t overthink it. Then you force things, and it doesn’t work. If I have to help her, I will.”
Justine Ghekiere: riding for Kim Le Court, but dreaming big
Justine Ghekiere will be lining up for her fourth Ronde, but it still feels special. “I live nearby – it’s always a cool experience,” she said. Since winning the polka dot jersey at the Tour last year, she’s noticed more recognition. “I hear my name a lot more. That gives extra motivation.”
She’ll be racing in support of teammate Kim Le Court, who is in “super good shape,” but Ghekiere hinted that the team hopes to be part of the finale. “Hopefully Kim and I, maybe with a few others, can play our cards late in the race.”
Puck Pieterse: gaining confidence and ready to go deep
In her second full Spring Classics campaign, Puck Pieterse has been a model of consistency – seven starts, seven top tens. The only thing missing is a win, and she knows it.
“I think I just have to keep going like I am,” she said to WielerFlits. “You need a bit of luck and a super day. Hopefully that comes together on Sunday.”
Pieterse has learned to be patient, drawing on advice from Annemiek van Vleuten. “She told me to be patient. You want everything at once, but her experience helps you believe the process.”
She also praised her team for giving her more support this year. “Last year I was often alone in the final. Now we have a strong group – it feels like a chess game.”
Fenix-Deceuninck are expected to race aggressively, which suits Pieterse: “We want to make it a hard race. That’s when I have the best chance.”
Marlen Reusser: thriving under new pressure
Marlen Reusser heads to the Ronde in a very different environment compared to her time at SD Worx. Now a leader at Movistar, she has full support but also more responsibility.
“At SD Worx it was always like, ‘who’s going to win today?’ We had so many options. Now it’s just me and Liane Lippert. That’s great, but it’s also more pressure.”
Reusser didn’t initially plan to race the Classics after illness ruined her 2024, but her form has come earlier than expected. “We didn’t plan to peak here, but my shape is good. It’s not impossible that I can win on Sunday.”
She’s also relishing the challenge of facing former teammates. “I enjoy racing against them. It’s like playing cards with your best friends – you go full gas but stay friends after. That’s what I love.”
Photo Credit: Thomas Maheux
Kasia Niewiadoma: embracing the suffering
A six-time top ten finisher at De Ronde, Kasia Niewiadoma is again aiming high after finishing second last year.
“It’s always brutal, but the suffering brings its own satisfaction,” she said. With added climbs like the Eikenberg, the race only gets tougher – something she welcomes. “As I get older, I prefer longer races. I feel like I have more endurance now.”
She visualised her ideal scenario: “If we can reduce the group after the Eikenberg and I’m in the front over the Koppenberg, then anything is possible.”
Main photo credit: Bram Berkien
