Renewi Tour 2026 GC and stage 1 preview, profiles, favourites & predictions - Milan, Merlier, Philipsen, Kooij and Groenewegen battle for opening sprint
CyclingSunday, 16 August 2026 at 14:16
The 2026 Renewi Tour will be taking place from the 19th to the 23rd of August. With the final third of the season underway, many classics specialists find in this race one of their top goals. The five-day race provides cobbled stages, hilly days and also tricky bunch sprints to tackle in Belgium.
The race has had many names attached to it over the years, and currently it is sponsored by Renewi. 2005 was its first edition and immediately it was won by American Bobby Julich. The race right from its first year had a major international reputation, and that never slowed down.
The list of winners includes major time trial specialists such as Tony Martin and Tom Dumoulin; cyclocross-classics specialists such as Lars Boom, Zdenek Stybar and of course Mathieu van der Poel; Other classics specialists like Niki Terpstra, Matej Mohoric and Sonny Colbrelli, and even a climber in Laurens de Plus.
The route varies over the years and favours different types of riders. Tim Wellens is the record holder with three overall wins whilst in 2025 Arnaud de Lie conquered the overall classification after a formidable battle with Mathieu van der Poel.
Renewi Tour 2026 Route and Stage Schedule
| Stage | Date | Start Town | Finish Town | Distance (km) | Stage Type |
| 1 | 19 Aug 2026 | Diest | Diest | 191 | Cobbled/Hilly |
| 2 | 20 Aug 2026 | Blankenberge | Ardooie | 174 | Flat |
| 3 | 21 Aug 2026 | Celles | Geraardsbergen | 181 | Cobbled/Hilly |
| 4 | 22 Aug 2026 | Riemst | Bilzen | 187 | Flat |
| 5 | 23 Aug 2026 | Leuven | Leuven | 183 | Hilly |
Preview Renewi Tour 2026 overall classifcation
Unlike last year, the overall classification battle appears to be very open. Mathieu van der Poel is not present, and whilst defending champion Arnaud de Lie is, his form over the past few months has been very low.
Hence it is an open race for plenty riders, and no clear favourite. UAE back up Florian Vermeersch and the likes of Per Strand Hagenes, Soren Kragh Andersen, Alberto Bettiol and Fred Wright get a sole leadership that can be quite interesting and motivating.
Decathlon have both Tiesj Benoot and Paul Lapeira who will be dangerous; Red Bull have Laurence Pithie and Tim van Dijke; INEOS have Ben Turner, Magnus Sheffield and Sam Watson... Teams with depth have the advantage here, in a race with a few stages that are for the classics specialists but are not overly selective.
Jasper Philipsen, Matej Mohoric, Jonas Abrahamsen, Matteo Trentin, Lukas Kubis and Jon Barrenetxea are also interesting riders to take into consideration for the overall classification.
Prediction Renewi Tour 2026 overall classification:
*** Tiesj Benoot, Florian Vermeersch, Laurence Pithie
** Tim van Dijke, Ben Turner, Per Strand Hagenes
* Arnaud de Lie, Jasper Philipsen, Paul Lapeira, Magnus Sheffield, Sam Watson, Jonas Abrahamsen, Alberto Bettiol, Fred Wright, Lukas Kubis
Pick: Laurence Pithie
Preview Renewi Tour 2026 Stage 1
The sprinter field here is perhaps the best out of the entire season. We have Tim Merlier, Jasper Philipsen and Jonathan Milan all lining up at the start in pursuit of success in the bunch sprints and this first stage will certainly feature one. It's an explosive day, but the climbs are not meaningful and there are too many interests to bring it back to a sprint.
The three best sprinters in the world are present - although you would include Paul Magnier in that conversation, who is the only one missing here. Behind them there is equal quality almost in the pure sprinter Dylan Groenewegen; whilst both Biniam Girmay and Olav Kooij are also present.
Soren Waerensjold, Arnaud de Lie, Pavel Bittner, Juan Sebastián Molano and Sam Welsford are all, on their best day, also top sprinters who can grab an opportunity with certainty.
Prediction Renewi Tour 2026 stage 1:
*** Tim Merlier, Jasper Philipsen, Jonathan Milan
** Olav Kooij, Biniam Girmay, Dylan Groenewegen
* Pavel Bittner, Arnaud de Lie, Tom Crabbe, Soren Waerenskjold, Arne Marit, Juan Sebastián Molano, Sam Welsford, Arvid de Kleijn, Madis Mihkels, Davide Ballerini
Pick: Tim Merlier
Profile stage 1: Diest - Diest
Diest - Diest, 191 kilometers
The race begins in Diest and the opening stage will both start and finish in the Belgian city. It will immediately be an explosive stage, where a few riders may look to get ahead in the fight for the overall classification.
The stage features two cobbled ascents which will be tackled twice; and then a final circuit that will have four laps and a small climb of 400 meters at 5.5% - with a golden kilometer placed 21 kilometers from the finish.
A stage that is likely to finish in a sprint once again in Diest, however not something that can be said with certainty with quite a few obstacles in the day.
Profile stage 2: Blankenberge - Ardooie
Blankeberge - Ardooie, 174 kilometers
Stage 2 takes place in the Flandrien flatlands. The region often has very strong wind and exposed roads, making a seemingly innocent sprint stage one that can be very dangerous, and crucial for the overall classifications.
The riders do not tackle a single climb throughout the day, and have a golden kilometer with 20 to go. But after the start in Blankenberge, it is still inevitable that a bunch sprint will decide things in Ardooie.
Profile stage 3: Celles - Geraardsbergen
Celles - Geraardsbergen, 181 kilometers
The queen stage is one that is familiar to the riders that participate in the spring classics. The peloton takes on the 'Geraardsbergen stage' on the third day of racing, likely the most important of the week.
Climbs such as the Knokteberg, the Paterberg, Oude Kruisberg and Berg ten Houte are all climbed early in the day, before the riders move on to the circuit that will decide the stage.
The riders climb the full Denderoordberg (700 meters at 7%); Muur de Geraardsbergen (1.2Km; 7.1%) and Bosberg (1.4Km at 4.6%) on two separate occasions. Each time, the steep 'Muur' packs the chance to blow the race to bits in its narrow road and extremely steep sections.
The riders then on one more occasion go up the Denderoordberg with a mere 5 kilometers to go, before finishing in the center of Geraardsbergen with an iconic cobbled uphill sprint.
Profile stage 4: Riemst - Bilzen
Riemst - Bilzen, 187 kilometers
The fourth stage of the race is a rugged one, going through the traditionally explosive Belgian terrain that favours the classics specialists. With the overall classification at play, such a stage could detonate.
There are plenty small climbs throughout the day in what is essentially a circuit stage. They are all short, and not overly explosive, but the roads will feature a constant up and down.
With only 7.5 kilometers to go there is a small hilltop that can be used for late attacks, whilst the golden kilometer is 25 kilometers away from the finish. In Bilzen, the sprint also packs a small uphill gradient.
Stage 5: Leuven - Leuven
Leuven - Leuven, 183 kilometers
The race ends in Leuven with the same circuit that saw last year's dramatic finale. The city hosted the 2021 World Championships and the circuit is designed for explosive racing.
In the roads of Leuven, putting on an organized chase is very hard. The stage is 183 kilometers long and the final 50 will be inside the city, with its three-ascent design featuring plenty opportunities for attacks.
The climbs are interesting, but the technical aspect of the circuit makes it specially attractive for attacks - including long-range ones. Tactical racing is assured, whilst a bunch sprint of some sorts also can't be ruled out.
Read also
List of winners Renewi Tour
| Year | Winner | 2nd Place | 3rd Place |
| 2025 | Arnaud De Lie | Mathieu van der Poel | Tim Wellens |
| 2024 | Tim Wellens | Alec Segaert | Per Strand Hagenes |
| 2023 | Tim Wellens | Florian Vermeersch | Yves Lampaert |
| 2022 | — | — | — |
| 2021 | Sonny Colbrelli | Matej Mohorič | Victor Campenaerts |
| 2020 | Mathieu van der Poel | Tim Wellens | Nils Eekhoff |
| 2019 | Laurens De Plus | Oliver Naesen | Tim Wellens |
| 2018 | Matej Mohorič | Michael Matthews | Tim Wellens |
| 2017 | Tom Dumoulin | Tim Wellens | Sacha Modolo |
| 2016 | Niki Terpstra | Oliver Naesen | Peter Sagan |
| 2015 | Tim Wellens | Greg Van Avermaet | Tiesj Benoot |
| 2014 | Tim Wellens | Lars Boom | Tom Dumoulin |
| 2013 | Zdeněk Štybar | Tom Dumoulin | Andriy Grivko |
| 2012 | Lars Boom | Sylvain Chavanel | Niki Terpstra |
| 2011 | Edvald Boasson Hagen | Philippe Gilbert | David Millar |
| 2010 | Tony Martin | Koos Moerenhout | Edvald Boasson Hagen |
| 2009 | Edvald Boasson Hagen | Sylvain Chavanel | Sebastian Langeveld |
| 2008 | José Iván Gutiérrez | Sébastien Rosseler | Michael Rogers |
| 2007 | José Iván Gutiérrez | David Millar | Gustav Larsson |
| 2006 | Stefan Schumacher | George Hincapie | Vincenzo Nibali |
| 2005 | Bobby Julich | Erik Dekker | Leif Hoste |
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- EF should not let him go. They should insist on him fulfilling his contract. It’s not a good look for Carapaz to just leave because he’s getting more money. He performed well in TdF because of Ben Healy who sacrificed a lot for Carapaz to get the results that he did.
PogiFan2Day16-08-2026 - The only team who would want him, who has spare money and has good relations with is Ineos . Movistar is out of question. UAE dont need him. No other team that require that kind of rider has money lying around to pay for contract breaking.abstractengineer16-08-2026
- i think riders who have been dropped and are alone need to start following traffic rules to avoid these incidents. Pushing speed in a downhill just increases risk with no benefitsabstractengineer16-08-2026
- This is just poor excuxes we dont need that. What happened in Volta Portugal hasnt happened before, at any race and shall never happen. Volta Portugal is not fit to host a race at any capacity going forward.miguel16-08-2026
- As much as I admire his chatacter and the resilience that forged his way into cycling, I believe he should've end his cycling career after 2024 vuelta, because it's hard for me to see any more big results from him at the moment.BenAflec16-08-2026
- Bora signed up Roglic on the cusp of still being a contender. A bit like the israeli team and Froome. The gamble like that venture never really bore fruit. Can he win the Vuelta? I would love to think that he could challenge Pog. Is that likely? I doubt it. Off course Pogacar could get ill or crash. Top 10 at best is my guess. His best placing this year I think was 8th in Tour de Suisse. I hope he surprises us though. Wouldn't that be great?Cyclingsbestfan16-08-2026
- The fact is, even if Jonas didn't crash out and would have been second in the Tour, he still can't win the WC. Wouldn't even come close. The WC will have the best one day specialists like MvDP, Van Aert, Mads Pedersen, Remco, Pogi and others. Why would Jonas go to a race like that? Just to lose it? Trine knows very well why she won't let him race... and it's not because he's injured. She just knows!!!PogiSloFans16-08-2026
- My "dear" maumau... I have a loving family, grown up kids, three grandsons and two granddaughters. We understand each other, joke around, most of the time we're having a good time. We're all healthy and happy for the time being. So don't talk to me about life, I'm doing just fine. But do make sure to take care of your own, not too much of your incomprehensible philosophy, just common sense, respect and love to your family. I wish you the best.PogiSloFans16-08-2026
- He's easily won P-N, Catalunya and Giro and was 2nd in the Tour before he crashed out. Doesn't sound like someone brokenvappaxbipmv16-08-2026
- How can Froome possibly be 2nd if we only take 2016 onwards into account? At the very least, Jonas is before him and should easily be 2ndvappaxbipmv16-08-2026
Loading
Write a comment