Mads Pedersen repeats victory in the Gent-Wevelgem 2025

The Dane adds another prestigious victory in the Gante-Wevelgem 2025, a race he already won last year, against none other than Van der Poel, and where he repeated victory to make up for the defeat he suffered on Friday in the E3 Saxo Classic precisely at the hands of the Dutchman. A triumph that confirms him as a serious candidate for victory next week in the Tour of Flanders.

Mads Pedersen's great performance to claim his second Gante-Wevelgem

Mads Pedersen had been warning throughout the spring that he was in ideal form despite having a bad day, affected by illness that was later revealed, in the Milan-San Remo where he started as one of the favorites. However, the Dane continued to insist and if on Friday in the E3 Saxo Classic he managed to be the first mortal to cross the finish line, today, in Gante-Wevelgem 2025, without the presence of supernatural cyclists, he managed to prevail after a fantastic ride.

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The race was marked by nervousness in the first part of the race with cuts, falls, echelons, etc. but without the race breaking apart even after the first set of climbs, including Kemelberg, where there was hardly any skirmish, with everything regrouped after it except for the breakaway of the day which maintained a gradually diminishing advantage and where quality names survived after the first climbs like Victor Campenaerts, Rui Oliveira, or Marco Haller.

And the race would break in the most unexpected place. A flat cobblestone section, 72 kilometers from the finish where Mads Pedersen himself attacked with the fortune that, just at that moment, Jasper Philipsen who had perfectly followed his wheel suffered a puncture and was left out of a move that would ultimately be decisive for the outcome of this Gante-Wevelgem 2025. Olav Kooij was also out of the race, who had also caught the Dane's wheel but went off the road and crashed, leading to his abandonment.

#GWmen - 62 KM

Pedersen is unstoppable! The Dane launches another attack, responding to a move from Victor Campenaerts. #GW25 pic.twitter.com/EJWSdHrpbX

— Gent-Wevelgem (@GentWevelgem) March 30, 2025

The Dane didn't take long to catch the escapees with whom there was good understanding to give them a second chance. An harmony that would last until the second climb of Kemelberg, 56 km from the finish where it was Campenaerts who launched an attack. Pedersen easily followed him and continued, opening a gap of about 10 seconds that his pursuers were unable to close, only a small group of 3 cyclists: Campenaerts, Haller, and Lotto's rider Arjen Livyns.

Although there was some back and forth for a few kilometers, Pedersen gradually consolidated his lead to over a minute difference, making the race, barring any misfortune for the Lidl-Trek cyclist, a done deal.

Meanwhile, the chasing trio lost steam in the final flat section, after the last climbs, and would be caught by the peloton in which Jasper Philipsen was riding again, even launching an attack on the last ascent of Kemelberg.

Mads Pedersen crossed the finish line with time to enjoy the victory, with over a minute advantage. A round victory not only for the tremendous prestige of the Gante-Wevelgem but also for being the 50th victory in the Danish cyclist's palmares.

Only the rest of the podium positions remained to be decided, which would be determined in a mass sprint of the peloton where, in the last kilometers, the Lidl-Trek cyclists were controlling to protect Pedersen's advantage. In a sprint where Lidl-Trek sought to complete the double but Jonathan Milan had to settle, in a very tight finish, for the third step of the podium as he was surpassed by Tim Merlier.

Gante-Wevelgem 2025 Classification

1. Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) 5h30'21''
2. Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) +49''
3. Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek) +49''
4. Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility) +49''
5. Hugo Hofstetter (Israel-PremierTech) +49''
6. Davide Ballerini (XDS-Astana) +49''
7. Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) +49''
8. Jenno Berckmoes (Lotto) +49''
9. Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) +49''
10. Laurenz Rex (Intermarché-Wanty) +49''