In Flanders Fields, formerly known as Gent-Wevelgem, enters a new chapter beginning in 2026 with an official name change and fresh starting point in Middelkerke. The race will now run under the banner “In Flanders Fields: From Middelkerke to Wevelgem” for the next ten years following a newly signed contract with the coastal Belgian city.
Flanders Classics CEO Tomas Van Den Spiegel explained the reasoning: “The race has not started in Ghent for years, so at some point it is only logical that the investing cities want to see their investment reflected. Now that we have signed a ten-year contract with Middelkerke, it was time to make the change.”
The route itself remains largely unchanged, preserving the character that has made this event a proving ground for cycling’s elite. The honour roll speaks volumes: Greg Van Avermaet, Peter Sagan, Alexander Kristoff, Wout van Aert, Biniam Girmay, and Christophe Laporte are among the champions who have claimed victory on these Flemish roads.
Pedersen’s Dominance and Van der Poel’s Quest
Mads Pedersen has emerged as the race’s most recent master. The Dane from Lidl-Trek claimed his third victory in 2025 after riding a large portion of the finale solo. In 2024, he defeated Mathieu van der Poel in a two-up sprint, cementing his status as the rider to beat.
Van der Poel’s pursuit of a maiden victory at In Flanders Fields represents the defining subplot heading into 2026. The Alpecin-Premier Tech leader has won virtually every major Flemish classic except this one, making it the obvious target on his calendar. Expect the team to orchestrate the race aggressively on race day.
Similarly, Jasper Philipsen has yet to make this race his own despite representing one of the peloton’s fastest finishers. For Alpecin-Premier Tech, success in Middelkerke remains unfinished business.
Route and Race Dynamics
From Middelkerke, roughly 40 kilometres from the traditional Ypres starting point, the route bends along the coast toward Veurne before reaching the famous De Moeren. A north-westerly wind forecast on the Beaufort scale Force 2 could fragment the peloton early on exposed Flemish roads.
The Heuvelland climbs follow: the Monteberg, Baneberg, Scherpenberg, and crucially, the Kemmelberg, which appears three times. This ascent remains the defining symbol of the race, always dictating the outcome.
The gravel sections of the Plugstreets—Hill 63, Christmas Truce, and The Catacombs—return with significant implications. Last year, Pedersen made decisive moves through these sectors. Olav Kooij crashed while Jasper Philipsen suffered a puncture, eliminating both from contention and leaving Pedersen to solo to victory.
After the final Kemmelberg ascent with 34.3 kilometres remaining, full-throttle racing continues to Wevelgem. The finish typically features either a reduced group or full peloton sprint—or potentially another solo triumph like Pedersen’s 2025 masterclass.
Contenders and Team Strategies
Visma | Lease a Bike arrives with multiple scenarios covered. Wout van Aert and Matthew Brennan are both expected to return after skipping earlier Flemish classics. Christophe Laporte, a previous winner, provides an additional attacking option.
Lidl-Trek supports Pedersen with Czech powerhouse Mathias Vacek and sprinter Jonathan Milan, though Milan was not fully recovered after skipping Milan-Sanremo.
INEOS Grenadiers fields Filippo Ganna, Ben Turner, Magnus Sheffield, and Joshua Tarling. Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe counters with brothers Mick and Tim van Dijke, plus Gianni Vermeersch, Laurence Pithie, and Jordi Meeus.
Pure sprinters are conspicuously absent from the start list. Dylan Groenewegen opted for a French 1.1 race instead. The sprinters-plus category—Paul Magnier, Tobias Lund Andresen, Pavel Bittner, Biniam Girmay, and Søren Wærenskjold—better suits the race’s demands.
Fast finishers after hard racing will populate the front group: Matteo Trentin, Luca Mozzato, Laurenz Rex, Jasper Stuyven, Luke Lamperti, Arnaud De Lie, Jenno Berckmoes, Anthony Turgis, Mike Teunissen, Davide Ballerini, and Lukas Kubis. Climbers like Jonas Abrahamsen, Florian Vermeersch, and Matej Mohoric can also reach the finale if echelons form or small groups escape.
Top Favorites
Mathieu van der Poel and Mads Pedersen headline the contender list. Wout van Aert, Matthew Brennan, Jasper Philipsen, and Filippo Ganna represent credible outsiders with distinct race scenarios. Long shots include Jonathan Milan, Paul Magnier, Florian Vermeersch, Christophe Laporte, Arnaud De Lie, Tobias Lund Andresen, Jordi Meeus, Laurence Pithie, Jasper Stuyven, and Matteo Trentin.
Broadcast Information
Both men’s and women’s races air on HBO Max, Eurosport, and Sporza. Belgian broadcaster Sporza begins coverage at 10:30 AM local time, continuing live through the afternoon. Eurosport and NOS start broadcasting around 1:45 PM. The race starts at 11 AM with an expected finish near 4:35 PM.
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