Preview, favourites, profile, route and predictions Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen 2025 - Sprint battle between Milan, Merlier, Meeus and Kooij
Cycling
We preview the 2025 Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen, which is set to take place on the 19th of September. This is a race for the sprinters and we have got many of the world's very best at the start fighting for victory. The race is estimated to start at 13:00CET and finish at 16:55CET.
The race is quite simple, not following a criterium format but one that is quite simple. The race is 180 kilometers long and will include around a dozen laps of a pan-flat circuit around the town of Koolskamp. The wind can play a factor, but it's not overly likely, instead it should be a pure bunch sprint including some of the strongest in the world.
The has simply an incredible startlist when it comes to the level of sprinters, above many World Tour events, an entire level ahead of the recent Vuelta a España for example. On paper we could have several riders capable of taking a victory here because there are many proven winners set to battle in a pure sprint. But there are two names we must mention above the rest, which are Jonathan Milan - coming in with his full leadout - and Tim Merlier, perhaps the sprinter of the year. The two are incredible sprinters who rarely fail to deliver, and we could see another battle between the two for victory, with only Jasper Philipsen missing from the big names.
Still so many could come inbetween the 'big two'. Olav Kooij has recently won big at the Tour of Britain, Soren Waerenskjold has recently won big at the Deutschland Tour, Jordi Meeus and his leadout Danny van Poppel can be a deadly combo and the same could be said of Arvid de Kleijn and his Tudor leadout... Add in to the mix other world-class sprinters such as Giro stage winner Casper van Uden, Dylan Groenewegen and Phil Bauhaus as examples, then we have a race!
Profile: Koolskamp - Koolskamp
Koolskamp - Koolskamp, 180 kilometers
Prediction Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen 2025:
*** Jonathan Milan, Tim Merlier
** Arvid de Kleijn, Soren Waerenskjold, Olav Kooij, Jordi Meeus
* Matteo Malucelli, Max Kanter, Dylan Groenewegen, Davide Bomboi, Phil Bauhaus, Pascal Ackermann, Matteo Moschetti, Simon Dehairs, Jason Tesson, Gerben Thijssen, Casper van Uden, Elia Viviani, Milan Fretin
** Arvid de Kleijn, Soren Waerenskjold, Olav Kooij, Jordi Meeus
* Matteo Malucelli, Max Kanter, Dylan Groenewegen, Davide Bomboi, Phil Bauhaus, Pascal Ackermann, Matteo Moschetti, Simon Dehairs, Jason Tesson, Gerben Thijssen, Casper van Uden, Elia Viviani, Milan Fretin
Pick: Tim Merlier
How: Regular bunch sprint.
Original: Rúben Silva
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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