The ZLM Tour is a flat-profile stage race held in the Netherlands, traditionally suiting pure sprinters and punchy finishers who can contest bunch sprint finales. The race is classified at 2.1 level and brings together a strong mix of professional and development squads. With no climbing to shake up the GC, expect sprint trains and fast finishes to dominate.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Jonathan Milan is in a class of his own here. Back-to-back stage wins at the Tour de Pologne on flat, sprint-heavy finishes is exactly the form you want to see heading into the ZLM Tour, and his sprint ability is unmatched in this startlist.
Lidl-Trek
Lidl-Trek
Jonathan Milan is the standout favorite here, having won both stages of the Tour de Pologne recently — two flat sprint finishes against high-quality fields. He is comfortably the best sprinter in this startlist and has the strongest recent form on similar profiles.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Danny van Poppel and Jason Tesson both arrive with wins in their legs from similar-profile races and have demonstrated the consistency to challenge for stage victories. Either could push Milan hard if their teams control the final kilometres.
Red Bull - BORA
Red Bull - BORA
Danny van Poppel brings a win at stage 5 of the Sibiu Cycling Tour and three top-5 finishes in similar-profile races, making him a genuine podium threat. He is one of the most experienced and capable sprinters in this field outside of Milan.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Jason Tesson has been in excellent flat-race form, taking a win at stage 2 of the Tour Poitou-Charentes and racking up five top-10 finishes in similar races recently. His consistency across a large number of flat-race starts makes him a strong contender.
★★
Dark Horses
Max Walscheid, Gerben Thijssen, and Mathias Vacek are credible dark horses who have posted recent top-5 results in flat races. They lack Milan's firepower in a head-to-head sprint but could benefit from tactical racing or a disrupted finale.
Alpecin-Premier Tech
Alpecin-Premier Tech
Gerben Thijssen cracked a top-5 in similar-profile races recently and has solid sprint credentials for this flat race. He could sneak onto the podium if the bigger names are neutralised in the finale.
Lidl-Trek
Lidl-Trek
Mathias Vacek has demonstrated versatility and punched into the top-5 in a similar-profile race recently, with his well-rounded stats giving him options in a bunch sprint or a harder finish. He is a player to watch across the full GC.
Lidl-Trek
Lidl-Trek
Max Walscheid posted a top-3 and three top-10s in similar-profile races recently, showing reliable form in sprint finishes. He is a powerful finisher and a legitimate dark horse if the top favourites cancel each other out.
★
Ones to Watch
Anthony Turgis, Nils Eekhoff, Lionel Taminiaux, and Simon Dehairs all have recent top-10 form in similar races and enough sprint ability to sneak into the points. They are worth monitoring across the stages but will likely need something to go wrong ahead of them to truly contend.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Anthony Turgis has been a consistent presence in similar races with six top-10 finishes recently, even if wins have eluded him. He profiles as an outsider who could capitalise on a chaotic finale.
Lotto Intermarché
Lotto Intermarché
Lionel Taminiaux has registered a top-10 in a similar-profile race and is a competent sprinter at this level. He could feature if the finish suits a slightly reduced bunch.
Picnic PostNL
Picnic PostNL
Nils Eekhoff brings a top-10 in a similar-profile race and is a capable sprinter with well-rounded attributes for flat racing. He is one to watch if the bunch comes together late.
Alpecin-Premier Tech
Alpecin-Premier Tech
Simon Dehairs landed a top-10 in a similar-profile race and is a young sprinter with enough punch to trouble the field on his day. Worth monitoring as an outsider across the GC stages.
Verdict
Jonathan Milan is the clear favourite, entering on the back of two consecutive stage wins at the Tour de Pologne and boasting the best sprint credentials in the field by a clear margin. Danny van Poppel and Jason Tesson are the most credible challengers, both carrying recent wins and consistent top results in similar finishes.