Results Antwerp Port Epic 2026 - Per Strand Hagenes victorious after perfectly-timed breakaway attack
Cycling
The Antwerp Port Epic served up exactly that as Per Strand Hagenes' well-timed move saw him take a brilliant win from the breakaway. The Visma | Lease a Bike rider was the strongest of the leaders and picked his moment perfectly inside the final kilometer to take his fourth professional victory.
After the early gravel sections came thick and fast with 60 of the 193 kilometers raced and some early attacks were reeled in, veteran Emils Liepiņš made his move with roughly 112 kilometers to go. He was joined by Robin Orins at the front as the duo looked to establish a breakaway move. However, the pair were caught just under 10 kilometers later.
It became clear that the race would become one of attrition, particularly given the high temperatures in or around 28 degrees throughout the afternoon. Pau Marti and Marvin Peters were the next to go up the road soon after as they built a lead that increased to almost 55 seconds with 72 kilometers left.
The peloton made the catch and the race re-set itself with just over 52.5 kilometers remaining. Visma | Lease a bike, Lotto - Intermarche and Alpecin Premier - Tech were among the jerseys at the front looking to keep the pace high and a split in the bunch saw around 70 riders stretch themselves ahead of the rest.
And the day's crucial breakaway formed in the dust and chaos, with nine riders going ahead that included Per Strand Hagenes, Dries De Bondt and Martin Svrček. Nine teams were represented on the front before Alpecin - Premier Tech's Toon Vandebosch crashed on a gravel segment and lost his place in the front, while Cofidis' Alexis Renard worked to bridge across the gap that gew to just short of a minute with 35 kilometers to go.
Svrček, De Bondt and Strand Hagenes all try attacks
With Svrček at the front and not contributing to the break, Soudal - Quickstep led the chase behind. Renard completed his move across to the breakaway and with 12 kilometers to go, Strand Hagenes opened up the first attack of the leaders before being reeled in.
Svrček himself made a ove as it seems Soudal - Quickstep changed tactic to focus on a breakaway win. De Bondt and Strand Hagenes could match his power in the drag race as the breakaway stalemate continued, with riders at the front looking at each other with less than five kilometers to go.
Brent Van Moer's late attack with 1.7 kilometers to go was caught and the riders came to the final kilometer together before Strand Hagenes leapfrogged the rest to hold on despite a surging Pau Miquel and De Bondt in the final few metres.
Results Antwerp Port Epic 2026
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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- big rival … ridiculous.Ketterechts07-11-2026
- It would be great if the World Champion's jersey could be rotated among McNulty, Simmons, and Jorgenson. They threaded the needle perfectly. If each hadn't done exactly what he did, exactly when he did it, the race would have gone to one of the more heralded superstars. That said, how nice that this humble and hardworking guy gets his moment in the sun.
MarkFour07-11-2026 - This is a really interesting idea, which, if well prepared could even be very successful. Very little money needs to be involved for a first season and any success could lead to rapid interest from sponsors.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Hmmm, you seem to have a very convenient black and white view of things. Perhaps you haven’t been around much to discover how complex problems can become over time with people who know how to control, manipulate (or worse) others so gradually or subtly that you arrive at an irresolvable situation before you realise. This is how many inconveniences get introduced to the young, naïve, passionate or “desperate”, knowing they are not armed, protected or strong enough to defend themselves once it’s too late. Why do you think omerta culture is so widespread, why do you think so many people continue to go through so many awful things in life that others can’t understand anyone getting into? Life may be far more jolly for you but you would do well to understand (or reflect more on) the real world to refrain from being so quick to criticise those in a hard spot that may have genuine reason for speaking out.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Seriously do you think when somebody gets into a serious accident, the ambulance is called by the hurt person?🤦 there is always a buddy system in place for a risky job. police , firefighters etc so that if someone gets hurt, the other call that in.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I get the point totally. We live in the snowflake society where some riders forget they are getting paid to ride and get results. When they have a few issues they try to look outside of the real issue instead of themselves. It odd so many of the team are making no complaints and getting on with their job. If you do not like what you do find another job simples. Tough love as my mum would say.paultryan200207-11-2026
- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
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