Timo Kielich holds on for dramatic photo finish win at 2025 Antwerp Port Epic

Alpecin-Deceuninck's Timo Kielich has taken a thrilling victory at the 2025 Antwerp Port Epic, holding off the peloton and outsprinting Rasmus Wallin in a dramatic conclusion to the day.

The trio of Filip Maciejuk (Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe), Tuur Dens (Team Flanders - Baloise) and Valentin Retailleau (Team TotalEnergies) all got themselves up the road and into the break relatively early on. In the pack meanwhile, there was early disappointment for one of the pre-race favourites as Lotto leader Arnaud De Lie was forced to abandon the race. 

By 50km to go, the leading trio had seen their advantage already cut to around 30 seconds by a peloton that was being diminished with every gravel sector that passed. With 47.5km to go, Retailleau was then caught, leaving just two up ahead of the bunch. With 42km to go, Dens was caught, and only Maciejuk remained. Not for much longer though, as he too was soon back in the peloton.

The next attack off the front came from Alpecin-Deceuninck's Timo Kielich, with the Belgian entering the final 25km leading by around 40 seconds. Despite Kielich putting in a strong showing though, as he neared the 10km to go marker, he started to look behind, with the peloton closing to within 20 seconds. In the peloton, it was Soudal - Quick-Step that were almost singlehandedly chasing at the front of the bunch, hoping for a sprint finish for Tim Merlier. 

Damaging the hopes of the chase, a crash then rocked the peloton inside the final 7km, whilst Kielich suddenly had company at the front in the form of Uno-X Mobility's Rasmus Wallin. With 2km to go, they still had 10 seconds on the bunch too, with everything to play for in the finale.

As Kielich and Wallin launched their sprints, victory on the stage was secured and in the end it was a photo finish that was needed to decide the day with Kielich being given the win.