Who will succeed Milan Fretin?
On Wednesday, April 15, it will be Limburg’s turn to host a spring classic. During a new edition of the Ronde van Limburg, starting in Hasselt and finishing in Tongeren-Borgloon, we will be looking for the successor to Milan Fretin. With the likes of Tim Merlier, Dylan Groenewegen and Gerben Thijssen, we welcome plenty of fast riders to the start.
After his victory in the Scheldeprijs, Tim Merlier, winner in 2021, added the Ronde van Limburg to his programme. For the Belgian rider of Soudal Quick-Step, it will be a special race, as he became European champion on the roads of Limburg in 2024.
Merlier will go head-to-head with two former winners. Gerben Thijssen won the classic in 2023 and will be supported at Alpecin-Premier Tech by Simon Dehairs, runner-up last year. Also one to watch is Dylan Groenewegen (Unibet Rose Rockets), winner of the 2024 edition.
Lotto Intermarché are counting on the fast legs of Milan Menten, who finished third last year. At Lidl-Trek, they are hoping for a strong performance from Tim Torn Teutenberg, while Bahrain Victorious are putting their faith in German sprinter Phil Bauhaus.
Further down the provisional start list, we also find the names of Pascal Ackermann (Team Jayco AlUla), Fernando Gaviria (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Sam Bennett and Aimé De Gendt (Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), Jenthe Biermans (Cofidis) and Tom Crabbe (Team Flanders - Baloise). Milan Fretin (Cofidis) was set to go in search of a second consecutive victory in the Ronde van Limburg, but a fractured elbow ruled him out of the race. His team still has to name his replacement on the (provisional) start list.
