Five riders for your Dwars door Vlaanderen fantasy team

Our selections are based on our partner Cycling Fantasy, where players have a 5,000 credit budget to build a nine-rider team.

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Per Strand Hagenes has taken a clear step forward in 2026 with Visma | Lease a Bike. The young Norwegian has been a consistent presence throughout the Belgian Classics, highlighted by a second place at the E3 Saxo Classic. He was part of the select group that briefly threatened Mathieu van der Poel before the race slipped away, eventually winning the sprint behind the Dutchman. It was a result that stood out not just for the podium, but for the names he beat, including Florian Vermeersch and Jonas Abrahamsen.

Strand Hagenes has also shown intent beyond results. At the Grand Prix Denain he launched an attack from over 40 kilometres out, underlining both his confidence and willingness to race aggressively.

Dwars door Vlaanderen has been a race where Visma has previously backed emerging riders to strong results. Matteo Jorgenson delivered one of those moments in 2024, winning after a decisive solo effort in a chaotic edition.

Given his current form and upward trajectory, Strand Hagenes looks like one of the standout value picks for Dwars door Vlaanderen. At 200 credits, he stands out as a potential bargain for fantasy teams.

Tibor Del Grosso, like Per Strand Hagenes, has the potential to contend for a podium depending on how the race unfolds. At just 22, the Dutchman is already building an impressive profile, even if a first WorldTour victory still eludes him.

His sixth place at the 2025 edition of Dwars door Vlaanderen underlined that he is well suited to this race, showing he can stay close to the decisive moves. It is less a question of if than when that breakthrough win arrives, and 2026 could well be the year.

At 200 credits, Del Grosso represents another strong value pick for fantasy teams. Tactically, he is expected to play a role similar to that of his compatriot and teammate Mathieu van der Poel in Gent-Wevelgem, with Jasper Philipsen also set to lead the line.

We stick with the same theme here, targeting 200 credit riders where the real difference can be made. Max Walscheid fits that profile perfectly. The German is known for his powerful engine and has the tools to shape a race from distance, whether by launching a long range move, anticipating attacks, or making the most of an early breakaway.

At 32, his standout results date back a few seasons, but that is often the nature of riders in this price bracket. What keeps Walscheid interesting is his suitability for this type of race, one that rewards strength, resilience and a willingness to take initiative. As a result, he remains a calculated gamble who could offer strong value if the race opens up.

Florian Vermeersch has been one of the standout performers of the 2026 season so far, even if a victory has narrowly eluded him. His Classics campaign has been consistently strong, with his ride at the E3 Saxo Classic particularly eye-catching. After a mechanical at a crucial point before the Taaienberg, he fought his way back through the peloton to rejoin the race at the front.

If Vermeersch carries that level into this race, he should be considered among the leading contenders, even with several top sprinters on the start list. In a scenario where the race is decided from distance, he stands out as one of the most likely riders to make it stick.

For just 200 credits, you cannot go wrong picking up Vermeersch.

Tobias Lund Andresen costs 800 credits, and he is well worth it to be the leader in your team. Lund Andresen is well supported by a strong Decathlon CMA CGM squad, who will look to control things for a sprint finish. If that is the case, then Lund Andresen is bound to be right up there in the mix as the Dane has displayed his sprint pedigree numerous times already over the course of the 2026 season. 

The Decathlon performance in Gent-Wevelgem was perhaps the most impressive as the team really dug deep to try and tee up their rider, Lund Andresen, who went on to narrowly miss out on the victory, finishing second behind Jasper Philipsen.