Race analysis, favourites, and predictions for Baloise Belgium Tour 2025

The Baloise Belgium Tour is the second oldest stage race on the current calendar, first held in 1908, just five years after the first Tour de France. Unlike other stage races, the Belgian event doesn't feature major mountain passes, making it a golden opportunity for classics riders and tough sprinters to aim for an overall classification win.

 
Route

Fully adapted to the Belgian terrain, the race features three flat stages (stages 1, 2, and 5), a short individual time trial of 9.7 km (stage 3), and a hilly stage in Durbuy (stage 4) with 2,900 meters of climbing, which should be decisive for the general classification.

 
Favorites

Only two days left before the start of the race, the start list is still in its early stages, making it impossible to name clear favorites. Still, some big names are already on the provisional list: Jasper Philipsen (1200), Tim Merlier (1000), and Thibau Nys (600) are currently the headliners.

 
Photo: © Baloise Belgium Tour