2026 Ronde van Brugge preview - An epic echelons edition coming up?

The last time the race was shaped by echelons came in 2023, when Jasper Philipsen won from a four-man group ahead of Olav Kooij and Yves Lampaert. Sam Welsford, in 18th, finished 3:49 down, while only 72 riders reached the finish.

Last year, the race was marked by a crash-filled final. Juan Sebastian Molano won the race after being one of the only riders staying upright. The Colombian put in a late attack with 500m to go and won the race ahead of Jonathan Milan and Madis Mihkels.

Previous winners on this year’s start list include: Jasper Philipsen, Dylan Groenewegen, Luke Durbridge, Juan Sebastián Molano, and Yves Lampaert.

Key information:

• Date - Friday, March 25
• Distance - 202.9km
• Start location - Brugge
• Finish location - Brugge
• Start time - 13:00 CET
• Finish time - 17:30 CET

This year’s edition features a revised parcours aimed at avoiding a repeat of last year’s crash-filled finale. The route now remains largely around Brugge, effectively transforming the race into a local circuit rather than the traditional Brugge-De Panne format.

As a result, De Moeren has been removed from the course. Even so, there are still plenty of exposed sections where crosswinds can split the race.

The forecast points to around 35 km/h of wind, combined with heavy rain, conditions that are likely to make for a demanding and selective race. Despite the absence of De Moeren, the parcours remains well suited to echelons.

The finish is located on a long, straight road, offering a safer and more controlled run-in should a reduced group sprint decide the outcome, in contrast to last year’s chaotic finale.

As noted, crosswinds are expected, with winds of around 35 km/h from the west north west. That raises the likelihood of echelons forming from the very start.

Several early sections of the course are fully exposed, as seen in the pictures below, creating ideal conditions for splits, particularly with a crosswind coming from the right. Positioning will be crucial from the outset, with riders at risk of being distanced before the race has properly settled.

From there, the peloton heads towards the local laps. While there is a possibility of regrouping before that point, it is not something teams will want to rely on. Making the front group early is likely to be decisive.

The riders will complete three local laps, each featuring exposed sections that are well-suited to crosswinds. One particular stretch stands out as a key point where splits are likely, and it will be tackled three times, most notably between 18 and 14 kilometres from the finish.

While echelons can form on several parts of the course, these sections offer the most consistent opportunity to break the race apart.

All signs point towards a demanding and selective race. Pure sprinters will find it difficult to survive in the front group over more than four hours of racing, with the conditions likely to favour the stronger classics specialists.

Few riders are as well suited to these conditions as Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech), as he showed in 2023. Among the sprinters, he combines one of the strongest engines with the ability to handle the toughest races, including Paris-Roubaix. His positioning is consistently among the best in the peloton, a crucial asset in crosswind racing. He starts as the rider to beat.

A strong option for Soudal Quick-Step is Laurenz Rex, who is tailor made for this type of race. After a heavy crash at the AlUla Tour, where he fractured three spinous processes, he has returned to impressive form. His endurance, combined with a reliable sprint after a hard race and strong positioning, makes him a serious contender for the podium.

Ineos Grenadiers also have a solid card to play in Samuel Watson, who tends to excel in demanding weather conditions. He is supported by Ben Turner, forming a well balanced duo capable of influencing the race in the wind.

Despite a difficult start to the season, Lidl -Trek arrives with a strong collective built around Jakob Söderqvist and Max Walscheid. Both combine power with a solid sprint after a hard race, making them well-suited to these conditions. If the team can find momentum, they have the depth to play a significant role.

For Decathlon CMA CGM, Cees Bol stands out as the main option. He has the versatility to survive in crosswinds while still offering a strong finish, making him a natural fit for this type of race. However, he isn't the only strong card Decathlon could play. They have a very strong team overall, with Gudmestad, who loves these conditions, looking like the other big option for them.

XDS Astana line up with a balanced pairing in Davide Ballerini and Yevgeniy Fedorov, both capable of handling demanding conditions. While Fedorov brings strength and resilience, Ballerini adds a fast finish, particularly after a selective race.

At EF Education-EasyPost, Luke Lamperti has shown he can handle these conditions. His move to the team appears to be paying off, with the American enjoying his strongest spring to date. A run without injury setbacks, particularly after previous knee issues, has played a key role in that progression. They also have Madis Mihkels here, who loves these conditions. He finished 3rd here last year; maybe he can do even better this year.

These conditions should also suit Florian Vermeersch (UAE Team Emirates -XRG), whose performance in Paris-Roubaix 2021 remains a clear reference point. He is likely to be among the riders animating the race. In the event of a reduced sprint, UAE can turn to Juan Sebastián Molano as a finishing option.

Uno-X Mobility arrives with one of the most complete line-ups for this type of race. Søren Wærenskjold, Erlend Blikra, and Stian Fredheim all offer winning options, while the supporting cast adds further depth. It is a team well-equipped to shape the race in crosswinds.

At Team Picnic PostNL, Pavel Bittner continues to develop into a rider capable of handling demanding conditions. This race will likely test his limits, but it also presents an opportunity to deliver a result, particularly with the team still searching for its first win in several months.

Another rider well suited to these conditions is Luca Mozzato (Tudor Pro Cycling Team). His second place at the Tour of Flanders in 2024, in particularly difficult weather, underlines his ability to perform in demanding races. He also retains a strong sprint after a selective race, making him a serious contender.

Riders such as Iván García Cortina, Žak Eržen, Alexis Renard, Cédric Beullens, Joshua Giddings, and Robert Donaldson are also well equipped to handle these conditions and could play a role if the race splits early.

For the pure sprinters, the priority will be survival. Dylan Groenewegen, Phil Bauhaus, Milan Fretin, Matteo Milan, Tim Torn Teutenberg, Sam Welsford, Warre Vangheluwe, Stefan De Schuyteneer, Hugo Hofstetter, Jenthe Biermans, Tom Crabbe and Emilien Jeannière will first need to make it through the crosswinds before thinking about the finish.