Final Startlist Renewi Tour 2026 - Riders: Tim Merlier, Jasper Philpsen, Jonathan Milan, Olav Kooij, Arnaud de Lie and more
CyclingTuesday, 18 August 2026 at 16:42
The 2026 Renewi Tour is set to bring some of the world's best riders to Belgium for a challenging five days that includes brutal cobbles, sprint finishes and punchy hills. As the preliminary startlist is announced, it's set to be a battle of the best sprinters next week.
Tim Merlier returns to action after taking three victories at last month's Tour de France, headlining a Soudal-Quickstep line-up with lead-out right-hand man Bert Van Lerberghe, Dyan van Baarle as well as Martin Svrček. Download the A4 startlist here.
His main rival in sprints could well be Jasper Philipsen as Alpecin - Premier Tech look to add to their two Tour stage wins while Jonathan Milan rides a wave of momentum after three stage wins at the Tour de Pologne, adding to his Italian National Championships victory in June.
Another big sprinter in the mix is Decathlon CMA CGM's Olav Kooij. He has Daan Hoole and Cees Bol in his corner for the lead-outs, while Tiesj Benoot starts. Meanwhile, Lotto-Intermarche bring Arnaud de Lie back to the race after his overall victory in the 2025 edition of the race.
Milan seeks to add to Tour de Pologne
Another top sprinter at the line is Jonathan Milan after missing out on a sprint at the ADAC Cyclassics. The Lidl-Trek rider scored three wins at the Tour de Pologne this month but faces stern opposition in Belgium.
Elsewhere, there are several contenders to watch over the course of the week. INEOS rider Sam Welsford, Tudor's Matteo Trentin and Bahrain Victorious' Matej Mohoric are experienced riders to watch. While Biniam Girmay and Jonas Abrahamsen were consistent throughout the Tour de France.
Pavel Bittner, after his announcement of joining Pinarello Q36.5 over the past week, comes in search of much-needed UCI points in Belgium. Elsewhere, Michael Valgren and Kasper Asgreen form part of an EF Education-EasyPost line-up.
Tim Wellens
Renewi Tour 2026 Final Startlist
| Lotto - Intermarché | |
| 1 | Lie, Arnaud De |
| 2 | Hoorn, Taco van der |
| 3 | Artz, Huub |
| 4 | Berckmoes, Jenno |
| 5 | Ørn-Kristoff, Felix |
| 6 | Taminiaux, Lionel |
| 7 | Giddings, Joshua |
| UAE Team Emirates XRG | |
| 11 | Vermeersch, Florian |
| 12 | Herregodts, Rune |
| 13 | Arrieta, Igor |
| 14 | Baroncini, Filippo |
| 15 | Bjerg, Mikkel |
| 16 | Johansen, Julius |
| 17 | Oliveira, Rui |
| Alpecin - Premier Tech | |
| 21 | Philipsen, Jasper |
| 22 | Bayer, Tobias |
| 23 | Dillier, Silvan |
| 24 | Geens, Jonas |
| 25 | Marsman, Tim |
| 26 | Ballerstedt, Maurice |
| 27 | Belmans, Lennert |
| Soudal - Quick-Step | |
| 31 | Merlier, Tim |
| 32 | Bastiaens, Ayco |
| 33 | Svrček, Martin |
| 34 | Baarle, Dylan van |
| 35 | Reinderink, Pepijn |
| 36 | Lerberghe, Bert Van |
| 37 | Vervaeke, Louis |
| Lidl - Trek | |
| 41 | Milan, Jonathan |
| 42 | Consonni, Simone |
| 43 | Skujiņš, Toms |
| 44 | Vergaerde, Otto |
| 45 | Theuns, Edward |
| 46 | Andersen, Søren Kragh |
| 47 | Söderqvist, Jakob |
| Bahrain Victorious | |
| 51 | Segaert, Alec |
| 52 | Borgo, Alessandro |
| 53 | Eržen, Zak |
| 54 | Gradek, Kamil |
| 55 | Mohorič, Matej |
| 56 | Stannard, Robert |
| 57 | Mechelen, Vlad Van |
| Decathlon CMA CGM Team | |
| 61 | Benoot, Tiesj |
| 62 | Bol, Cees |
| 63 | Ghys, Robbe |
| 64 | Hoole, Daan |
| 65 | Kooij, Olav |
| 66 | Lapeira, Paul |
| 67 | Naesen, Oliver |
| EF Education - EasyPost | |
| 71 | Asgreen, Kasper |
| 72 | Agostinacchio, Mattia |
| 73 | Lamperti, Luke |
| 74 | Mihkels, Madis |
| 75 | Valgren, Michael |
| 76 | Berg, Marijn van den |
| 77 | Walker, Max |
| Groupama - FDJ United | |
| 81 | Geniets, Kévin |
| 82 | Milan, Matteo |
| 83 | Fontaine, Titouan |
| 84 | Gruel, Thibaud |
| 85 | Huens, Axel |
| 86 | Jacobs, Johan |
| 87 | Russo, Clément |
| Movistar Team | |
| 91 | García Cortina, Iván |
| 92 | Barrenetxea, Jon |
| 93 | Formolo, Davide |
| 94 | Maciejuk, Filip |
| 95 | Milesi, Lorenzo |
| 96 | Moro, Manlio |
| 97 | Torres, Albert |
| Netcompany INEOS | |
| 101 | Jungels, Bob |
| 102 | Sheffield, Magnus |
| 103 | Swift, Connor |
| 104 | Heiduk, Kim |
| 105 | Shmidt, Artem |
| 106 | Watson, Sam |
| 107 | Welsford, Sam |
| NSN Cycling Team | |
| 111 | Girmay, Biniam |
| 112 | Strong, Corbin |
| 113 | Boivin, Guillaume |
| 114 | Côté, Pier-André |
| 115 | Raisberg, Nadav |
| 116 | Mullen, Ryan |
| 117 | Asbroeck, Tom Van |
| Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe | |
| 121 | Pithie, Laurence |
| 122 | Denz, Nico |
| 123 | Herzog, Emil |
| 124 | Marit, Arne |
| 125 | Dijke, Mick van |
| 126 | Dijke, Tim van |
| 127 | Etxeberria, Haimar |
| Team Jayco AlUla | |
| 131 | Capiot, Amaury |
| 132 | Bondt, Dries De |
| 133 | Pooter, Dries De |
| 134 | Donaldson, Robert |
| 135 | Durbridge, Luke |
| 136 | Krijnsen, Jelte |
| 137 | Mezgec, Luka |
| Team Picnic PostNL | |
| 141 | Bittner, Pavel |
| 142 | Corkery, Dillon |
| 143 | Eekhoff, Nils |
| 144 | Flynn, Sean |
| 145 | Knox, James |
| 146 | Naberman, Tim |
| 147 | Berg, Julius van den |
| Team Visma - Lease a Bike | |
| 151 | Huising, Menno |
| 152 | Behrens, Niklas |
| 153 | Doull, Owain |
| 154 | Fiorelli, Filippo |
| 155 | Kielich, Timo |
| 156 | Mattio, Pietro |
| 157 | Belle, Loe van |
| Uno-X Mobility | |
| 161 | Abrahamsen, Jonas |
| 162 | Bévort, Carl-Frederik |
| 163 | Hoelgaard, Markus |
| 164 | Ingebrigtsen, Storm |
| 165 | Blume Levy, William |
| 166 | Hvideberg, Jonas |
| 167 | Wærenskjold, Søren |
| XDS Astana Team | |
| 171 | Ballerini, Davide |
| 172 | Toneatti, Davide |
| 173 | Gate, Aaron |
| 174 | Gonov, Lev |
| 175 | Livyns, Arjen |
| 176 | Syritsa, Gleb |
| 177 | Teunissen, Mike |
| Pinarello - Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team | |
| 181 | Bennett, Sam |
| 182 | Hermans, Quinten |
| 183 | Gendt, Aimé De |
| 184 | Frison, Frederik |
| 185 | Moer, Brent Van |
| 186 | Małecki, Kamil |
| 187 | Wright, Fred |
| Tudor Pro Cycling Team | |
| 191 | Kleijn, Arvid de |
| 192 | Kolze Changizi, Sebastian |
| 193 | Lienhard, Fabian |
| 194 | Mikutis, Aivaras |
| 195 | Mozzato, Luca |
| 196 | Trentin, Matteo |
| 197 | Zijlaard, Maikel |
| Team Flanders - Baloise | |
| 201 | Hesters, Jules |
| 202 | Geeraerts, Ferre |
| 203 | Deweirdt, Siebe |
| 204 | Lambrecht, Michiel |
| 205 | Thonnon, Senne |
| 206 | Hemelen, Vincent Van |
| 207 | Hautegem, Leander Van |
| Unibet Rose Rockets | |
| 211 | Groenewegen, Dylan |
| 212 | Vries, Hartthijs de |
| 213 | Kopecký, Matyáš |
| 214 | Kopecký, Tomáš |
| 215 | Kubiš, Lukáš |
| 216 | Reinders, Elmar |
| 217 | Stockman, Abram |
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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