Results Renewi Tour 2025 | Van der Poel just misses out on victory: De Lie scores after a difficult year

The Renewi Tour was founded in 2005 as the Eneco Tour. The race continued under this name until 2016, when sponsor BinckBank took over for four years. After two years as the Benelux Tour, waste processor Renewi is now the main sponsor. This year will be extra special, as it will be the 20th edition of the race. That calls for a celebration, of course, and it will be celebrated with an excellent course and a fantastic starting list.

Van der Poel made an appearance before the race after suffering from pneumonia in the Tour de France. But he is not the only star in attendance: he will be starting alongside teammate Tibor Del Grosso for the first time. A strong pair, they will have to contend with names such as Thibau Nys, Paul Magnier, Tim Merlier, and Biniam Girmay. And how could we forget Tim Wellens? The Belgian is the defending champion and also holds the record with no fewer than four overall victories.

2024 Tim Wellens
2023 Tim Wellens
2022 Canceled
2021 Sonny Colbrelli
2020 Mathieu van der Poel
2019 Laurens De Plus
2018 Matej Mohoric
2017 Tom Dumoulin
2016 Niki Terpstra
2015 Tim Wellens

It's a long ride, but there's not a hill in sight. We start in the Netherlands, in Terneuzen. The wind may play a role in the Zeeland landscape, but normally it will be a day for the sprinters, who will get their first chance in Breskens.

Winner
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)

The elevation profile makes it look quite challenging, but make no mistake: on paper, the second stage is no more difficult than the first. We have crossed the Belgian border, and from Blankenberge we head to Ardooie. It is another stage for the fastest men: expect to see the same names as on Wednesday!

Winner
Olav Kooij (Visma | Lease a Bike)  

Times
Start: 1:25 PM local time (07:25 AM EDT)
Finish: 5 PM local time (11:00 AM EDT)

After two easy stages, the riders are brought back down to earth with a bump. The third stage goes to Geraardsbergen, which means cobbles and climbing! It is a classic route, with the Taaienberg, Berg Ten Houte, Bosberg, and, of course, the Muur van Geraardsbergen, which is also where the finish line is located. The first battle for the GC can get underway here.

Winner
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck)  

The longest stage of the race is a treacherous one. In 198 kilometers, some 1,500 meters of elevation gain will be conquered. That doesn't seem like much, but the race is constantly up and down. The final stage has some nasty climbs, and the finish is not flat either. It could be for the sprinters, but it could just as easily be that everything explodes.

Winner
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)

There is one more stage to go, but that is no walk in the park either. The Renewi Tour has set a challenging course, including the stage around Leuven. It is a well-known circuit: in 2021, the World Championships were held here, where Julian Alaphilippe won his second world title. Anyone who remembers it will know that it is constantly up and down, with lots of twists and turns. In short: a cross-country course!

Winner
Arnaud De Lie (Lotto)  

After Tim Merlier won the first stage and took the lead, Olav Kooij took the blue jersey with his stage victory. In the queen stage to Geraardsbergen, the pressure from Mathieu van der Poel, Tim Wellens, and Arnaud De Lie was too much for him: The Dutchman won, but De Lie took the lead. In the final stage, Van der Poel seemed to have secured the overall victory thanks to bonus seconds. Still, in the bunch sprint, De Lie miraculously managed not only to win the stage but also the overall classification.