From the 20th to the 24th of August, the WorldTour peloton returns to the Benelux for five days of racing. Unlike the traditional one-day classics, the Renewi Tour delivers a high-octane stage race where sprinters, classics specialists, and opportunists all have a shot at glory. With no individual time trial this year, the fight for the general classification promises to be more open than ever. Let’s break down the route, stage profiles, and the main contenders for victory.
Renewi Tour 2025 Odds
| Rider | Odds |
|---|---|
| Van Der Poel, Mathieu | 2.50 |
| De Lie, Arnaud | 6.40 |
| Vacek, Mathias | 7.40 |
| Wellens, Tim | 15.00 |
| Del Grosso, Tibor | 15.00 |
| Nys, Thibau | 17.00 |
| Magnier, Paul | 17.00 |
| Bettiol, Alberto | 21.00 |
| Morgado, Antonio | 26.00 |
| Mohoric, Matej | 29.00 |
| Laurance, Axel | 35.00 |
| Van Gils, Maxim | 35.00 |
| Kubis, Lukas | 35.00 |
| Girmay, Biniam | 40.00 |
| Vermeersch, Florian | 40.00 |
The Route and Stage Profiles
The 2025 edition features five diverse stages: two designed for bunch sprints, two explosive classics-style battles in Geraardsbergen and Leuven, and one mixed stage that could swing either way. Here’s how the week unfolds:
Stage 1: Terneuzen → Breskens (182.6 km)
The race begins in the Netherlands, with a flat route perfect for sprinters. But don’t be fooled by the profile – the finish in Breskens is exposed to the wind, meaning crosswinds and echelons could wreak havoc on the peloton. This will be as much a day for GC hopefuls to stay alert as it will be for the fast men to test their legs.
Stage 2: Blankenberge → Ardooie (172.7 km)
Day two stays flat, starting on the Belgian coast. Expect furious speeds and another sprint showdown in Ardooie. Positioning will be everything in the technical urban finale, where chaos and crashes can never be ruled out.
Stage 3: Aalter → Geraardsbergen (181.8 km)
The queen stage arrives early. After a flat opening, the riders enter true Flandrien terrain with the Taaienberg and Berg ten Houte softening legs before the legendary circuits. The Muur van Geraardsbergen and Bosberg are climbed twice, setting the stage for aggressive racing. With the final kicker at the Donderoodberg just 5.5 km from the line, expect fireworks before the finish in Geraardsbergen.
Stage 4: Riemst → Bilzen-Hoeselt (198.5 km)
The longest stage of the week features a rolling circuit north of Liège. Climbs like the steep Slingerberg (500m at 9.4%) provide a springboard for attacks, though the mostly flat run-in to Bilzen means sprinters may still battle for victory if their teams can control the race.
Stage 5: Leuven → Leuven (184.7 km)
A fitting finale. Leuven returns to the spotlight with four laps of the explosive World Championship circuit where Julian Alaphilippe claimed the rainbow jersey in 2021. Constant short climbs, narrow roads, and sharp turns will make this a chaotic and tactical conclusion, where early moves can stick and the overall classification could be turned upside down.
Who Are the Favourites?
The absence of a time trial means bonus seconds and classics stages will decide the general classification. That levels the playing field and invites a wide range of contenders.
Mathieu van der Poel headlines the race, making his return after the Tour de France. While not at peak form, his presence alone guarantees fireworks. If he can’t strike on the Muur, others may seize the moment in Leuven.
Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) has been knocking on the door of a big win. With teammates like Thibau Nys and Jasper Stuyven, Trek bring an aggressive squad built for Flandrien chaos. Meanwhile, defending champion Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates) knows these roads intimately and thrives in tactical battles, backed by the likes of Florian Vermeersch and António Morgado.
The sprinters are also in the mix. Arnaud de Lie and Paul Magnier both proved their punch at the Hamburg Cyclassics and could use stage wins plus bonus seconds to contest GC. Add in multiple-card squads like BORA with Roger Adrià and Maxim van Gils, or INEOS with Ben Turner and Axel Laurance, and the tactical possibilities multiply.
Other names not to overlook include Fred Wright, Kasper Asgreen, Alberto Bettiol, Valentin Madouas, and Lukas Kubis, all capable of springing decisive moves in the right moment. With so many contenders, expect unpredictability until the very end.
Final Thoughts
The Renewi Tour 2025 has all the ingredients of a thriller. Flat stages may come down to the wind, the queen stage in Geraardsbergen promises fireworks, and Leuven is the perfect arena for a dramatic conclusion. Whether Van der Poel can mark his comeback with victory remains uncertain, but one thing is guaranteed: five days of fast, tactical, and spectacular racing in the heart of cycling’s heartlands.