2026-04-05T08:15:33+02:00 Laminas_Feed_Writer https://www.domestiquecycling.com Editorial team team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en

2026-04-05T07:15:00+02:00 2026-04-05T08:09:07+02:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/how-to-watch-the-2026-tour-of-flanders-streaming-and-tv-by-country/ Dieter Loos team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/dieter-loos/ The 2026 Tour of Flanders edition takes place on Sunday, April 5, with the race starting at 10:20 CET and approximately finishing around 16:20 CET. Follow all the action via our live report ! TNT Sports and HBO Max are where you can find the action for the Tour of Flanders in the UK. For TNT Sports subscribers, you can find the action on one of the designated channels or by pressing the red button. HBO Max serves as the streaming platform for online viewers in the UK, with a current plan available at £30.99 a month. For both viewers in Canada and the US, the race will be shown live on FloBikes, with a monthly subscription costing $39.99 a month or $203.88 for a 12-month plan. European viewers can access live coverage of the Tour of Flanders by checking their local broadcaster in the list below, or via Eurosport, available on Discovery+ or HBO Max, depending on their country. In Australia, the race is available on SBS and FloBikes. In Latin America, you can watch the race on ESPN. In Asia, you can watch the race on MAX/Discovery+ and Eurosport 1 International In Africa, the race is available on SuperSport. Most streaming platforms are geo-restricted, meaning access depends on your location. If the 2026 Tour of Flanders isn’t available in your country, you can use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to change your virtual location and access the services you normally use at home. Availability may still vary depending on local broadcasting rights. We’ve got two great deals for you, and by claiming them, you help us keep our content free. 👉 ExpressVPN: Get 61% off a 2-year plan, plus 4 extra months free. 👉 Surfshark : Save up to 87% on your first 27 months of VPN.

2026-04-04T19:00:00+02:00 2026-04-04T17:46:47+02:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/2026-itzulia-basque-country-start-list-the-next-generation-versus-primoz-roglic/ Dieter Loos team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/dieter-loos/ In total, there are 22 teams on the provisional start list, each fielding 7 riders, resulting in a total peloton of 168 riders. 16 of the 18 WorldTour teams feature, alongside six ProTeams. The six ProTeams are Burgos Burpellet BH, Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, Cofidis, Equipo Kern Pharma, Euskaltel-Euskadi, and Tudor Pro Cycling Team. Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM Team), Juan Ayuso (Lidl-Trek), Primož Roglič (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) and Isaac del Toro (UAE Emirates-XRG) are just some of the big names starting here.

2026-04-04T13:00:00+02:00 2026-04-04T13:23:49+02:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/features/the-five-greatest-tours-of-flanders-of-the-last-decade/ Dieter Loos team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/dieter-loos/ Ethan Lessiter team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/ethan-lessiter/ The 2020 Tour of Flanders was unlike any other. Moved from its traditional April slot to October because of the pandemic, the race was shortened to 243 kilometres and held without spectators. Despite the unusual circumstances, it produced one of the greatest finales in the race's history. Alaphilippe, having become World Champion three weeks before the race, was really strong on the bergs. With 45 km to go, on the Koppenberg, he put in the first big dig. Everything got back together after the hill, but moves like this really put the legs in a fatigued state. We could see that directly on the hill after the Steenbeekdries. Alaphilippe again put on a high tempo, and afterwards kept pushing on the downhill cobbles. One rider could follow this fierce acceleration: Van der Poel. Behind them, one rider tried to bridge across: Wout van Aert. He had to work hard but made a connection with the two on the Taaienberg with a very impressive effort. The three pre-race favourites were alone together at the front of the race. It was a dream scenario. Then disaster struck. Van Aert had been drafting behind a race motorcycle. When the moto slowed, Van Aert pulled out to pass it. Van der Poel reacted in time. Alaphilippe, third in line, did not. The Frenchman hit the back of the motorbike at full speed and was thrown over his handlebars. His race was over instantly. Van der Poel and Van Aert briefly looked back, then pressed on. The pair collaborated well over the remaining climbs, sharing the workload as their lead grew to over a minute. Neither made a serious attempt to drop the other. Both knew it would come down to a sprint. Van der Poel led into the final straight and refused to swing off, forcing Van Aert to come around him. The Belgian, the better pure sprinter, launched at around 200 metres, but couldn't quite get level. The photo finish showed Van der Poel had won by the width of a tyre. The 2023 Ronde was billed as the latest instalment of the Big Three rivalry: Pogačar, Van der Poel and Wout van Aert. All three were in peak form, and around 750,000 spectators lined the route. They got the race they were hoping for. The opening 100 kilometres were frantic. A reckless move from Bahrain Victorious rider Filip Maciejuk caused a massive crash, taking down roughly 40 riders and leaving Van der Poel temporarily stranded in a chasing group. He eventually made it back, but the effort cost energy. Meanwhile, a dangerous group of ten riders had slipped away and built a three-minute advantage, threatening to steal the race entirely. Pogačar's UAE team took control. On the second ascent of the Oude Kwaremont with 55 kilometres to go, the Slovenian launched an acceleration so fierce that nobody could even consider following. In a single effort, he slashed the break's lead from three minutes to under two. Van der Poel, Van Aert, Pidcock and Laporte formed a desperate chase group 15 seconds behind. The Big Three finally came together on the Koppenberg. Only Van der Poel and Van Aert could follow Pogačar's tempo. Then came the Kruisberg, where Van der Poel surged hard. Van Aert cracked. From three, they became two. On the final ascent of the Oude Kwaremont, Pogačar attacked one last time. Van der Poel had no answer. The Slovenian caught and dropped Mads Pedersen, who had been riding ahead, and soloed to the line 16 seconds clear. Van der Poel chased hard but couldn't close the gap. Pedersen outsprinted Van Aert for third. With 92km to go, a select group already got away on the Muur. Not necessarily the strongest riders, but the ones who were positioned the best. In the group were big names, with Stuyven, Vanmarcke, Gilbert, and Boonen. With 55 km to go, on the second ascent of the Oude Kwaremont, Gilbert already rode everyone off his wheel. The Belgian didn't hesitate and would start with what would be a very long solo ride. An advantage for him was that in the group behind, the Quick-Step riders jumped on everything that moved. On the last Kwaremont, with 17km to go, Sagan put on a fierce pace. Only Van Avermaet and Naesen could follow, with Van Baarle closely behind. However, the three crashed due to a jacket hanging over the barrier. This likely made the difference for Gilbert to win the race. In the run-in to the second Oude Kwaremont, Van der Poel took too many risks and rode through a planter. Due to this, his front wheel broke. He then rode through a hole in the road and, like that, crashed. It looked like he would abandon, but luckily could continue. He had lost a lot of time, though. However, he seemed to have very great legs and overtook everything and everyone. On the Koppenberg, he made a connection with the first group again. On the last ascent of the Oude Kwaremont, Alberto Bettiol attacked; nobody could follow. Van der Poel later stated that he didn't see him attack, otherwise he would've followed him. The cooperation in group two wasn't good, as the group was pretty big, so Bettiol stayed away and won the race. In the last kilometers, Asgreen rode away for 2nd place. Kristoff won the sprint from the group behind, as he did so many times in this race, for the 3rd place. Van der Poel ended 4th, after his super impressive race. On the second Oude Kwaremont of the day, Kasper Asgreen and Mathieu van der Poel put in the first real dig. They actually already dropped everyone and were in the lead as a pair for a brief moment. However, Wout van Aert quickly brought them back. On the Paterberg, the same two again proved to be the strongest, but Van Aert brought them back again. On the Koppenberg, Asgreen was really struggling, but he made it back to the group. Right after, on the Taaienberg, it was he himself who put in a huge effort and rode the group into shreds. On the Oude Kruisberg, nothing really happened, but right after, Asgreen attacked. He got Van Aert and Van der Poel with him. Then, the Kwaremont followed. The Dutchman put in a very fierce attack towards the top; nobody could follow him. However, Asgreen made it back with his time trial capabilities; Van Aert couldn't. Towards the Paterberg, Van Aert was getting closer, but he then completely exploded, and the two were gone. The Tour of Flanders would be decided in a two-up sprint. Van der Poel put out 1266 watts for 10", but that wasn't enough to beat the Dane, who won beautifully.

2026-04-04T07:00:00+02:00 2026-04-04T10:51:27+02:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/features/five-riders-to-watch-at-the-2026-tour-of-flanders/ Dieter Loos team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/dieter-loos/ Michael Valgren suffered from a horror crash in the 2022 Route d'Occitanie, breaking his pelvis and rupturing about every ligament in his left leg. Afterward, he, of course, had to recover for a long time. To give him time, he was placed in the development team of EF for one year in 2023. In that year, you could see him recovering and growing towards his old self again, with his results getting better as the year progressed. In 2024, we first saw a glimpse of the old Valgren again. In Dwars door Vlaanderen, he made the elite group and gave a very good impression. Unfortunately, he got dropped on a flat cobbled section close to the finish, as this doesn't suit him, but it was a big step in the right direction. A bit over a month later, he just missed out on a Giro d'Italia stage win, finishing second behind Benjamin Thomas. Exactly a week after that, he grabbed an impressive 4th in a very tough stage. He was on the right track. Onwards to 2025, Valgren became 8th in the Strade Bianche, on the very tough new parcours. However, three days later, Valgren crashed in the Tirreno and broke his collarbone; spring classics campaign over. Fast forward to 2026. Again, he proved himself in impressive shape in Strade Bianche, finishing 13th after working for teammate Ben Healy. This time, the Tirreno didn't disappoint. In the race he crashed out of last year, he won a stage in this year, a true full-circle moment. Both in Milan-Sanremo and E3, he looked very impressive too. He didn't get a very close result as he doesn't have the best sprint, but he looked very strong on the hills. And let that exactly be what the Tour of Flanders has: a lot of hills. In his super 2018 year, where he won both the Omloop het Nieuwsblad and the Amstel Gold Race, he finished 4th in the Tour of Flanders. On other occasions, he also showed that he has a huge engine, look at the 2021 World Championships in Leuven, for example. He is one of those rare riders who performs the better the harder the race is. Could this edition of the Tour of Flanders be the race where he shows himself to be fully back, by getting a nice result in a race of monument length? It seems like it could be, let's hope he pulls it off. Romain Grégoire is an interesting name on the startlist this year. The young puncheur wants to further develop his abilities and thus added a Flemish classics campaign to his calendar besides the Ardennes classics, which he'll also ride. He has proved himself as a puncheur numerous times, so it'll be interesting to see what he can do in the cobbled races. He has already ridden the E3 this year, the race which is called "the mini Tour of Flanders", where he looked impressive on the climbs. A very important art to master to be able to perform in Flanders is positioning. The young Frenchman seems to be able to do that pretty well, so that definitely is an advantage. He has struggled with the toughness of monument-length races in the past. However, with his 4th place in the Strade Bianche this year, he seems to be making steps also in that aspect. Obviously, the Italian gravel race isn't 250+ km, but if it comes down to how tough the race is, with its super-long final, this definitely is a benchmark. So, what is to be expected from him for the Tour of Flanders? He looks like he has it in him to perform here, but it definitely isn't a certainty. It's his debut in this race, which is 280 km of pure chaos. Not many manage to perform here on their debut. The best recent debut performance is that of Antonio Morgado, finishing 5th in 2024. Magnus Sheffield already proved that he can perform here, finishing 6th in 2024. However, the young American struggles with consistency. Last year, when he won the last stage of Paris-Nice, he talked about how tough it is to be a pro cyclist in his interview. This year, he seems to be doing really well. He opened up his season really nicely with a 6th in the general classification of the Volta Comunitat Valenciana. In the Omloop, he crashed, so that result doesn't say too much about his shape. In the Tirreno-Adriatico, he finished in a nice 8th place in the general classification. In E3, he made the group sprint for 6th place, showing good form on the climbs. It would be good for his confidence if he could also get a nice result in the Tour of Flanders. A top-ten finish is a nice result for him to aim for. Toon Aerts is a very intriguing rider on the startlist. He actually is one of the best cyclocross riders in the world, who now wants to explore the world of road cycling. He actually got some nice results on the road already when he was still a full-time cyclocross rider, for example, a 4th in the general classification of the Baloise Belgium Tour, a top ten in Dwars door het Hageland, and so on. Now, he has the support of a WorldTour team. Last year, he already rode for Lotto Intermarché from May onwards. He did very well racing for his own result in races like the Baloise Belgium Tour and the Tour de Wallonie, but also in support of, for example, Arnaud De Lie, in the Renewi Tour. This year, he has also been really impressive already. After a short break after the cyclocross season, he started training again. He opened his season in the GP Denain, directly in a really nice shape. He further proved that in Volta a Catalunya, which isn't evident, as that is a WorldTour-level race. Having that race in the legs is perfect with the eye on the Tour of Flanders, exactly a week to recover and find compensation in the legs. Aerts, as a cyclocross rider, can also position himself really well. There is a good chance that he'll be the first rider of the Belgian team in the result of the Tour of Flanders Dylan Teuns has some really nice results in his name in the Tour of Flanders. In 2020, he finished 11th in the group behind Van der Poel and Van Aert. In 2022, he finished in a very impressive 6th place, just two seconds behind the winner Van der Poel. In 2024, he finished 8th, after getting caught in the final meters of the race, he would've been second. A very impressive track record. And if he keeps the streak of performing in even years going, that's a nice sign with the eye on Sunday. He easily is the best card to play here for Cofidis; it'll be interesting to see what the Belgian can do.

2026-04-03T20:30:00+02:00 2026-04-03T20:22:40+02:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/how-to-watch-itzulia-basque-country-2026-streaming-and-tv-by-country/ Dieter Loos team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/dieter-loos/ TNT Sports and HBO Max are where you can find the action for Itzulia Basque Country in the UK. For TNT Sports subscribers, you can find the action on one of the designated channels or by pressing the red button. HBO Max serves as the streaming platform for online viewers in the UK, with a current plan available at £30.99 a month. For both viewers in Canada and the US, the race will be shown live on FloBikes, with a monthly subscription costing $39.99 a month or $203.88 for a 12-month plan. European viewers can access live coverage of Itzulia Basque Country by checking their local broadcaster, or via Eurosport, available on Discovery+ or HBO Max, depending on their country. Most streaming platforms are geo-restricted, meaning access depends on your location. If the 2026 Itzulia Basque Country isn’t available in your country, you can use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to change your virtual location and access the services you normally use at home. Availability may still vary depending on local broadcasting rights. We’ve got two great deals for you, and by claiming them, you help us keep our content free. 👉 ExpressVPN: Get 61% off a 2-year plan, plus 4 extra months free. 👉 Surfshark : Save up to 87% on your first 27 months of VPN.

2026-04-03T11:30:00+02:00 2026-04-04T13:21:42+02:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/features/remco-evenepoel-debuts-at-the-tour-of-flanders-but-how-do-debutants-perform-there/ Dieter Loos team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/dieter-loos/ In 2024, António Morgado made his debut at just 20 years old in brutal conditions. It was a cold and rain soaked edition, with even winner Mathieu van der Poel finishing completely exhausted. Morgado, not known for elite positioning, stayed relatively quiet early on. But as the race intensified, he steadily moved forward. On the final ascent of the Paterberg, he delivered an eye catching effort and still had enough left to contest the sprint for second place, eventually finishing fifth. A remarkable debut. In 2023, Neilson Powless tackled the Flemish classics for the first time. Just days earlier, he had already finished on the podium at Dwars door Vlaanderen, a race he would go on to win three years later. Powless had long demonstrated his engine and endurance, with victories such as the Clásica San Sebastián and a strong fifth place at the World Championships in 2021. He translated that form into his Tour of Flanders debut, climbing strongly on the final Paterberg and finishing fifth after a demanding race. That same year, Matteo Jorgenson also impressed on debut. It was his first campaign in the Flemish classics, and prior to that, his one day race credentials were still developing. However, a fourth place at E3 Saxo Classic nine days earlier hinted at his potential. In Flanders, he made the decisive group behind Tadej Pogačar and Mathieu van der Poel. Lacking a top sprint, he finished ninth, but the performance itself marked a breakthrough. It is no surprise to find Tadej Pogačar on this list. In 2022, he debuted in the race and immediately competed for victory. He rode into Oudenaarde alongside Mathieu van der Poel. However, the duo let Van Baarle and Madouas come back in the final straight. Pogačar was trapped in the sprint and, due to that, missed the podium. The wonderkid was furious, but it was his own fault. A year later, he returned and won. In 2019, Kasper Asgreen made his debut in the Tour of Flanders. The year before, he joined Deceuninck - Quick Step on April 1 and immediately rode his first Grand Tour at the Vuelta a España, an early indication of what was to come. He did not start Flanders as a team leader, but purely as a domestique. Asgreen spent much of the early race on the front, attacking and anticipating moves, and consistently managing to stay in contention, highlighting his enormous engine. In the finale, he was still part of the group fighting for second place. With a late attack in the final kilometres, he rode solo to a strong second place. It proved a clear reference point, as the Dane would go on to win the race two years later. Mathieu van der Poel also made his debut in 2019, in dramatic fashion. Approaching the second Oude Kwaremont, he crashed heavily. For a moment, it looked as though his race was over, but he remounted and began chasing. He moved through the field, jumping from group to group, and eventually made it back to the front group with a huge effort. On the Kwaremont, Alberto Bettiol made the decisive move and went on to win. Van der Poel later admitted he had not seen the attack and believed he could have followed it. He produced another major effort on the Paterberg, but a lack of cooperation in the group prevented them from closing the gap. In the sprint for third, he was beaten by Alexander Kristoff, finishing just off the podium despite arguably being the strongest rider in the race. In 2019, Alejandro Valverde also lined up for his first Tour of Flanders, seeking a new challenge after already winning almost everything in the sport. Known as a puncheur and climber, he adapted impressively to the cobbled bergs, delivering a strong performance to finish eighth. Despite the promising debut, he would not return to the race. Mads Pedersen made his debut in 2018. Just four days earlier, he had already finished fifth at Dwars door Vlaanderen, showing his progression. He joined an early breakaway and spent the entire day on the attack, simply surviving the effort, a clear demonstration of his engine. On the final Kwaremont, riding alongside Sep Vanmarcke Langeveld and Dylan van Baarle, he was caught by a solo move from Niki Terpstra. Pedersen could not quite follow Terpstra, but still had enough left to hold off the chasers and secure second place. An exceptional performance after expending energy all day. Wout van Aert also debuted in 2018, at the time still primarily focused on cyclocross. That spring, he had already shown his potential on the road with a third place at Strade Bianche. However, the longer distance and accumulated fatigue proved decisive. He fought through the race and over the climbs, but lacked the legs for the sprint, finishing ninth. In 2015, Tiesj Benoot made an immediate impact on debut, finishing fifth. Earlier that season, he had already shown his strength with a sixth place at Dwars door Vlaanderen in his first professional year. Despite the greater distance and difficulty of the Tour of Flanders, Benoot handled it with ease. He animated the finale with an attack in the closing kilometres, underlining the quality of his ride. What does this mean for Remco Evenepoel? The examples above show that riders with a punchy profile or strong climbing ability can immediately perform in the Tour of Flanders. In recent years, the race has increasingly favoured riders who can handle repeated steep efforts, which suits Evenepoel’s characteristics. Distance is unlikely to be an issue. For many riders on this list, their debut was also one of their first Monument length races. That is not the case for Evenepoel, who has already won Liège-Bastogne-Liège twice, as well as the World Championships and the Olympic road race. So the key question is not whether he can handle the race, but how competitive he can be on debut.

2026-04-02T12:50:00+02:00 2026-04-02T16:11:15+02:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/features/why-unleashing-remco-evenepoel-in-the-tour-of-flanders-makes-total-sense/ Dieter Loos team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/dieter-loos/ Since his blockbuster transfer last year, the Tour de France has sat at the centre of everything. In the weeks leading up to his 2026 programme announcement, Evenepoel outlined two options. Plan A focused on “La Grande Boucle” with a selection of Classics, briefly raising hopes of appearances at Milan Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders. Plan B was a Giro and Tour double. He ultimately chose Plan A, albeit in a more stripped back form than many expected, with only the Ardennes Classics included. That decision was deliberate. “It’s a new team and a new environment for me, so this year we should try to get through a normal season. Last year I missed five or six months because of a crash, so this year I just want a normal season without problems,” Evenepoel explained, referring to his relatively light programme. After the crash at the Volta a Catalunya, there was even more reason for caution. Klaas Lodewyck admitted the impact was significant, while Ralph Denk pointed to the physical toll. The approach remained unchanged: stay on track, avoid unnecessary risks and build towards July. But in the space of 48 hours, that approach shifted. What once appeared to be a firm decision has now been reversed, with the Olympic champion set to line up in Antwerp on Sunday. And whether it was part of the original plan or not, the case for Evenepoel riding the Ronde is now clear. First of all, he wants to. And that should count for something. For a Belgian, the Tour of Flanders is something different. From his perspective, it is the biggest one day race he has not won, and one of the few that still sits outside his palmarès. It is no coincidence that Wout van Aert has made it a central goal of his career to win it. Evenepoel might even have a stronger chance to become the first Belgian since Philippe Gilbert (2017) to win it. The race is evolving towards efforts that favour lighter riders. Explosivity is still required, but that is something he has developed more and more in recent seasons. The timing makes it even more interesting. His start to the season was strong with wins early on, but the UAE Tour did not go as planned. Then came the altitude camp, a clear step forward in form, followed by the crash in Catalunya just as he was building toward something better. He showed glimpses, but never really got to express his level. With Evenepoel, that usually leads to hunger, not restraint That also ties into the main concern that has followed him for years: positioning. It used to be the biggest argument against him in races like this, but that is slowly changing. He is improving, and at the same time, the race itself is evolving. The Tour of Flanders is now less about one decisive moment and more about sustained pressure over time. That makes positioning slightly less decisive than in races like Omloop Het Nieuwsblad or E3 Saxo Classic, where narrow climbs such as the Molenberg or Taaienberg can define everything in seconds. Even without a direct reference from a Flemish classic, there are useful comparisons. In the Brabantse Pijl last year, he handled steep cobbled climbs and beat Van Aert in a two-up sprint. That effort, especially on the Moskesstraat, is not far removed from what the Ronde demands. From there, the step to the Oude Kwaremont does not feel unrealistic. If anything, the longer effort and steadier gradient should suit him even better. Where riders like Mathieu van der Poel, Van Aert and Mads Pedersen have struggled to follow Pogačar on that climb, Evenepoel might have the profile to get closer. The calendar does not really stand in the way either, which only adds to the case. Between the UAE Tour and the Volta a Catalunya, Evenepoel went on an altitude camp. So now, after Catalunya, the Belgian will just be at home, training. In other words, there's room in his calendar for him to add this race to his schedule. The fact that the Tour of Flanders takes place exactly one week after Catalunya also makes perfect sense, as he'll have some nice compensation in the legs after a very tough week in Spain. It also doesn't jeopardize the rest of his calendar, as he'll have two weeks to prepare for the Amstel Gold Race afterwards. Pogačar, although he is an exception, has proven that this combination is possible. Last year, with the addition of Paris-Roubaix to his schedule, he visibly suffered in the Amstel Gold Race. He then also skips the Dutch race this year. However, that is not an issue for the Belgian, as Paris-Roubaix definitely is out of the question. And finally, there is the team context. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe brings a strong and balanced squad to Flanders. But there is a difference between having options and having a clear leader. Without Evenepoel, the team is aiming for a good (top-10) result with riders like Vermeersch, Pithie, the Van Dijke brothers and Tratnik. With him, they are racing to win. That changes the dynamics of a team and how a race is approached, how decisions are made and how rivals will respond. None of this means the original plan was wrong. The long-term vision still matters, and building towards the Tour de France remains easy to justify. But cycling careers are not built on patience alone. They are also defined by moments when form, motivation and opportunity come together. This is one of those moments.

2026-04-01T08:20:00+02:00 2026-04-01T08:27:21+02:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/2026-dwars-door-vlaanderen-start-list-visma-arrives-in-full-force/ Dieter Loos team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/dieter-loos/ In total 25 teams will take the start, each bringing seven riders, totalling the peloton up to 175 riders. All 18 WorldTour teams are present, with seven ProTour teams lining up: Cofidis, Pinarello-Q36.5, Tudor Pro Cycling Team, Burgos Burpellet BH, Team Flanders-Baloise, TotalEnergies, and Unibet Rose Rockets. Wout van Aert lines up for Team Visma | Lease a Bike, who will be aiming to overcome last year's loss. Jasper Philipsen arrives in the race fresh off the back of winning Gent-Wevelgem and Mads Pedersen will be aiming to continue his rebuilding of form since returning from a fractured wrist at Milan-Sanremo, a little over a week ago.

2026-03-31T15:00:00+02:00 2026-03-31T17:56:58+02:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/features/beyond-the-favourites-five-riders-to-watch-at-dwars-door-vlaanderen-2026/ Dieter Loos team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/dieter-loos/ Florian Sénéchal could really surprise here, in the shadow of Philipsen and Del Grosso. The Frenchman endured a lot of bad luck the last few years, but seems to be rid of that. Now, at Alpecin-Premier Tech, he's really showing himself again. At the Ename Samyn Classic, he sprinted to a nice 8th spot. That may not look like much, but it certainly did him good after all the bad luck he's had over the last few years, giving him trust. That directly showed at the GP Denain, he was very active and coloured the race. At the end, he did a leadout for the faster Henri Uhlig. In Gent-Wevelgem, he tried to attack but didn't get away, and then did a leadout for Philipsen. The fact that he can do this in races again will give him a lot of ambition. In Dwars door Vlaanderen, it seems like he'll get the chance to race for himself with Van der Poel not starting, even though Philipsen and Del Grosso will be placed above him in the hierarchy. The way he raced in Denain and Gent-Wevelgem should also be the best option here; try to anticipate. If that doesn't work out, he can still do a leadout for Del Grosso or Philipsen later on in the race, for a place of honour, as he did in Denain. It looks unlikely that a sprint will decide this race, so it still seems like a good idea to let Sénéchal attack beforehand. It might even be interesting to get into the break. With the relatively flat last 40 km of Dwars door Vlaanderen, you can that way anticipate the hills, and get over them in the elite group. You then don't need to ride, as you can play the card that you were in the break all day. The last task that then remains is holding on until the finish to get a good result. We saw nice examples of this in the past, with Abrahamsen finishing 2nd out of the break in 2024 and De Bondt also being in that group, Lazkano finishing 2nd in 2023, and Politt ending 5th in 2022 with O'Brien also in that group. This is a race where getting in the early break really could offer you a chance. Huub Artz is a very interesting young prospect. It looks like he had a bit of bad luck at the end of February, though. He was meant to do the opening weekend and Samyn, but got taken off the startlist in all of them. Due to that, he didn't race between the Algarve and the Tirreno. However, he seems to be getting back into shape, as his race in Gent-Wevelgem looked promising. Out of all spring classics, Dwars door Vlaanderen may be the race that suits him best. Similar to Alpecin, Lotto Intermarché also doesn't have the outright favourite here, but does have two interesting cards to play with De Lie and Berckmoes, actually a pretty similar duo as Alpecin has. So, also for Artz, it looks like trying to anticipate would also be a good move. The early break could also be a nice option for Artz; he showed numerous times in the past that he has the engine for it. Thibaud Gruel is doing his first spring classics campaign this year. With his first grand tour under his belt last year, the Vuelta, he seems to have taken a step up. In E3, which is a very tough race, he very nicely ended up in the group sprint for 6th place. In Gent-Wevelgem, he was even stronger, being with the best on every ascent of the Kemmelberg. It seems like Dwars door Vlaanderen would suit him even better, as he can use his punch here better on the tarmac climbs, where it's easier to stand on the pedals. He also has a really good sprint if the race comes down to a reduced sprint. It'll be very interesting to see what the young Frenchman can do here. Rick Pluimers actually had his breakthrough at the end of 2024, finishing 4th in the very tough Geraardsbergen stage in the Renewi Tour, 5th in the GP Wallonie, and 2nd in the Super 8 Classic. He confirmed that in the spring of 2025, winning the Muscat Classic, finished 5th in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, and almost winning a Tirreno stage. Afterwards, he got his first grand tour under his belt with the Giro. Both the experience he gained in the spring classics and the fact that he did his first grand tour, should make for the fact that can take another step up. He also masters the art of positioning; he's always where he needs to be, which is really important in the Flemish classics. However, crashing in the Omloop het Nieuwsblad certainly didn't help. He started the Molenberg, the most crucial point in the race, in 2nd place behind Florian Vermeersch, but then unfortunately slid out. It looks like he didn't suffer too much from that crash, though. In the E3, he was still fighting for a nice result when he broke his chain on the Oude Kwaremont. In other words, his last races don't represent the shape he's in currently. It looks like the Tour of Flanders is too tough for him in this phase of his career, so he should be really focused on a nice result in Dwars door Vlaanderen. Sticking with the Tudor theme, and that is their Italian rider Luca Mozzato, who has been performing well across the block of Belgian racing. The 28-year-old Italian joined Tudor from the now-defunct Arkea for the 2026 season, and the signing has already brought a 2nd place at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, and top 10's in Gent-Wevelgem, Bredene Koksijde, and the Ronde van Brugge. Let's not forget that Mozzato has also been on the podium of the Tour of Flanders, when he finished second after being promoted from third place after Michael Matthews was relegated due to a sprint deviation. With the form the Italian is in, it would not be a surprise to see Mozzato swoop in and take another top five in a big one-day race.

2026-03-31T11:30:00+02:00 2026-03-31T11:53:13+02:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/how-to-watch-dwars-door-vlaanderen-2926-streaming-and-tv-by-country/ Dieter Loos team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/dieter-loos/ The 2026 Dwars door Vlaanderen edition takes place on Wednesday, April 1, with the race starting at 12:09 CET and approximately finishing around 16:10 CET. TNT Sports and HBO Max are where you can find the action for Dwars door Vlaanderen in the UK. For TNT Sports subscribers, you can find the action on one of the designated channels or by pressing the red button. HBO Max serves as the streaming platform for online viewers in the UK, with a current plan available at £30.99 a month. For both viewers in Canada and the US, the race will be shown live on FloBikes, with a monthly subscription costing $39.99 a month or $203.88 for a 12-month plan. European viewers can access live coverage of Dwars Door Vlaanderen by checking their local broadcaster in the list below, or via Eurosport, available on Discovery+ or HBO Max, depending on their country. In Australia, the race is available on FloBikes. In Latin America, you can watch the race on ESPN. In Asia, you can watch the race on MAX/Discovery+ and Eurosport 2 International. In Africa, the race is available on SuperSport. Most streaming platforms are geo-restricted, meaning access depends on your location. If Dwars door Vlaanderen 2026 isn’t available in your country, you can use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to change your virtual location and access the services you normally use at home. Availability may still vary depending on local broadcasting rights. We’ve got two great deals for you, and by claiming them, you help us keep our content free. 👉 ExpressVPN: Get 61% off a 2-year plan, plus 4 extra months free. 👉 Surfshark : Save up to 87% on your first 27 months of VPN.

2026-03-29T08:15:00+02:00 2026-03-29T08:29:54+02:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/2026-gent-wevelgem-startlist-the-top-sprinters-vs-the-best-cobble-riders/ Dieter Loos team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/dieter-loos/ In total 25 teams will take the start, each bringing seven riders, totalling the peloton up to 175 riders. All 18 WorldTour teams are present, with also seven ProTour teams lining up: Cofidis, Pinarello-Q36.5, Tudor Pro Cycling Team, Burgos Burpellet BH, Team Flanders-Baloise, TotalEnergies, and Unibet Rose Rockets. With both top sprinters and leading cobble specialists on the start list, it will be intriguing to see which type of rider comes out on top in this years edition.

2026-03-29T08:00:00+02:00 2026-03-29T16:24:50+02:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/can-mads-pedersen-complete-three-in-a-row-2026-gent-wevelgem-preview/ Ethan Lessiter team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/ethan-lessiter/ Dieter Loos team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/dieter-loos/ Twelve months ago, Mads Pedersen powered to victory with a commanding 56 kilometre solo, finishing 49 seconds ahead of a chasing group led by Tim Merlier. In recent editions, Pedersen struck again in 2024, while Christophe Laporte won in 2023 after breaking clear alongside teammate Wout van Aert. In 2022, Biniam Girmay made history as the first Black African rider to win a major Classic, with Wout van Aert and Mads Pedersen among the race’s standout winners in the early 2020s. Key information: Date - Sunday 29 March Distance - 240 km Start Location - Middelkerke Finish Location - Wevelgem Start time (CET) - 11:07 Expected finish (CET) - 16:30 Follow all the action via our live report ! A total of 240 kilometres separate Middelkerke on the Belgian North Sea coast from the finish in Wevelgem. The opening phase is completely flat, but the first real danger comes at De Moeren, just before the 80 kilometre mark. The exposed roads here have split the race countless times in the past and could do so again if the wind plays its part, as outlined in the weather forecast below. From there, the route transitions into the hill zone, beginning with the Scherpenberg, followed by the Baneberg and Monteberg, before the race reaches its defining climb, the Kemmelberg, visible from far across the surrounding fields. The ascent is short but punishing, with gradients rising above 13%t on cobbles from the Belvedere side, which is tackled twice. The final passage comes via the tougher Ossuaire side, where ramps peak at over 16.5% and often prove decisive. Before that last ascent, the peloton must navigate the Plugstreets, rough farm tracks typical of West Flanders. These uneven, cobbled sectors can disrupt rhythm and positioning, adding another layer of unpredictability. From the top of the Kemmelberg, around 35 kilometres remain to the finish. Any rider going clear will need to sustain the effort all the way to Wevelgem, as the long run in offers an opportunity for chasing groups and fast finishers to reorganise and bring the race back together. The conditions look set to favour the classics specialists. Rain is unlikely, but a steady 20 km per hour wind is expected. More important than the speed, though, is the direction. With a westerly wind, the exposed roads in De Moeren could split the race to pieces. In the final, that same wind turns into a tailwind towards Wevelgem, encouraging aggressive racing all the way to the line. Riders like Van Aert and Van der Poel will relish these conditions. The sprinters, far less so. Alpecin–Premier Tech lines up with the standout duo, Mathieu van der Poel and Jasper Philipsen . Van der Poel is expected to make the race as hard as possible. He has yet to win Gent-Wevelgem, which only adds motivation to complete his classics collection. Philipsen, meanwhile, remains a major asset. He is one of the fastest riders in the field, especially after a demanding race, and has proven increasingly difficult to drop as his endurance continues to improve. Team Visma | Lease a Bike arrives with a strong trio in Wout van Aert , Matthew Brennan and Christophe Laporte . Van Aert recently finished on the podium at Milan-San Remo despite a crash and a bike change, underlining his form. Brennan missed that race through illness, so his condition remains a question mark. If needed, Laporte provides a reliable alternative, combining strength with a fast finish. Lidl-Trek also brings a powerful classics squad despite the absence of Mads Pedersen . Mathias Vacek , Søren Kragh Andersen and Jakob Söderqvist offer depth and attacking options that could shape the race from distance. With Jonathan Milan , they also hold a serious sprint card if it comes down to a reduced group finish. Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe also brings an impressive line up. Laurence Pithie stands out as a rider to watch. In 2024, he was the last man able to follow Pedersen and Van der Poel before the sprint for victory. Now more experienced and with a stronger engine, he looks ready to take another step. After a spring last year disrupted by bad luck, he finally seems to be hitting top form again. Jordi Meeus offers another strong option. He has a clear affinity with Gent Wevelgem, although his heavy crash in GP Denain raises some doubts about his condition. The team also lines up with Mick van Dijke and Tim van Dijke , both of whom have impressed this season. Tim, however, had to abandon Paris-Nice due to illness, so his level remains uncertain. Soudal Quick-Step arrives with a squad built once more around the spring classics. Jasper Stuyven has been working his way back after a long illness before Paris-Nice and appears to be regaining form. Laurenz Rex is another rider well suited to this race and could play an important role. Paul Magnier is their main card if he makes it to the finish, with a clear task: survive the selection and sprint. Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) continues to emerge as a rider perfectly suited to races like this. The Dane showed in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne that he is developing the engine required for long, demanding classics, and this profile should play to his strengths. A similar case can be made for Madis Mihkels (EF Education-EasyPost). The Estonian, still only 22, already rides with the maturity of a seasoned professional. His performances suggest he has the endurance to thrive here, and this race could offer him a real opportunity to step up. For Filippo Ganna Ineos Grenadiers), this has never been a standout race, yet on paper it suits him well. The form he showed in E3 and during last year’s Tour of Flanders points towards a rider capable of much more in these conditions. A podium is not out of reach if things fall his way. Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling Team) returns to a race he won in 2022, though the circumstances appear less favourable this time. He would likely have preferred calmer conditions, but his experience and finishing speed should still put him in contention for a strong result. The same conditions, however, could play into the hands of Florian Vermeersch (UAE Team Emirates-XRG). This is a race closely tied to his breakthrough in 2020, and one that clearly suits his profile. If the race becomes selective, he has the tools to aim for a podium. Lotto-Intermarché lines up with an intriguing pairing in Arnaud De Lie and Jenno Berckmoes . De Lie’s spring has been quiet so far, raising questions about his form. He even skipped races he would normally target, which only adds to the uncertainty. Whether that signals an issue or a deliberate build up towards Gent-Wevelgem remains to be seen. Uno-X Mobility, meanwhile, brings options on different fronts. Søren Wærenskjold offers a fast finish, while Jonas Abrahamsen is the rider to animate the race from distance. In tough, windy conditions, that combination could prove valuable. Other interesting attacking options: Matej Mohorič, Alec Segaert, Stefan Bissegger, Kasper Asgreen, Ben Turner, Matis Louvel, Lewis Askey, Antonio Morgado, Matteo Trentin, Davide Ballerini. Other interesting (strong) sprinters: Samuel Watson, Luke Lamperti, Hugo Hofstetter, Juan Sebastián Molano, Pavel Bittner, Bastien Tronchon, Anthony Turgis, Iván Garciá Cortina, Robert Donaldson.

2026-03-28T20:30:00+01:00 2026-03-28T16:36:23+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/features/the-five-best-editions-of-gent-wevelgem-in-the-21st-century/ Dieter Loos team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/dieter-loos/ This is maybe the most epic edition of Gent-Wevelgem ever. You could even say it was over the top. Riders had to sit sideways on their bikes due to the immense crosswinds, while others were literally blown off the road. Nowadays, the race would most likely not have gone ahead under current protocols. Maarten Tjallingii seemingly did not feel the wind and went solo, reaching the Kemmelberg first. Jurgen Roelandts bridged across to him, forming a leading duo. A couple of kilometres later, Roelandts dropped Tjallingii and continued alone. Behind him, Stijn Vandenbergh attacked, bringing Sep Vanmarcke, Geraint Thomas, Daniel Oss and Jens Debusschere with him. Luca Paolini then bridged solo to the group with an incredible effort. Not long after, Thomas was blown off his bike into a ditch, but managed to fight his way back. Just after that, Niki Terpstra also made his way to the chasing group. The solo Roelandts and the seven riders behind him would fight for victory, with the peloton far behind. Roelandts started the final ascent of the Kemmelberg with a two minute lead. There, Oss and Paolini were dropped, although Paolini managed to return, while Oss was out of contention. Due to his long solo effort, Roelandts began to struggle. With 18 km to go, he was caught and clearly spent, just as Terpstra suffered a flat tire. As soon as the Dutchman returned, he immediately attacked, with only Paolini able to follow. A few kilometres later, Thomas rejoined, followed shortly after by Vandenbergh, a teammate of Terpstra. However, Vandenbergh then suffered a mechanical at the exact moment Jens Debusschere and Sep Vanmarcke also fought their way back. Not much later, he too rejoined. The ever alert Paolini launched a decisive attack with just over 6 km to go. He clearly had the most left in his legs, as the others could not close the gap. Paolini won Gent-Wevelgem in the final season of his professional career. Strangely enough, riders not only had to climb the Kemmelberg in this edition, but also descend it on the steep cobbled side. Unsurprisingly, that did not go well. The first descent, with 53 km to go, resulted in heavy crashes, with several riders badly injured. For example, Jimmy Casper was left covered in blood. The early break, containing Hammond, Mengin and Brard, still held a two minute lead over the peloton when they reached the final ascent of the Kemmelberg. On the descent, another serious crash occurred. This section was removed from the race after this edition. Meanwhile, Marcus Burghardt and Francisco Ventoso had attacked on the final ascent and were chasing the break. Burghardt had a teammate up the road in Hammond, so he did not need to contribute. Ventoso, however, refused to do all the work, and they were quickly caught. Shortly after, Óscar Freire attacked, with Ventoso and Burghardt following. This trio did manage to bridge to the break, merging the groups. Not long after, Brard was dropped, which was no surprise given his earlier efforts. The group worked together well and proved extremely strong, holding off a chasing peloton. They would contest the victory among themselves. With 1 km to go, Burghardt launched a perfectly timed attack and got clear. Ventoso tried to respond but could not close the gap. Freire then attempted to bridge across, but Roger Hammond was strong enough to follow his move, despite having been in the break all day. Burghardt took the win, with Hammond completing a one two for T Mobile. Robbie McEwen won the sprint from the peloton for sixth place. On the first ascent of the Kemmelberg, with almost 90 km still to go, Mads Pedersen already showed his strength by splitting the peloton. Later, on the plugstreets, he attacked again. With more than 70 km remaining, only Philipsen, Kooij and Livyns could follow. However, Jasper Philipsen suffered a flat tire and Olav Kooij crashed, leaving Livyns as the only rider still with him. Together, they bridged to the early break. On the next ascent of the Kemmelberg, with 56 km to go, Pedersen dropped everyone once again. With the Baneberg and the steepest side of the Kemmelberg still to come, he simply did not hesitate. He continued solo and never looked back. Pedersen went on to win the race, taking his third Gent-Wevelgem victory and becoming a joint record holder. Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert were the main favourites for this edition. They began racing aggressively with more than 80 km to go. On the plugstreets, both riders used their cyclocross background to make the race even harder. After that, the pace in the front group dropped slightly, allowing a group of nine riders to go clear, including Mads Pedersen and teammates of both favourites, putting them in a difficult position. In response, Van Aert launched a strong move on the second ascent of the Kemmelberg, forming a chasing group with the strongest riders. On the final ascent, on the toughest side, he once again set the pace and brought the race back together. After that, 30 flat kilometres remained. As expected, the attacks kept coming, largely because Van Aert was the fastest sprinter in the group, having just won two bunch sprints in the Tour de France. As a result, he was constantly forced to close gaps. Eventually, he stopped chasing. He looked around, but no one was willing to work with him. That allowed Matteo Trentin to get away with Alberto Bettiol and Florian Sénéchal with 1.8 km to go. With 1.3 km to go, Pedersen timed his move perfectly and bridged across. The four riders sprinted for the win, with Pedersen comfortably taking victory despite his earlier effort. After the finish, Van Aert was clearly frustrated with Van der Poel’s tactics, stating that he would rather see him lose than win himself. Van der Poel, who had already completed his initial interview, returned to respond, calling the remark unnecessary. One week later, they would meet again in the Tour of Flanders, where Van der Poel won a photo finish sprint. With 40 km to go, Juan Antonio Flecha attacked on the Monteberg. Behind him, a group of seven riders went on the attack, including Nico Mattan, Magnus Bäckstedt, Fabian Cancellara, Thor Hushovd, Filippo Pozzato and Baden Cooke. This group would make it to the final and contest the victory. With 10 km to go, Mattan attacked. With 5 km to go, Flecha bridged across solo and dropped him. The race appeared decided. However, inside the final 500 metres, Mattan closed the gap again. Benefiting from the slipstream of race vehicles behind Flecha, he came past him and took the win in controversial fashion.

2026-03-28T12:00:00+01:00 2026-03-29T20:19:40+02:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/how-to-watch-the-2026-gent-wevelgem-streaming-and-tv-by-country/ Dieter Loos team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/dieter-loos/ The 2026 Gent-Wevelgem edition takes place on Sunday, March 29, with the race starting at 11:07 CET and approximately finishing around 16:37 CET. Follow all the action via our live report ! The peloton’s passage through De Moeren will be available exclusively on sporza.be . We’ve partnered with two VPN providers so you can watch from anywhere. By using these offers, you also support us in keeping our content free. 👉 ExpressVPN: Get 61% off a 2-year plan, plus 4 extra months free. 👉 Surfshark : Save up to 87% on your first 27 months of VPN. TNT Sports and HBO Max are where you can find the action for Gent-Wevelgem in the UK. For TNT Sports subscribers, you can find the action on one of the designated channels or by pressing the red button. HBO Max serves as the streaming platform for online viewers in the UK, with a current plan available at £30.99 a month. For both viewers in Canada and the US, the race will be shown live on FloBikes, with a monthly subscription costing $39.99 a month or $203.88 for a 12-month plan. European viewers can access live coverage of Gent-Wevelgem by checking their local broadcaster in the list below, or via Eurosport, available on Discovery+ or HBO Max, depending on their country. In Australia, the race is available on SBS and FloBikes. In Latin America, you can watch the race on ESPN. In Asia, you can watch the race on MAX/Discovery+ and Eurosport 2 International In Africa, the race is available on SuperSport. Most streaming platforms are geo-restricted, meaning access depends on your location. If the 2026 Gent-Wevelgem isn’t available in your country, you can use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to change your virtual location and access the services you normally use at home. Availability may still vary depending on local broadcasting rights. We’ve got two great deals for you, and by claiming them, you help us keep our content free. 👉 ExpressVPN: Get 61% off a 2-year plan, plus 4 extra months free. 👉 Surfshark : Save up to 87% on your first 27 months of VPN.

2026-03-28T10:00:00+01:00 2026-03-28T10:13:51+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/features/five-riders-who-might-surprise-at-gent-wevelgem/ Dieter Loos team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/dieter-loos/ Madis Mihkels is a really special rider. When he was 19 years old, a 1st year U23, as a stagiaire for Intermarché, he already finished 6th in Gran Piemonte. And it was no ordinary pure sprint race; there was a very tough climb of 3km at 8%, 60km from the finish line. Only 30 riders got over it in the first group, Mihkels being one of them, very impressive. He further proved that he has a really big engine by finishing in the top ten in Roubaix in 2024. For a sprinter, that is pretty much unseen. That combination of the volume he can handle and the fast legs he has is the perfect profile for Gent-Wevelgem. He could really surprise here. Yevgeniy Fedorov is a really interesting rider, a bit of an enigma even. Some may remember from the 2021 Tour of Flanders, where he had a dispute with Otto Vergaerde, and both were disqualified. Others will remember him from his 2022 World U23 Championship road race win, where he beat Mathias Vacek. In 2024, he already showed his engine in Paris-Roubaix by finishing 14th. Last year, he was impressive in all spring classics, but a flat tire sadly took him out of contention in Paris-Roubaix. This year, it looks like he came out of Paris-Nice in really good form. It'll be interesting to see what he can do here, as it looks like Gent-Wevelgem and Paris-Roubaix are the races that suit him most. Bastien Tronchon is a super interesting young talent. Last year, he made quite a strange decision by focusing on the Ardennes classics; he seems tailor-made for the Ardennes classics. He also seems to think so himself, as he is readjusting his focus this year. In the week of the Strade Bianche, he got ill, missing the race. However, he seems to have recovered well, as he made the chasing group in Milan-Sanremo. He also really masters the art of positioning, which will be really important in this race. Not only towards the Kemmelberg, but also towards the Moeren, as echelons are pretty much inevitable with the wind conditions (insert preview). In case he makes it to a reduced bunch towards the finish line for a place of honour, the Frenchman also has the kick to ride a really nice sprint. Frits Biesterbos is a very intriguing young talent. Last year, he finished 2nd at the World gravel Championships, after a long-range attack together with Florian Vermeersch. A result like that doesn't lie, and also got him a contract at Team Picnic PostNL. He started this year very nicely; he's developing himself as a spring classics rider, with a very good kick. Let that exactly be what you need for a good result in Gent-Wevelgem. The distance may be a bit much for him, but if he makes it in a reduced bunch, he could get a really nice result. Nickolas Zukowsky may be the most unexpected pick on the list, but he could also really surprise here. He masters the positioning game and is developing really nicely, step by step. Last year, he finished his first grand tour, always a nice step up for a rider. Recently, he finished 14th in Paris-Nice, while he totally isn't a climber. That says a lot about his current form. He already has a really nice kick in the legs, so he could really grab a nice place of honour here.

2026-03-27T11:00:00+01:00 2026-03-27T11:03:44+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/how-to-watch-the-2026-e3-saxo-classic-streaming-and-tv-by-country/ Dieter Loos team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/dieter-loos/ The E3 Saxo Classic takes place on Friday, March 27, with the race starting at 12:45 CET and approximately finishing around 17:12 CET. Follow all the action from Belgium live at Domestique via our live report . TNT Sports and Discovery+ are where you can find the action for the E3 Saxo Classic in the UK. For TNT Sports subscribers, you can find the action on one of the designated channels or by pressing the red button. Discovery+ serves as the streaming platform for online viewers in the UK, with a current plan available at £30.99 a month. For viewers in Canada, the race will be shown live on FloBikes, with a monthly subscription costing $39.99 a month or $203.88 for a 12-month plan, and on HBO Max in the United States. In Latin America, you can watch the race on DirecTV. For viewers in Mexico, the race is available on Juan Charry's YouTube channel. In Australia and New Zealand, the race is available on FloBikes. European viewers can access live coverage of the E3 Saxo Classic by checking their local broadcaster in the list below, or via Eurosport, available on Discovery+ or HBO Max, depending on their country. Most streaming platforms are geo-restricted, meaning access depends on your location. If the 2026 E3 Saxo Classic isn’t available in your country, you can use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to change your virtual location and access the services you normally use at home. Availability may still vary depending on local broadcasting rights. We’ve got two great deals for you, and by claiming them, you help us keep our content free. 👉 ExpressVPN: Get 61% off a 2-year plan, plus 4 extra months free. 👉 Surfshark : Save up to 87% on your first 27 months of VPN.

2026-03-26T15:30:00+01:00 2026-03-26T12:45:13+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/features/five-riders-to-watch-at-the-e3-saxo-classic-2026-beyond-the-usual-suspects/ Dieter Loos team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/dieter-loos/ Matis Louvel was rocking up the pro peloton as a young rider, getting impressive results in the Flemish classics right away. However, a knee injury completely disrupted his development. Now, he is fully recovered. In 2025, he already started showing signs of the "old" Louvel. With the Tour de France in his legs last year, he should be able to really get back to his old form. His preparation this spring looks to be going well, too. This is a race that suits him very much, so it would be great to see him really perform here again. Stan Dewulf is another rider who was a very exciting young prospect, but also endured bad luck. He had to be operated on a compressed femoral artery. In 2024, he made a nice comeback to the peloton, getting some solid results. However, last year, he broke his collarbone in Strade Bianche, so his spring was over. He did get the Giro d'Italia in the legs, however, helping build form. That should be a good step up to really start performing again. He rode a strong beginning of the season and went straight to altitude on El Teide after the opening weekend. In other words, he should return here in top form. Having done the Ronde van Brugge two days before this race, where he was very attentive the whole day and finished in the first echelon, is a nice opening of the legs after altitude, with an eye on really performing here. Valentin Madouas is a really interesting rider. He is one of those special ones who can perform on every terrain. From a podium place in the Tour of Flanders, to a T10 finish in the general classification of the Tour de France, to a podium in Strade Bianche, and even in the Olympic road race: Madouas has done it all. He even has two top ten finishes to his name in this race; however, Madouas never seems to get the credit he deserves. You should really keep an eye on him, as he is one of the only riders who manages to perform in both the Flemish and Ardennes classics. The additions to the E3 parcours that make the race a bit tougher also shouldn't be a problem for Madouas, as he performs better the harder the race is. This is another with huge potential who really struggled in the past. In Hoelgaard's case, it was with long covid. However, he's fully recovered from that. In 2024, he slowly found his way back to his old form. Last year, even while he got sick in the middle of the spring, he finished 8th in Paris-Roubaix, a race that doesn't even perfectly suit him. He prefers a race like E3, with tough climbs. Afterwards, he got his first grand tour in the legs with the Tour de France; this is usually a nice step up for riders to handle the volume of the classics even better. This year, he hasn't gotten any luck yet. However, the best races for him are still to come, starting with the E3 Saxo Classic, the race that maybe even suits him best. Uno X has a good support team here, which is really important for this race, as positioning towards the Taaienberg is key to performing here. Iván García Cortina is an enigma. Belgian cycling commentator Michel Wuyts even called him "the strongest rider of the peloton" in 2020. However, he seems to have trouble fully living up to those expectations. He shows his talent sporadically, but seemingly can't turn it into consistent performance. In 2023, he performed really well in this race, finishing 5th. Last year, he finished in the top ten in the Tour of Flanders. However, it still seems like he isn't seen as a cobbles specialist. Is this the year he can consistently ride good results in the spring and really make that next step in these kinds of races? He too raced the Ronde van Brugge yesterday, and looked really good. A nice sign for the E3.

2026-03-26T11:45:00+01:00 2026-03-26T13:41:09+01:00 https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/news/2026-e3-saxo-bank-classic-van-der-poel-and-pedersen-headline-the-mini-tour-of-flanders/ Dieter Loos team@domestiquecycling.com https://www.domestiquecycling.com/en/creators/dieter-loos/ In total 22 teams will take the start, each bringing seven riders, totalling the peloton up to 154 riders. All 18 WorldTour teams are present, with also six ProTour teams lining up: Tudor Pro Cycling, Pinarello-Q36.5, Burgos Burpellet BH, Team Flanders-Baloise, TotalEnergies, and Unibet Rose Rockets. Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Pemier Tech) and Mads Pedersen (Lidl-Trek) headline the field, but riders like Christophe Laporte (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Laurence Pithie (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe), Mattias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) and Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) are also worth watching.