As it happened: Visma Lease-a-Bike stunned at the finish of Dwars door Vlaanderen

Hello and welcome to the 2025 Dwars door Vlaanderen!

With just four days to go until the Ronde van Vlaanderen, it's time for one last race on the fields of Flanders for riders to fine tune their preparations for the big one on Sunday.

Neither of the top favourites for Sunday, Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar are racing today, but we still have a star-studded line-up featuring many of the top classics riders.

Chief among them is Mads Pedersen. The Dane produced a sensational ride to win Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday, launching the kind of long-range solo attack that Van der Poel and Pogačar would be proud of. He’s still not considered a favourite for Sunday on the level of those two, but that could change if he wins again today.

In not so good form as Pedersen is Wout van Aert. In fact, Pedersen appears to have replaced Van Aert as the next best contender behind the Big Two of Van der Poel and Pogačar, after the Belgian failed to follow the moves at E3 Saxo Classic and finished down in 15th. 

Van Aert has come under lots of scrutiny and badly needs a good result today if he’s to get the Belgian press off his back, and to be considered a top contender for Sunday’s Tour of Flanders.

Van Aert, Pedersen and the rest are making their way through the neutralised one, and will see the flag shortly.

There are blue skies at the start, so the riders will enjoy the (relative) safety of dry cobblestones to race on.

A few riders who were scheduled to start have not made it: Alex Kirsch, Rui Oliveira and Piet Allegaert. That leaves Lidl-Trek, UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Cofidis all a man short - potentially damaging for the chances of Lidl’s Pedersen and UAE’s Tim Wellens.

OFFICIAL START

And they're off!

Johan Jacobs is another non-starter. He was due to be one of Stefan Küng's Groupama-FDJ teammates. 

There have been attacks, but nothing has stuck and the peloton remains as one.

The action on the road as riders try (and, so far, fail) to form a break.

170KM TO GO

We've been racing for almost 15km, and still the break of the day hasn't been established. 

About the first 70km of this year’s Dwars door Vlaanderen will be flat, before they take on the day’s first climb, the Volkegemberg. From that point on things get trickier, as the first of ten climbs in the final 115km.

Tuur Dens of Belgium and Team Flanders - Baloise was one of the riders to try and get up the road, but he and everyone else so far have been unsuccessful.

160KM TO GO

Over half an hour into the race and still no break. This is taking longer than usual for one to form.

150KM TO GO

Still no break has formed, as we enter 150km to go.

Speaking to the press prior to the race, Wout van Aert said he had nothing to prove at Dwars door Vlaanderen today, but that he’s also seeking a good result after a string of disappointing finishes so far this spring. Lacking a pure sprinter in their line-up, he revealed Visma-Lease a Bike’s plan is for an aggressive race.

Danny van Poppel has become the first person to abandon the race today.

Here’s one of the groups that have tried to form a breakaway. As you can see, Visma-Lease a Bike are making good on Van Aert’s promise to try and make this an aggressive race.

Alberto Bettiol has now also abandoned the race. He would have been a favourite for the race in the form he was in this time last year, but has struggled all throughout this spring.

140KM TO GO

We've been racing for just shy of an hour now, and they've completed 44km. It's been a full-on start and still the race has yet to settle, with no break formed.

Jenno Berckmoes is the third rider to abandon. Like Van Poppel and Bettiol, he was struggling at the back of the peloton having difficulty keeping up with the pace.

One of the top contenders for the win today is Jasper Philipsen. Not only can he be confident of beating just about everyone here in a sprint, he’s also been climbing well lately too - and might have given Mads Pedersen something to think about had he not had the misfortune of a mechanical during the key moment at Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday.

130KM TO GO

Still we have no break! It won't be too long 'till we enter the second, climbing phase of the race, with the Volkegemberg coming up in about 15km.

Five riders have managed to build a gap of about ten seconds: Taco van der Hoorn, Fabio Christen, Joshua Giddings, Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen and Petr Kelemen.

Paul Magnier has gone down in a crash. Along with Tim Merlier, he's one of Soudal-QuickStep's two sprint options today.

This is looking good for the five attackers - they're now 20 seconds up the road. Do we at last have our break of the day?

More riders are eager to join them - Mikkel Bjerg, Lewis Askey and Ceriel Desal have set off in pursuit of them. 

120KM TO GO

The leading five still haven't been allowed off the leash, and lead by only 17 seconds. the three poursuivants are closer, at 8 seconds. 

The three chasers have joined up to the leaders, so we have a new lead group of eight.

Here are the five escapees led by Van der Hoorn, before they were joined by the other three. 

It seems we have out break of the day, at last! The 8 leaders have a gap of a minute over the peloton, who seem happy to let them go.

VOLKEGEMBERG

It's time to start climbing! First up is the Volkegemberg, a 1.1km effort averaging 4%

Attack from Alexander Kristoff out of the peloton.

That's a surprising move, given that you'd expect the Norwegian to hold back and wait for a sprint. But he's in great form again, defying his age with fourth-place at Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday.

110KM TO GO

Maybe the break isn't as well established as it appeared. Their lead has come down already back to about 40 seconds.

Kristoff is still out there and hasn't been caught. He looks committed to the move though, gritting his teeth with the effort.

BERG TEN HOUTE

The riders are over the second climb of the day, Berg Ten Houte.

Jonathan Milan seems to have some kind of problem. He's out the back of the peloton. Although not the main man for Mads Pedersen's Lidl-Trek, he was expected to be an option in the event of a spring, given how well he's been riding.

Kristoff has sat up, and been brought back by the peloton.

100KM TO GO

The 8 leaders have built up their gap again though, up to one minute. They're safe for now. 

Kristoff up the road, before he was caught.

The race is on in the peloton. A big battle for positioning as they near the foot of the Knokteberg.

Visma win the race as they turn a right-hander onto the narrow road leading to the foot of the climb.

KNOKTEBERG

Visma are keeping the pace high on the climb.

A teammate has swung off, leaving Van Aert to lead, with Jorgenson on his wheel.

Van Aert isn't attacking, but he is riding fast enough to stretch out the peloton and drop some riders out the back.

Kelemen has been dropped out of the break and brought back by the peloton.

Mangier is one of the riders dropped bearing the scars from his cash earlier.

90KM TO GO

Van Aert's work has brought the break to within sight of the leading group. Their lead is cut to about 10 seconds.

Kristoff is another rider to be dropped. Evidently that attack took something out of him.

Attack from Mads Pedersen. He's at it again!

It was more of a speculative attack though, on the flat just prior to the start of the Hotondberg.

HOTONDBERG

Bjerg and Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen have gone clear from the rest of the break on the climb.

Josh Tarling's made a move out of the peloton, with an Alpecin and EF rider.

Neilson Powless and Fabio Van den Bossche are the two riders with Tarling. They have a gap over what remains a large peloton.

The rest of the earlier break has been caught. Bjerg and Pedersen lead the race, while Tarling, Powless and Van den Bossche are now the second group on the road. 

80KM TO GO

Bjerg and Pedersen's lead over the chasers is 12 seconds, and 44 seconds over the peloton.

Mechanical for Aimé De Gendt as the peloton take on a flat cobbled sector. The Belgian was an excellent 7th place at E3 Saxo Classic on Friday. 

There were a few attempted attacks in the peloton these past few kilometres, including one from Alpecin's in-form Tibor Del Grosso, but it's all back together, and the pace has been knocked off.

The chasing trio are closing in on the two leaders, but only slowly. They've been able to see them for a while, but not managed to bridge the gap.

The pace is up again in the peloton, as Visma-Lease a Bike take over.

All 6 of Visma's riders are at the front. They're planning something for the upcoming ascent of Berg Ten Houte.

Or even before the climb - 4 of the Visma riders have gone clear of the peloton!

They have a lead of a few seconds over the rest of the peloton.

Van Aert, Jorgenson, Benoot and Affini are the for Visma riders. Their gaps getting bigger as they near the climb.

Meanwhile up ahead, the 3 chasers have joined the 2 leader to form a new front group of five.

70KM TO GO

Affini is done now, leaving the 3 Visma riders.

BERG TEN HOUTE

The Visma trio are flying up the climb! They've caught and passed Tarling, who was dropped out the group, and now have caught up with the leaders.

So we have a new front group of 7: Wout van Aert, Matteo Jorgenson, Tiesj Benoot, Rasmus Søjberg Pedersen, Mikkel Bjerg, Neilson Powless and Fabio Van den Bossche. 

The peloton has been reduced on the climb too, though most of the favurites appear to be there, including Mads Pedersen and Stefan Küng.

There are 18 seconds between the leading 7 and the peloton.

Mads Pedersen himself is doing some of the pulling in the peloton. There's a sense of panic with such a strong group up the road.

Ineos had been doing much of the pulling in the peloton, but their man Tarling has just been dropped out of it.

There's a lack of cohesion in the peloton. They're attacking each other rather than working together. 

This was Visma-Lease a Bike leading the peloton, just before their brilliant team attack which has exploded this race into life.

Paul Mangier has abandoned.

Roel van Sintmaartensdijk had jumped out of the peloton briefly, but he's back in it now and leading, trying to bring things back for his Intermarché - Wanty teammate Biniam Girmay.

60KM TO GO

Their work has brought the leaders back to within 15 seconds. The advantage is swinging back to the peloton.

The peloton is organised now, with two Intermarché-Wanty riders working. By contrast the break has become more disorganised, with a reluctance among the others to work with the Visma riders.

Ineos and Lidl are also now getting involved in the chase.

KNOKTEBERG

The leader begin the second ascent of Knokteberg with a lead of about 12 seconds.

Pedersen leads the peloton on the climb, and has accelerated.

Visma have pushed on up ahead, and reduced the group. Powless is the only rider left with the yellow trio.

Pedersen and about five others have a small gap over the rest of the peloton as they crest the climb.

Philipsen's been dropped, much further down. He looks tired and unlikely to feature later today. 

Pedersen's move wasn't enough to split the race, and the peloton has swelled again.

Jordi Meeus and Tim Merlier are also a long way back and seem out of contention.

There seems to be about 30 riders in the peloton.

Pedersen and Stuyven are trying to break things up, taking it in turns to attack out the peloton.

HOTONDBERG

The leading quartet start the Hotund climb with a lead of 20 seconds.

Dries De Bondt has also tried an attack, only to find his wheel marked by Visma's Dylan Van Baarle.

50KM TO GO

All this is helping the leaders. Their gap has grown, to almost 30 seconds. 

Mechanical for Stefan Küng, who needs to change bikes.

Here are the four leaders. Their gap continues to grow, now up to 35 seconds. 

Still the peloton attack each other rather than chase. Nils Politt is the latest to give it a go.

Splits are forming in the peloton, as the wind blows.

The riders are in echelon formation, and there are multiple splits!

Two groups of about four each have formed ahead of the main peloton.

Pedersen is in the second of those four-man groups, but can't get the other 3 to work with him.

Alec Segaert, Dries De Bondt and Pierre Gautherat are the three riders with Pedersen.

Tim Wellens has abandoned the race.

The Pedersen group has been caught by the peloton, but yet again the Dane leads the peloton as they come onto the Mariaborrestraat cobbled sector.

Now Biniam Girmay takes over at the front of the peloton.

Pedersen accelerates again.

The leading quartert's gap remains steady, at about 30 seconds.

EIKENBERG

The leaders are climbing the Eikenberg, one of the hardest bergs of the race.

A crash in the peloton just as they were about to swing onto the climb. Politt and Pithie are down.

40KM TO GO

Sheffield leads the peloton. They're still a whole 40 seconds behind the leaders. 

Groupama are setting the pace in the peloton now, with Madouas. His teammate Küng is back in the peloton after his earlier mechanical.

Bike change needed for Girmay's teammate, Laurenz Rex

Three riders have a small lead on the peloton - Pedersen, plus a Decathlon and another rider.

Pedersen briefly jumped clear of them, but has now been joined by about four other riders. 

The Pedersen group has been brought back.

Among the top favourites still in the much-reduced peloton (now less than 30 riders) are: Pedersen, Stuyven, Küng and Girmay.

They might all be falling out of contention now though - the pace has been knocked off and the gap is growing.

30KM TO GO

With 30km and just two climbs left, the gap's up to 45 seconds. 

Other riders in the peloton: Madouas, Van Baarle, Wright, Sheffield, Livyns, Bjerg, Van den Bjerg, Pluimers.

Rasmus Tiller attacks out of the peloton on the Doorn cobbled sector.

Madouas is dropped out of the peloton.

This looks like the break's race to lose, their lead over the peloton at nearly 50 seconds now. Out-numbering EF's Neilson Powless three to one, surely the win must come from one of the Visma riders. Although every time we see a situation like this, with three teammates in a break against one solo, you can't help but think of the one, famous time the lone rider came out on top - Ian Stannard against QuickStep at the 2015 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

Küng's trying to get the others in the peloton to chase, but there's a real lack of cohesion.

It will be interesting to see how Visma approach this finish. Van Aert is the quickest sprinter on paper, but will they rely on waiting for that, or try to work over Powless with attacks?

It seems we already have an answer - Powless was caught napping as Van Aert and Jorgenson got a gap.

The two did not press on though, and Powless has closed the gap, just before they start the Nokereberg.

NOKEREBERG

The four riders climb the Nokereberg together, ther lead growing to an even more healthy 55 seconds.

Mads Pedersen attacks in the peloton again on the climb. Does this man ever tire?

He's stretched the group out, but not got a gap.

20KM TO GO

50 seconds is the gap, with just one climb left. 

There's some tension in the lead group. Powless and the Vismas are discussing something, and in disagreement.

Küng and three others have managed to jump out of the peloton.

They’ve been joined by Pedersen and Livyns.

Segaert, De Bondt and Del Grosso are the other three riders with them.

Those 6 riders are 10 seconds ahead of the peloton.

The chasing 6 (Pedersen, Küng, De Bondt, Livyns, Del Grosso and Segaert) have succeeded in getting a gap of 15 seconds over the peloton, but aren't going to catch the leaders. They're still 40 seconds adrift. 

10KM TO GO

Just 10km to go now! The leader are 41 seconds ahead of the 6 chasers, and 1-08 ahead of the peloton.

The final climb is coming up. Is this where the Visma will attack Powless? Perhaps Jorgenson will be the one to go?

NOKEREBERG

They're on the climb now.

The leaders are over the climb, and no attack has been made.

Benoot leads the four onto the final cobbled sector of the race, the Herlegemstraat.

Still no attacks. 6km to go.

Back in the peloton, Jasper Stuyven crashed round a corner. He's back up on his bike.

5KM TO GO

We're still awaiting an attack in the lead group. But are Visma happy to leave this to a sprint for Van Aert?

Powless is 4th in line.

2km to go. Powless is staying glued to the back of this three-man yellow train.

On paper, Van Aert should be able to beat him in a sprint. But Visma will look very foolish if he doesn't.

Benoot leads with 1500m to go, looking behind him to keep an eye on Powless.

1KM TO GO

1km to go - it seems we're going to get a sprint. 

Benoot is leading out.

Powless has started sprinting early...

...Powless has won!

NEILSON POWLESS WINS

That was extraordinary!

He's done an Ian Stannard!

Powless is jubilant, celebrating with his EF teammates as they come over to him at the finish.

But Visma will be mighty embarrassed. They should have had that in the bag, and in hindsight made a huge error in not attacking Powless at any moment.

And what will the Belgian press make of this? They’ve already been on the back of Wout van Aert recently, and will surely not let up after he missed out on the win today from such a strong position.

Van Aert looked uncharacteristically spent at the finish, unable to rev up his sprinting engine and come around Powless. He looked better today, but still something is clearly missing.

Powless has called this "the biggest win of his life" at the finish.

Matteo Jorgenson looks despondent at the finish. He says it was the team’s decision to go all in for the sprint, and that it was the wrong one. Did he want to make an attack perhaps?

In fairness to Visma-Lease a Bike, as bad as the finish line photo looks with their three men getting defeated by the one opponent, they still did an exceptional race to take every other rider out of contention. It might be embarrassing, but they’re certainly looking better than they have so far this spring, just in time for the Tour of Flanders.

Wout van Aert is also clearly very down at the finish. He missed out on what would have been a first win since last year's Vuelta, over seven months ago. 

Incidentally, Mads Pedersen won the sprint for fifth, still having something left in the tank despite all of this  many attacks today - and all week, for that matter. He still looks in sensational form ahead of Sunday’s Tour of Flanders.

Wout Van Aert is talking to the press, and is being brutally honest:

“I'm fully responsible for this loss. It was me who made the call for the sprint.”

“I was confident I could win the sprint, but in the sprint I cramped completely.” 

“I was just too selfish in the final. I wanted the victory so bad, especially after all the criticism I've been through and all the bad luck I’ve been through. I would say that for once, I was thinking about myself.”

The action for the day isn't done yet - the women's race is taking place as we speak. Be sure to follow along with us. 

Thanks for joining us today. Neilson Powless? More like Neilson Wowless. That was one of the most memorable finishes in a bike race for years, and will surely be picked over many times in the coming days. 

Now onto the next race, and it's the big one - the Tour of Flanders. From Visma-Lease a Bike’s disastrous finish today, the incredible form of Mads Pedersen, and the almighty rivalry between Mathieu van der Poel and Tadej Pogačar, so many narratives have developed - all of which will come to the fore on Sunday. It promises to be an amazing race, so be sure to join us once more!