Flanders Classics reportedly join 8 World Tour teams in Saudi-backed 'ONE Cycling' with 2026 start date targeted

The developments of the proposed, Saudi-backed 'ONE Cycling' continue to drip their way into the wider cycling consciousness, with the latest news perhaps being one of the most seismic.

According to reports by Het Laatste Nieuws, Flanders Classics, race organiser of some of the most renowned one-day races on the calendar, including Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Gent-Wevelgem, Tour of Flanders, Amstel Gold Race and the Tour de Suisse, are in deep conversations to join the fold. 

With PIF (Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund), looking to invest €250 million into the project, a total of eight World Tour teams have so far signalled their intentions to join up according to HLN. Team Visma | Lease a Bike, INEOS Grenadiers, EF Education-EasyPost, Soudal Quick-Step, Alpecin-Deceuninck, Intermarché-Wanty, Lidl-Trek and BORA-hansgrohe, with UAE Team Emirates reportedly monitoring developments.

The start date is planned for 2026, something that has not come about through coincidence, as the current World Tour licenses expire at the end of 2025.