Results Renewi Tour 2026 Stage 3 | Jenno Berckmoes stuns Jasper Philipsen and Olav Kooij with last-gasp attack in Geraardsbergen

Jenno Berckmoes stunned the approaching sprinters to win Stage 3 of the 2026 Renewi Tour, attacking inside the final kilometre in Geraardsbergen and holding off Jasper Philipsen and Olav Kooij.

The Lotto Intermarché rider had spent much of the closing circuit alongside Alec Segaert after the pair attacked on the Kapelmuur. Their advantage appeared to be disappearing as the sprint trains closed in, but Berckmoes found one final acceleration on the rising road towards the Vesten to take the biggest prize ahead of Philipsen, Kooij and teammate Arnaud De Lie.

The 182-kilometre stage from Celles to Geraardsbergen crossed the Paterberg, Oude Kruisberg and Berg Ten Houte before reaching a demanding finishing circuit featuring the Muur, Bosberg, Onkerzele Berg and Denderoordberg.

Berckmoes attacked over the Kapelmuur and was joined by Segaert, with the two Belgians establishing a slender advantage while the chasing group struggled to organise behind them.

They strengthened their positions in the overall battle during the Green Kilometre on the Bosberg. Berckmoes collected eight bonus seconds across the three intermediate sprints, while Segaert took seven and Quinten Hermans claimed the remaining second.

Laurence Pithie attempted to bridge across on a descent and moved within ten seconds of the leaders, but his pursuit stalled before he was brought back by the chasing group. Tomas Kopecky also tried to reach the pair, only to suffer the same fate.

Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team and UAE Team Emirates – XRG contributed to the chase before Daan Hoole helped drag the bunch towards Berckmoes and Segaert approaching Geraardsbergen.

The gap was down to a handful of seconds beneath the red kite, leaving the leading pair exposed as the sprinters gathered behind. Berckmoes, however, accelerated away from Segaert with approximately 700 metres remaining and stayed clear over the final rise.

De Lie launched the sprint from behind, but there was no catching his teammate. Philipsen came through for second, Kooij took third and De Lie finished fourth after Lotto Intermarché claimed the stage.

An earlier high-speed crash on the approach to Geraardsbergen had already disrupted the race and removed several riders from contention. Young rider classification leader Vlad Van Mechelen and Netcompany INEOS rider Magnus Sheffield both abandoned after the incident, while Tiesj Benoot, Paul Lapeira and Huub Artz were also involved.

Jonathan Milan, winner of the opening stage, had withdrawn earlier after struggling with injuries sustained in Thursday’s mass crash. His departure followed Simone Consonni’s absence from the start because of concussion symptoms.