Neilson Powless pulled off a stunning upset at Dwars door Vlaanderen, outsprinting Wout van Aert to claim an improbable victory on Wednesday in Waregem. The EF Education-EasyPost rider, who had been viewed as a significant underdog as the race neared its conclusion, defied expectations with a fierce sprint to defeat van Aert, who was part of a powerful Visma-Lease a Bike trio.
As the race unfolded, the final breakaway formed with Powless, Matteo Jorgenson, van Aert, and Tiesj Benoot. With over 70 kilometers remaining, the Visma team made a decisive move, bridging across to the leaders, and Powless sat in the group as Jorgenson and Benoot worked to position van Aert for the sprint finish. However, Powless surprised everyone, including himself, by unleashing a powerful sprint that saw him edge past van Aert in the final meters.
This victory marked the second consecutive win for the United States at the cobbled classic, following Jorgenson’s triumph the previous year. Benoot rounded out the podium for Visma, while Jorgenson finished in fourth place.
“I really can’t believe it,” Powless said post-race, still catching his breath. “I felt strong, but I didn’t think I had a chance to win. I was just hoping for second place. This win means everything to me—I’m so grateful for all the support I’ve received from my team and my family. It’s been a tough spring, but I’m thrilled to be back in top form.”
Powless reflected on his sprint, admitting that he never imagined he would be able to outpace a rider like van Aert. “I came into the final corner with a bit of speed, and I was maybe three or four kilometers per hour faster than Wout when he started his sprint. I just kept going all the way to the line and managed to carry that speed through the finish,” he said. “There wasn’t much space left after the last corner, so I had to start my sprint immediately and hope for the best.”
Earlier in the race, Powless had found himself in a tactical dilemma as Visma’s riders attempted to dictate the pace of the lead group. “It was a constant inner struggle,” he explained. “Even my director wasn’t sure if I should contribute or not. But I knew I had to do my part to keep the group moving, or I would have been dropped. It wasn’t easy, but I’m proud of the way I handled it.”
Powless described the win as the biggest of his career, expressing his hope to build on the momentum as he prepares for the upcoming Tour of Flanders. “I hope to fight for the win or at least for a podium position. These races are about luck and confidence, and I definitely gained some of both today.”
The race had been billed as a showdown for van Aert, who had been disappointed with his performance at the E3 Saxo Classic just days earlier. The 30-year-old Belgian, eager to make a statement ahead of the Tour of Flanders, joined forces with teammates Jorgenson, Benoot, and Edoardo Affini to form a dominant breakaway with 70 kilometers remaining. The quartet surged ahead, bridging the gap to the earlier breakaway riders on the Berg Ten Houte climb.
As the race progressed, Powless was the only rider able to keep up with the pace set by the Visma riders. Despite repeated attempts by Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) and others to chase down the leaders, the breakaway remained intact, with Powless hanging on.
With 32 kilometers to go, the peloton split further, as EF Education-EasyPost shifted focus to assist Powless. Pedersen, Küng, and Girmay were among those chasing, but the gap to the leaders remained significant. As the finish line approached, van Aert’s group looked set for the win—until Powless executed his shock sprint.
Jorgenson led the group into the final turn, but it was Powless who stole the show, overcoming van Aert and sealing a historic victory.
Dwars door Vlaanderen Results (2025, 184.5 km):
- Neilson Powless (USA), EF Education-EasyPost, 3:57:14
- Wout van Aert (BEL), Visma-Lease a Bike
- Tiesj Benoot (BEL), Visma-Lease a Bike
- Matteo Jorgenson (USA), Visma-Lease a Bike, +5s
- Mads Pedersen (DEN), Lidl-Trek, +45s
- Tibor del Grosso (NED), Alpecin-Deceuninck, same time
- Dries de Bondt (BEL), Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, +47s
- Arjen Livyns (BEL), Lotto
- Stefan Küng (SWI), Groupama-FDJ
- Alec Segaert (BEL), Lotto, same time
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