Tour of Flanders 2026 is the race that defines the Classics season. De Ronde — as the Belgians simply call it — takes place on Sunday 5 April and is the most watched, most loved and most searched cycling race of the spring. If you only watch one Classic this year, make it this one.
The Route
The 110th edition starts in Antwerp and covers 271 kilometres to the finish in Oudenaarde. The route winds through the Flemish Ardennes, climbing sixteen short, steep cobbled climbs called hellingen and six flat cobbled sectors before the decisive finale.
The Koppenberg — a brutal 600-metre climb with gradients reaching 22% — comes 45km from the finish and is often where the race begins to fracture. But the real action happens in the final 15km, where the Oude Kwaremont and the Paterberg appear in quick succession. These two climbs, ridden back to back at the end of nearly six hours of racing, are where Flanders is won and lost every single year.
The Oude Kwaremont is 2.2km long at an average of 4% but with a brutal cobbled middle section. The Paterberg follows immediately — just 380 metres but with gradients of up to 20%. By the time riders hit the Paterberg their legs are already destroyed. Only the very best survive.
The Defending Champion
Tadej Pogačar won last year’s edition in dominant fashion, using the Oude Kwaremont to whittle down the lead group before dropping everyone on the third ascent of the climb. It was his second Flanders title. He arrives in 2026 in the form of his life — having already won Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo this season. He is the overwhelming favourite.
Who to Watch
Tadej Pogačar arrives having won two Monuments already this spring and looking completely untouchable. He has won four of the five spring Monuments and is chasing an unprecedented hat-trick of Flanders victories. His attacking style — repeated accelerations on the climbs that nobody can match — is perfectly suited to these roads.
Mathieu van der Poel is the three-time winner who wants his fourth Ronde title more than anything. A fourth victory would make him the sole record holder — breaking a tie he currently shares with Tom Boonen, Fabian Cancellara and others. He has been in excellent form all spring and the Kwaremont-Paterberg finale is built for his explosive style. This is his biggest target of the season.
Wout van Aert has never won De Ronde but has come close. He showed tremendous fighting spirit at Milan-San Remo, crashing before the Cipressa, chasing back, and still launching a late attack for third place. That form on the cobbles bodes well. A Flanders win would be the biggest of his career.
Mads Pedersen is the dark horse. The Danish powerhouse won the 2019 World Championship on roads very similar to these and has been on the podium at Flanders before. He is strong enough to follow on the climbs and fast enough to win any sprint. If the big names cancel each other out, Pedersen will be there.
Tom Pidcock showed at Milan-San Remo that he can match Pogačar climb for climb. The Briton has never ridden Flanders before but his profile suits it perfectly — explosive on short steep climbs and one of the best descenders in the world. A genuine wildcard.
The Big Question
Can anyone stop Pogačar? That is genuinely the only question that matters. He has won every major race he has started this spring. Van der Poel is the one rider who has historically been able to match him on these roads — and with a solo record on the line, he will be more motivated than ever.
If these two go head to head on the Paterberg with 15km to go, it could be one of the greatest finishes Flanders has ever seen.
Race Details
Date: Sunday 5 April 2026
Start: Antwerp — 10:00 CET
Finish: Oudenaarde — approximately 16:20 CET
Distance: 271km