Nearly a month after Opening Weekend, cobbled Classics season is again and in complete swing following Vintage Brugge-De Panne and E3 Saxo Vintage previous this week.
Gent-Wevelgem, which runs on Sunday, is subsequent at the calendar of main Classics. The race ranks a few of the maximum prestigious cobbled meets at the calendar, barring the Excursion of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix.
The boys’s Gent-Wevelgem path tackles a 250km route from Ypres to Wevelgem, whilst the ladies will race a 169km route. Key climbs such because the Scherpenberg, Monteberg, and the well-known cobbled Kemmelberg, in addition to conceivable rain and crosswinds, will end up decisive because the race hosts its annual combat between sprinters and attackers.
Previous winners together with Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek), Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime), Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), and Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek) all characteristic at the lineups, whilst a bunch of alternative Classics superstars will sign up for them within the combat for the name – the 88th for the boys and 14th for the ladies.
Learn on for our 10 contenders to look at at Gent-Wevelgem and Gent-Wevelgem Girls.
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime)
Wiebes already has one large Classics triumph beneath her belt, having received Milan-San Remo Girls (Symbol credit score: Getty Photographs)
Reigning ladies’s champion Lorena Wiebes returns to the race as the highest favorite for good fortune as soon as once more with the #1 dossard on her again.
Boasting a near-unbeaten document up to now in 2025, the Dutchwoman leads an SD Worx squad, which contains Lotte Kopecky, Nokere Koerse winner Marta Lach, and Mischa Bredewold, into the race. On the season-opening UAE Excursion, she racked up 3 dash wins from 3, whilst she additionally triumphed at the cobbles at Los angeles Samyn previous this month.
Wiebes’ greatest win so far – the most important of her profession up to now – got here ultimate weekend at Milan-San Remo, the place Kopecky did the chase-down paintings earlier than she sped thru to edge out Marianne Vos within the dash.
At this early degree of the 12 months, she looks as if the transparent height sprinter on the planet, which means that her potential opponents should paintings arduous within the ‘hill zone’ – together with the ones two ascents of the Kemmelberg – to verify she’s now not within the lead staff on the end. (DO)
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck)
Philipsen rides the cobbles at Nokere Koerse (Symbol credit score: Getty Photographs)
Within the absence of teammate and Milan-San Remo winner Mathieu van der Poel, Jasper Philipsen will soak up a transparent management function for Alpecin-Deceuninck because the spring Classics proceed throughout Belgium at Gent-Wevelgem.
Already 3rd at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and winner at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, Philipsen will without a doubt need to proceed his good fortune within the extra sprinter-friendly one-day races.
His shape was once a query mark after a crash at Nokere Koerse, however he began San Remo and the Vintage-Brugge De Panne, regardless that he may just now not contest the finals in both race. Philipsen has received De Panne two times earlier than however was once one of the disrupted by way of more than one crashes overdue on, so he could not give a sign of his shape forward of the E3 Saxo Vintage and Gent-Wevelgem.
The Belgian sprinter hasn’t but received Gent-Wevelgem, however he performed a key function in ultimate 12 months’s ultimate. There, he took 2nd within the bunch dash for fourth position, whilst his teammate Van der Poel completed 2nd to the day’s winner, Mads Pedersen.
Wait for Philipsen to be a few of the dash contenders going for the victory will have to the race come all the way down to a number kick to the road. (KF)
Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep)
Ecu champion Merlier has sprinted to victory six occasions up to now in 2025 (Symbol credit score: Getty Photographs)
With six dash wins already beneath his belt in 2025, together with two at Paris-Great, Ecu champion Tim Merlier has confirmed himself as the highest sprinter of the season up to now – even though he is 2-2 within the head-to-head combat in opposition to the opposite claimant to that name, Jonathan Milan.
As such, the Belgian for sure ranks amongst the ones riders to look at at Gent-Wevelgem, even though he has but to complete a few of the profitable staff in 5 participations on the sprinter-friendly however unstable race.
Lately, small teams of hardy riders with fast finishers have long gone to the road, with Merlier usually within the subsequent huge staff at the street. He is confirmed he can triumph at much less prestigious races equivalent to Scheldeprijs, Le Samyn, and Nokere Koerse, however he’ll want to display one thing extra to do the similar right here.
His involvement in a overdue crash on the Vintage Brugge-De Panne left him with a knee wound requiring stitches, so his skill to problem this weekend is now beneath query. In spite of everything, his staff can glance to Yves Lampaert and emerging celebrity Paul Magnier in a spring Classics squad that may as soon as once more boast a number of number-one choices. (DO)
Chiara Consonni (Canyon-Sram Zondacrypto)
Consonni at the podium on the GP Oetingen, the place she took 3rd position (Symbol credit score: Getty Photographs)
Dressed in the color of her new staff Canyon-Sram Zondacrypto, Chiara Consonni strains up with a brand new function because the staff’s sprinter for the Spring Classics.
The Italian has at all times been a contender within the sooner, sprint-friendly races, however her staff has infrequently had a key dash contender within the Classics, basically opting for to concentrate on the hillier affairs just like the Excursion of Flanders.
Consonni has had a promising begin to the season, with a couple of shining moments on the Problem Mallorca, UAE Excursion Girls and GP Oetingen, however she hasn’t had that gigantic win but in 2025. On the other hand, she does have the revel in, with earlier wins at Dwars door Vlaanderen and 3 phases of the Giro.
With a roster that still comprises Soraya Paladin and Zoe Bäckstedt, who’re in a position to height performances at Gent-Wevelgem, too, it is going to be fascinating to look how cohesive the staff will probably be in supporting a sprinter like Consonni will have to there be a number dash. (KF)
Filippo Ganna (Ineos Grenadiers)
Ganna is heading up Ineos Grenadiers’ spring problem (Symbol credit score: Getty Photographs)
Filippo Ganna’s center of attention at the cobbled Classics is a somewhat fresh phenomenon for the Italian champion. This 12 months’s trip at Gent-Wevelgem is best his 2nd look on the race in 5 years.
His document, consisting of 3 non-finishes and a forty third position, is not a lot to shout about, however his shape and confirmed skill at the cobbles approach he is for sure a contender this time.
He heads to Belgium off the again of a couple of 2nd puts, each profession bests, at Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-San Remo. His center of attention within the coming weeks will probably be Paris-Roubaix, the place he completed 6th ultimate 12 months, however Gent-Wevelgem will probably be a very important tune-up earlier than the Queen of the Classics.
Regardless of his eminence as a time triallist, Ganna has additionally proven that he has a quick completing kick within the sprints. He will be going through off in opposition to a bunch of more potent sprinters on Sunday, regardless that, this means that {that a} win will most likely come off the again of that point trial skill. (DO)
Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek)
Balsamo celebrates one in every of her 3 wins up to now in 2025, the Trofeo Alfredo Binda (Symbol credit score: Getty Photographs)
Elisa Balsamo is among the maximum constant early-season performers, and this 12 months isn’t any other, with wins at Setmana Valenciana and Trofeo Alfredo Binda. The Italian sprinter additionally completed 7th on the revived Milan-San Remo ultimate weekend.
She is a contender for many of the main one-day races and changed into identified for her golden week throughout the spring Classics in 2022, the place she received Binda, the Vintage Brugge-De Panne and Gent-Wevelgem, all whilst dressed in the rainbow jersey of the arena champion.
She has had some unlucky crashes within the ultimate two seasons, however she has obviously recovered and bounced again to profitable shape this spring, so look forward to her to contest the dash at Gent-Wevelgem. Lucinda Emblem, Clara Copponi, and Emma Norsgaard will line up in improve for Lidl-Trek on Sunday. (KF)
Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty)
Intermarché-Wanty wish to Girmay to rack up the consequences – and UCI issues – this spring (Symbol credit score: Getty Photographs)
Some of the memorable moments in biking was once Biniam Girmay’s victory at Gent-Wevelgem in 2022, the similar 12 months he additionally received a degree on the Giro d’Italia, and once more making historical past after profitable 3 phases on the Excursion de France and taking house the issues jersey ultimate 12 months.
All eyes are on Girmay for every other robust Classics season, and he’s slowly development his shape with more than one top-10 finishes, even though he hasn’t received but. He rolled around the line in 14th a few of the primary chase staff at Milan-San Remo ultimate weekend.
A great route for a rider like Girmay, with sharp climbs and cobbled terrain, Gent-Wevelgem is technical and difficult however nonetheless caters to the quickest within the peloton, so be expecting him to be up there contending for every other height end result
He strains up with an opportunistic staff that comes with Jonas Rutsch, Arne Marit, and Laurenz Rex, all in a position to completing within the entrance staff and supporting Girmay to every other victory in Wevelgem. (KF)
Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Crew ADQ)
Longo Borghini went at the assault within the ultimate kilometres at Milan-San Remo Girls (Symbol credit score: Getty Photographs)
Italian veteran Elisa Longo Borghini is making ready to tackle her first cobbled marketing campaign clear of Lidl-Trek in seven seasons after shifting to UAE Crew ADQ within the iciness. Gent-Wevelgem will probably be her first cobbled race along with her new staff.
Final spring, she added a 2nd Excursion of Flanders win to her palmarès, regardless that she has but to style good fortune at Gent-Wevelgem. Her very best lead to 8 participations is a Tenth-place end in 2020.
Nonetheless, she’s in effective shape after Milan-San Remo, a race she was once best avoided from profitable because of Lotte Kopecky’s paintings chasing down her overdue assault. With 4 of the ultimate 5 editions of Gent-Wevelgem leading to mass or diminished sprints, regardless that, it can be difficult to drag off a equivalent solo transfer.
Longo Borghini can depend upon a robust improve squad on Sunday, after all. She’ll convey Elynor Bäckstedt, Sofia Bertizzolo, and Karlijn Swinkels alongside for the experience. (DO)
Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek)
Pedersen celebrating a degree win at Paris-Great, one in every of two wins for him up to now in 2025 (Symbol credit score: Getty Photographs)
A post-Paris-Great sickness can have avoided Mads Pedersen from being in height shape at Milan-San Remo ultimate week, reported Lidl-Trek supervisor Kim Andersen. On the other hand, he will have to be again to his very best for the cobbled Classics.
He received Gent-Wevelgem for the second one time ultimate 12 months and is a perennial contender on the race, having completed 5th and 7th in fresh editions. With an ideal mix of staying power, skill at the cobblestones, and his completing dash, it is no marvel to look him a few of the height favourites once more.
Pedersen has wins on the Excursion de los angeles Provence and at Paris-Great, the place he confirmed off his mountaineering super-domestique chops on a number of events, to his identify in 2025. On the other hand, the approaching weeks, culminating in every other tilt at Paris-Roubaix, are his primary center of attention of this primary 3rd of the season.
He will be sponsored up by way of a number of robust choices this weekend, with Vintage Brugge-De Panne winner Jonathan Milan a favorite in his personal proper if he survives the Kemmelberg. Jasper Stuyven and Edward Theuns – who not too long ago scored his first win in 4 years on the Bredene Koksijde Vintage – also are within the Lidl-Trek variety. (DO)
Lotta Henttala (EF Schooling-Oatly)
Henttala’s victory at Problem Mallorca was once one in every of simply 3 race days up to now in 2025 (Symbol credit score: Getty Photographs)
Some other former winner of Gent-Wevelgem, Lotta Henttala, strains up as EF Schooling-Oatly’s sprinter for the flatter Spring Classics. She has abundant revel in within the one-day races and can most likely even be the staff’s on-road captain.
She is in her 2nd 12 months with EF Schooling-Oatly and can lead a staff that comes with Nina Berton, Letizia Borghesi, Nina Kessler, Sarah Roy and Babette van der Wolf, who’re all one-day race consultants in a position to supporting Henttala in a last on the main races.
Along with her victory at Gent-Wevelgem in 2017, the Finnish rider has additionally received one of the vital greatest one-day races at Dwars door Vlaanderen, Vårgårda and a degree on the Giro.
She opened her season with a win on the Problem Mallorca and has now not competed in any of the Spring Classics but, however this might be the place she has selected to start out her Ecu marketing campaign, deciding on fewer races to have a better affect. (KF)
Honourable mentions
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Global champion Lotte Kopecky can by no means be counted out(Symbol credit score: Getty Photographs)
Olav Kooij leads Visma-Hire A Motorcycle within the absence of Wout van Aert(Symbol credit score: Getty Photographs)
Regardless of having the arena’s height sprinter as a teammate at SD Worx-Protime, Lotte Kopecky is at all times a contender. She confirmed at Milan-San Remo that she’s very happy to paintings for Lorena Wiebes, but when the Dutchwoman does not make it over the hills, she’ll take over the reins.
San Remo was once Kopecky’s first race day of the season. She took 9th after operating at the By the use of Roma however be expecting her to be coming near height shape at Gent-Wevelgem as she heads in opposition to Huge appointments on house floor on the Excursion of Flanders and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
There will be no Wout van Aert (or Tadej Pogačar or Mathieu van der Poel, for that topic) at Gent-Wevelgem, however Visma-Hire A Motorcycle boast a height contender in Olav Kooij, however. The younger Dutchman heads up a squad additionally lacking the unwell Christophe Laporte, however he can rely on Victor Campenaerts, Tiesj Benoot, and Dylan van Baarle.
He has two top-10 finishes to his identify in two earlier begins, and he is in just right shape, with a win at Tirreno-Adriatico, a podium at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, and an 8th position at San Remo on his fresh palmarès.
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Michael Matthews heads up Jayco-AlUla’s problem(Symbol credit score: Getty Photographs)
Charlotte Kool is Picnic-PostNL’s dash possibility(Symbol credit score: Getty Photographs)
Jordi Meeus completed at the podium ultimate 12 months(Symbol credit score: Getty Photographs)
Michael Matthews once more ignored out at the large end result at one in every of his spring targets, Milan-San Remo, ultimate weekend. The Australian can take middle from the truth that he completed very best of the remaining from the chasing pack in the back of ‘the large 3’, on the other hand.
His favorite races, the Excursion of Flanders and Amstel Gold Race, will probably be his primary targets later within the spring. He will have an actual likelihood on Sunday, regardless that, offering the race is difficult sufficient to drop one of the vital sooner finishers earlier than the general.
Without a wins but within the bag out of doors of Juliana Lodoño’s Colombian nationwide name, Picnic-PostNL will hope Charlotte Kool can velocity to glory on Sunday. The Dutch sprinter has emerged as some of the quickest ladies on the planet in fresh seasons, however she hasn’t but scored a large spring Classics victory.
Kool was once nearer than ever earlier than ultimate 12 months, going 2-4-2 at De Panne, Gent-Wevelgem, and Scheldeprijs. May this weekend see her step forward and hit the end line first? She’ll want higher success than on the fresh GP Oetingen, the place she crashed out of competition within the final kilometres.
In the end, Jordi Meeus is most likely an overpassed possibility, having scored the general podium spot from the peloton ultimate 12 months. The Purple Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe sprinter is not ranked a few of the very height favourites, however he cannot be counted out, even though he is had a long wreck from racing after Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne. (DO)
