Tadej Pogačar clinched his second victory at the Tour of Flanders, securing a commanding solo win after a relentless battle with rival Mathieu van der Poel. The Slovenian World Champion proved his strength over the course of the 269km race, distancing Van der Poel in the final stages to claim the prestigious Monument title.
Pogačar had tested Van der Poel repeatedly throughout the day, but it wasn’t until the penultimate climb of the Oude Kwaremont that he finally managed to break free. After an initial push on the second ascent, Pogačar made a decisive move on the third ascent, quickly gaining a 10-second lead. From there, he extended his advantage, crossing the finish line with a 1-minute, 1-second lead over the runner-up.
The victory marked the third consecutive year in which the Tour of Flanders was won by a solo rider. Mads Pedersen of Lidl-Trek won the sprint for second place, while Van der Poel, who had stayed close throughout the race, completed the podium in third.
Pogačar’s win was a redemption after his third-place finish at Milan-San Remo last month, where Van der Poel claimed victory in a sprint finish. This latest triumph is Pogačar’s third win in four races this season, having also triumphed in Strade Bianche and the UAE Tour.
Despite a difficult start for UAE Emirates, with three of their riders caught in a crash early in the race, Pogačar praised his team for their resilience. “I cannot be more proud of the team and how we raced today given we had some bad luck,” he told TNT Sports. “I’m just so happy to win this race in this jersey,” he added, gesturing to his white and rainbow-striped kit.
Looking ahead, Pogačar acknowledged that next Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix, a race he has never contested, would be a different challenge. “Roubaix is a completely different race,” he said. “I will accept the challenge and try and do a good race. Flanders suits me better, but Roubaix is a very hard race, and with the shape I have now, I’ll give it a try.”
Race Highlights and Breakdown
The early breakaway, which formed after just under 40 kilometers, included riders such as Elmar Reinders (Team Jayco AlUla), Alessandro Romele (XDS Astana), and Victor Vercouillie (Team Flanders-Baloise). The lead group’s advantage reached over four minutes as the peloton approached the first cobbled climb of the Oude Kwaremont.
However, the race took a dramatic turn at 126km to go, when a crash on a seemingly harmless stretch of tarmac took down several riders, including John Degenkolb (Team Picnic PostNL), who would not continue, and multiple riders from Alpecin-Deceuninck, including Van der Poel. The incident forced a reshuffle in the peloton, with the race becoming strung out under pressure from Jonas Abrahamson (Uno-X).
As the race neared the second ascent of the Kwaremont, Pogačar made his move, accelerating off the front. While Van Aert, Van der Poel, and Mads Pedersen stayed close, the group was soon caught on the Paterberg. Van der Poel then attacked, briefly distancing the others before they regrouped at the top of the climb.
After further attacks, Pogačar distanced Van Aert on the Taaienberg, leaving just Van der Poel and Pedersen in his wake. On the Oude Kruisberg, Pogačar’s persistent pressure dropped Pedersen, leaving the Slovenian and Van der Poel alone at the front.
The decisive moment came on the final ascent of the Oude Kwaremont. Van Aert launched an early attack, trying to create a gap, but Pogačar swiftly caught and passed him. With Van der Poel trailing behind, Pogačar extended his lead to over 24 seconds by the top of the Paterberg, and despite efforts from the chase group, the World Champion held his advantage all the way to the finish line.
Final Results – Tour of Flanders 2025 (269km)
- Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia), UAE Emirates – 5:58:41
- Mads Pedersen (Denmark), Lidl-Trek – +1:01
- Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands), Alpecin-Deceuninck
- Wout Van Aert (Belgium), Visma-Lease a Bike – same time
- Jasper Stuyven (Belgium), Lidl-Trek – +1:04
- Tiesj Benoot (Belgium), Visma-Lease a Bike – +1:51
- Stefan Küng (Switzerland), Groupama-FDJ – +1:53
- Filippo Ganna (Italy), Ineos Grenadiers – +2:19
- Iván García Cortina (Spain), Movistar
- Davide Ballerini (Italy), XDS Astana – same time
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