Jordi Meeus claimed victory at the 2026 Brussels Cycling Classic after Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe controlled a chaotic finale and delivered their Belgian sprinter into position for a powerful sprint win.

Meeus came through a tense run-in to beat Milan Fretin and Biniam Girmay, with the sprint opening after another late crash had disrupted the approach to the final kilometre. Fretin and Girmay both came strongly in the closing metres, but Meeus held them off after a strong lead-out put him in pole position.

The victory came after a long and at times complicated chase for Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe, who had briefly seen Meeus miss the front selection when the peloton split on the final sequence of climbs around Geraardsbergen.

The day’s main breakaway formed after a quiet opening phase, with Titouan Fontaine, Casper Pedersen, Sebastien Grignard, Marius Mayrhofer and Henrik Pedersen moving clear. Alexys Brunel attempted to bridge across from the peloton, but the TotalEnergies rider was brought back before making contact.

The leaders built an advantage of around three and a half minutes before the race reached three passages over the Muur van Geraardsbergen, Bosberg and Congoberg.

The climbs gradually cut into the breakaway’s advantage and also started to split the peloton. Mayrhofer was distanced from the move before the Bosberg, while Fontaine later lost contact as the pressure increased behind.

For a while, Meeus looked under pressure. A front group of around 30 riders formed with Girmay, Fretin and Jonas Abrahamsen among those present, while Meeus initially missed the selection. Team Flanders Baloise helped bring the peloton back together, giving Red Bull a second chance before the final run towards Brussels.

Red Bull then took control. Laurence Pithie and Danny van Poppel drove the chase on the Rosweg cobbles, bringing the remaining breakaway riders into sight before they were caught on the Heiligekruiswegstraat after around 145 kilometres out front.

Uno-X Mobility tried repeatedly to prevent a sprint. Abrahamsen attacked with 13 kilometres remaining, Rasmus Tiller followed with another move, and Erik Resell briefly opened a small gap before being brought back. Abrahamsen then went again after Red Bull had resumed control inside the final six kilometres.

A crash with four kilometres remaining brought down several riders, including Ferre Geeraerts of Team Flanders Baloise, who was able to continue. The favourites remained well placed at the front, and Red Bull kept Meeus protected into the final kilometre.

From there, Meeus finished the job. Fretin and Girmay both challenged late, but the Belgian had enough speed to hold his line and take the Brussels Cycling Classic victory.