Welcome to the 2025 Viana do Castelo! The start line is packed with great cyclists hoping to put themselves in the mythos of this modern day Portguese hipster classic of a race. It’s a streets won’t forget type of race and let’s see if Benoot in new colours is able to avoid the creation of a new cult hero.
And the riders have barely left the start line before we have the first attack of the day! It’s Videika with Kooistra and Hansen in tow.
The trio gets a gap to work with but there’s also a huge wave of attacks behind them including the likes of Delbove, Ivanovas, Mager, Van Hautegem, Varotsos, Johnson, Shirota and Gregoire.
With 181 to go there’s full unity at the front with Aebersold and Nerurkar joining the now 13-man group. They have a gap of 1’40” to begin proceedings. Let’s see how long they last.
With 132km to go between the second and third ascent of the climb a small break in the pack occurs leaving big names like Lyu and Schreurs caught lacking. They will now have to put in an effort to bridge the 540 second gap to reposition themselves at the front. The gap to the break has reached 4’41” but at times have been above five minutes the work of Bolt, MOL and Ekoi at the front doing damage right now!
Aebersold is the first man caught from the break with 82km to go. His old break compatriots still hold a 3 minute lead that is drastically dwindling away.
With 75 to go another round of attacks is launched as Sanogo and Debesay try to get a gap on the pack.
Zwift had been putting in a shift at the front but their own leader Jorgenson is caught in the crossfire. It could be a mechanical but there’s no event that mentions it and radio tour is being of no help! The pack is drastically dwindling in numbers on the fourth descent of the climb as Lyu and Schreurs are caught slacking once again!
But would you look at that the entire team has dropped back in support of the American giving the Chinese puncheur a free ride on the flat section until the climb! With 60 seconds the go they once again have contact. But it’s an unnecessary scare for Zwift that need get back in position!
At the front of the race these continuus bumps have also taken their toll as the leading group has been reduced to a quartet consisting of Videika, Kooistra, Gregoire and Varotsos. The group’s gap to the pack sits at around 2 minutes with 53km to go!
As we enter the penultimate ascent the numbers in the pack starts to crumble as the speed is increased in the hunt for the break whose gap is now down to just over a minute. One of the casulaties is a hardworking Mestric who is clocking out after a job well done.
SOS for Duvel! Stallaert looks absolutely cooked and the only three digit number his manager can now hope to punch into his spreadsheet will be 911 as the Belgian champion needs assistance!
While the cameras were fixated on the riders getting dropped the break was caught with 43km to go. As a result of those efforts the front group stands greatly reduced at just 29 riders before the descent. This is seen as an invitation to attack for the favourites as Van der Poel tries to cash in on the massive tempo Pithie just put in. Visser and Vincent tries to follow the Dutchman but while they have brief contact they struggle to keep up with the allrounder.
Honore’s handiwork brings back the chasers but Van der Poel still holds a small gap of 24” with 31 to go but there’s slight visual contact for the 23 man peloton to latch on to. It’s worth noting that Benoot is isolated and is seen taking turns trying to reel back the Dutchman, maybe this is enough to prevent the hattrick?
Despite the best efforts of Ekoi and Benoot, Van der Poel’s gap keeps increasing as it’s now up to 1’12” with 24km to go! It’s looking like an absolute sensational sweep might be coming in. But there’s still the final ascent to work with so hold your horses!
Just five kilometres later Louvel has put in a caulker of a shift for his captain leaving Van der Poel’s gap down to just 32 seconds with 20km to the finish line. The leading group has been reduced to 15 riders chasing the Dutchie. These are: Polanc, Vermeersch & Bettiol, Benoot, Louvel & Zepunkte, Basso, Tediashvili, Jorgenson, Meurisse, Eriksson, Godon, Visser, Habimana and Vincent.
With 18 to go Van der Poel is brought back and an immediate counter attack is launched by Tediashvili that amounts to nothing but is followed by every rider in the group.
With 15 to go it’s a sensation attack from Basso who manages to create a small gap to the rest of the group! The Italian is clearly not seen as a threat by anyone else in the group as he is sailing away with a 22” gap being built up at the speed of light.
Now it’s time for the big boys to play as Bettiol counters an attack from Polanc as we start the final ascent of Lugar do Meio! The attack surmounts to nothing but it does bring back in Basso who keeps holding on and stays in top 10 contention!
The front group is reduced to 10 riders as they go under the 10km banner. It’s Zepuntke who is getting dropped. He will have a very awkward ride back to the team bus later having to look his teammates in the eyes after yet another disappointment, they tore themselves apart out there with absolutely nothing to show for it.
As the front group enters the final descent and the final cobbles section of the race the front group is reduced to six riders! Tediashvili, Bettiol, Basso, Benoot, Jorgenson and Polancwill duke it out for the victory!
With 3.6km to go Jorgenson takes the front and goes on the attack but he’s unable to shake anyone off his tail and it might put him in the absolute worst possible position for the final sprint!
Under the kite they come! The American is still at the front. Benoot is all the way at the back in the wheel of Polanc!
And it’s not the right wheel for the Belgian with 500 metres to go it’s Jorgenson, Tediashvili and Basso sprinting for the win!
And it’s a sensational win for Tediashvili but almost more sensational second place for Basso with Jorgenson in third place! Benoot fails the threepeat and will have to make do with a very disappointing sixth place finish!
