On the 4th of March we've got another Belgian classic, one of the most popular outside of the World Tour competitions actually. Le Samyn has gathered a lot of reputation over the years, with good reason, as the sprinters and classics specialists battle out in an explosive circuit. We preview the race ahead.
The 198-kilometer race has a mostly flat first half and a final circuit where the race will be decided. There will be four laps of a circuit which has it's finale in Dour, which features four cobbled sectors and two small ascents. The uphill drag to the line will be equally as challenging. It's a race where tactics are very important and a lot of aggressive racing is expected, but often it comes down to a reduced group sprint.
Quaregnon - Dour, 198.5 kilometers
With dry conditions and no wind, it will be hard for this race to go off the rails. Usually, it is one that ends in a sprint, albeit between riders who can climb and are used to the explosive racing. That does not fill all riders here and some sprinters will definitely get dropped before the final ascent.
We could see Mathieu van der Poel on the attack before the finish, absolutely. He comes here without pressure, a sprint isn't safe for him, and he's got nothing to lose really, he would want to test himself a bit in the cobbles which can make the race quite a bit harder (and giving the team's sprinters less pressure). Both Arnaud de Lie and Paul Magnier seem brilliant in this kind of terrain though and even in an attacked race they would be amongst those who can respond. Most teams will be looking to protect their fast men and then hope for the best in the tough uphill sprint.
Prediction Le Samyn 2025:
*** Arnaud De Lie, Paul Magnier
** Mathieu van der Poel, Aaron Gate, Erlend Blikra
* Laurenz Rex, Luca Mozzato, Jenthe Biermans, Timo Kielich, Max Kanter, Pavel Bittner, Casper van Uden, Tim Torn Teutenberg, Jakob Soderqvist, Alec Segaert, Lukas Kubis, Hugo Hofstetter
** Mathieu van der Poel, Aaron Gate, Erlend Blikra
* Laurenz Rex, Luca Mozzato, Jenthe Biermans, Timo Kielich, Max Kanter, Pavel Bittner, Casper van Uden, Tim Torn Teutenberg, Jakob Soderqvist, Alec Segaert, Lukas Kubis, Hugo Hofstetter
Pick: Paul Magnier
How: Reduced bunch sprint.
Original: Rúben Silva
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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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