Breaking news:  The latest headlines and exclusive features from the world of … Mathieu van der Poel on final stage to claim overall victory. 

Breaking news:  The latest headlines and exclusive features from the world of … Mathieu van der Poel on final stage to claim overall victory.

 

 

In a breathtaking finale to the 2025 Renewi Tour, Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin–Deceuninck) mounted a heroic charge in the final stage, but it was Arnaud De Lie (Lotto) who emerged triumphant—seizing both the stage and the overall victory in a photo-finish sprint in Leuven.

A Race Defined by Margins

The drama unfolded late on the final day, as De Lie, entering the stage with a slender one-second lead, found himself briefly overtaken after van der Poel scooped a few crucial bonus seconds. Yet, as the finish line neared, De Lie dug deep, launching a perfectly timed sprint that edged out van der Poel and clinched the general classification by merely three seconds—marking his first WorldTour stage race victory .

Cycling Weekly captured the tense conclusion: heading into the final day with van der Poel looming, “De Lie dropped behind momentarily after Van der Poel claimed bonus seconds … However, in a thrilling finale, De Lie out‑paced Van der Poel … to claim the stage and recover the overall lead, finishing three seconds ahead” .

The Queen Stage’s Ghost Still Lingers

Just days earlier, van der Poel had dominated the “queen stage”—a punishing 181.8 km route from Aalter to Geraardsbergen culminating atop the iconic cobbled ascent of the Muur van Geraardsbergen. Van der Poel unleashed a long-range attack nearly 100 km out, held off the chasers, and powered to a stellar solo victory—yet it left him trailing De Lie by a single second in the general standings .

Van der Poel’s Next Move: MTB Worlds

Despite the disappointment, van der Poel remains upbeat—and focused. With the Renewi Tour behind him, he’s already shifting gears toward the UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Crans-Montana come September 14. His next test? A key tune-up at the UCI Mountain Bike World Series race in Les Gets. Recovering from a prior crash and fractured wrist sustained earlier in the season, he aims to sharpen his form and technical edge ahead of MTB Worlds .

Final Analysis

Arnaud De Lie becomes the 2025 Renewi Tour champion in what can only be described as a classic duel, marked by narrow advantages and strategic brilliance.

Mathieu van der Poel, despite showcasing his relentless grit and stage-winning prowess, ultimately couldn’t surmount the final-day sprint.

Yet, his trajectory shows no signs of slowing—this former road powerhouse is now zeroing in on mountain bike glory as a bold pivot toward the autumn’s global championships.