Filippo Baroncini wins Baloise Belgium Tour 2025 for UAE; Tim Merlier powers to sprint win on final stage

UAE Team Emirates - XRG's Filippo Baroncini has won the GC at the 2025 Baloise Belgium Tour, after Tim Merlier powered to a confidence boosting sprint win on the final stage.

Six riders went clear of the peloton early on to form the breakaway of the day. Best placed on GC of the attackers was Dutchman Jochem Kerckhaert of BEAT Cycling Club, who started the day just 2:56 down and as such, spent the majority of the day in the provisional race lead. By 50km to go though, the gap had already dropped below that mark, meaning Kerckhaert was no longer the leader on the road. 

With 15km to go, just the duo of Michiel Hillen and Alex Vandenbulcke were still clear of the peloton by around 25 seconds. At 10km to go, the gap was still 18 seconds, with the leaders not having given up hope just yet. By 6km to go though, both had been caught. In the fight for the sprint win, it was then Juan Sebastian Molano who opened things up, but at the line, Tim Merlier had powered past the UAE man to take victory.