Rivals speak: ambitions, strategies and tension ahead of the 2025 Tour of Flanders Men

The 2025 Tour of Flanders Men is shaping up to be another monumental edition of Vlaanderens Mooiste. The 269km course remains one of the toughest in cycling, with a combination of cobbled bergs, narrow farm lanes and relentless tempo attrition. Starting in Bruges and finishing in Oudenaarde, it will test the peloton through the likes of the Koppenberg, Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg – with the second passage of the Kwaremont often proving decisive in recent years. Tadej Pogačar, Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert top the bill, but a deep field including Mads Pedersen, Neilson Powless, and a resurgent UAE Emirates line-up ensures no one will be given a free ride.

As teams finalise plans and riders prepare for the unknowns ahead, we take a look at the key contenders and what they had to say in the lead-up to Sunday’s Ronde.

Tadej Pogačar: it has to be hard, and it has to be from range

If Tadej Pogačar wants to win a second Tour of Flanders title, he knows the path doesn’t go through a sprint. After being outsprinted in 2022, and then responding with a ruthless long-range move in 2023, the Slovenian has learned how to win here – and how not to.

“In San Remo, he beat me quite good, but this is a different race,” he said of Mathieu van der Poel. “Flanders is more tiring, it’s harder through the day. I just try to get a little bit of a gap at some point and use that.”

His ambitions are simple: “I’m here to race for the victory. I just need to grab one of the opportunities and hope for the best.” Pogačar ruled out any desire for revenge after San Remo, instead focusing purely on performance: “I don’t know why I would be looking for revenge when nobody did anything bad to me.”

The plan, as ever, is to avoid a sprint. “He obviously can sprint better. He’s better in technical parts. Maybe I’m better after six hours, but with his shape right now, that’s no guarantee.”

Photo Credit: Getty

Mathieu van der Poel: calm, clinical, and ready to race

Defending champion Mathieu van der Poel has kept a typically low profile in the week before De Ronde. There was no press conference, no media tour. Just training – and one recon of the final 100km on Thursday.

“The course holds no secrets for me,” he said. “But it was good to get in a four-hour session at solid pace. Not full gas, but tough.”

Van der Poel downplayed the record talk. “I just want to win the race on Sunday. If I manage that, the record will come naturally. I never imagined I’d even be in this position.”

His relationship with Flanders is emotional as well as tactical. “It’s still the Classic I love the most. From my first participation, I felt a strong connection to this race.”

While Van der Poel acknowledged the strength of Pogačar – especially his acceleration on climbs like the Oude Kwaremont – he’s focused on staying in control. “We’re prepared for whatever happens, good or bad. The key is to stay calm in all situations.”

Wout van Aert: hopeful, but realistic about the challenge

After a bruising Dwars door Vlaanderen, Wout van Aert could have gone into his shell. Instead, he fronted up and reset his ambitions.

“My confidence was not affected – actually, the opposite,” he told the press. “Two days later, I feel much better again. The good thing about cycling is that there’s always another chance.”

He sees Pogačar and Van der Poel as the clear favourites but hasn’t ruled himself out. “I hope I have my best legs on Sunday and can follow them. Obviously I want to win, but I have to be honest – it’s going to be very hard to beat them.”

This year, Van Aert will share leadership duties with Matteo Jorgenson, with Van Baarle and Benoot also in the mix. “We always go to the Classics with multiple cards to play. That’s no different this time.”

Photo Credit: Sprint Cycling Agency

Mads Pedersen: the third man, but not waiting around

Mads Pedersen has been one of the best riders of the spring, with a win at Gent-Wevelgem and podiums at E3 and Dwars. But he knows that matching the explosive climbing of Van der Poel and Pogačar will be his biggest hurdle.

“I know they’re better climbers than I am, so for sure I have to do something,” he said bluntly. “If I just try to follow, we’ve seen it before – they’ll drop me.”

He added that Lidl-Trek’s best chance lies in numbers. “We need to be a unit to beat them. If we come down to mano a mano on the climbs, we’re a few steps behind.”

Pedersen also hinted that his plan may align with Visma’s. “I think Visma have their own plan, and we have ours. But I’m sure they’re pretty close to each other.”

Colby Simmons: wide-eyed debutant with quiet ambition

For 21-year-old Colby Simmons, just making the start in Flanders is a dream come true. The American, riding for EF Education, will make his WorldTour debut at one of cycling’s hardest one-day races.

“I came here in 2019 to watch my brother at junior Roubaix. We also saw Flanders. Now I’m riding it – it’s just crazy,” he said.

His team believes in him, calling him “an explosive rider, well suited to the punchy climbs.” After strong rides at Coppi e Bartali and the Tour of Rhodes, he’s earned his shot. Whether he gets to race Roubaix next week could depend on what he shows this Sunday.

Photo Credit: Getty

Lennert Van Eetvelt: debut as a late leader

Originally pegged to support Arnaud De Lie, 23-year-old Lennert Van Eetvelt will now lead Lotto-Dstny at the Ronde – illness permitting.

“We’ve been planning this since December,” said DS Nikolas Maes. “He has the capabilities. We believe in him.”

Van Eetvelt missed the press conference due to stomach issues, but Lotto is confident he’ll be ready. Teammates Livyns and Berckmoes will support the Belgian debutant and hope he can ride into the final when the Kwaremont bites a second time.

Orluis Aular: a Venezuelan on a mission

Orluis Aular may not be a household name, but he’s quietly pieced together a strong spring and has big dreams for Sunday. “Those Flemish hills really suit me,” he joked after a deep massage session post-Dwars door Vlaanderen.

His backstory is remarkable – from humble beginnings in Venezuela, to racing in Japan, and now flying the Movistar flag at De Ronde. “In 2017, I was training on these hills and said to myself: one day, I want to do Flanders.”

He’s not just here to make up the numbers. “If I get the chance to anticipate, I will try. Cortina is our leader, but I’m ready.”

Main photo credit: Getty