Results Renewi Tour 2026 stage 1 - Jonathan Milan wins opening sprint ahead of Kooij, Merlier and Philipsen
CyclingWednesday, 19 August 2026 at 17:16
Stage 1 of the Renewi Tour has seen Jonathan Milan take the win ahead of Olav Kooij and Tim Merlier. The bunch sprint was at risk on a day where the rain made its presence felt and the breakaway almost took the glory ahead of he peloton.
Quinten Hermans, Dries de Bondt, Lionel Taminiaux, Timo Kielich and Carl-Frederik Bévort formed the early day's breakaway, taking the head of the race on a day where bonifications would be quite important ahead of the queen stages. For that reason, the front group included strong riders, outsiders for the classification.
De Bondt and Hermans specifically took advantage of this scenario, gaining time on the competition whilst
A crash with 15 kilometers to go then changed the outcome, bringing many to the ground and splitting the peloton. Uncertainty over the presence of a few sprinters in the peloton would severely hamper not only the chasing ability in the peloton but ultimately the outcome of the day.
The gap to the front riders continued to linger on, with the wet roads making it even harder to effectively chase on. With 2 kilometers to go, the gap was still of 15 seconds, with leadouts chasing on after the working force had truly ended. However, they were caught inside the final kilometer, as a result of the lack of cohesion out front.
The final sprint was rather chaotic with no set leadout taking he head of the peloton, but with the prominent figure of Jonathan Milan hitting the front with just over 100 meters to go, the victory looked to be certain. The Italian rider continued his momentum coming over from the Tour de Pologne, whilst the win was anything but easy as Olav Kooij forced the decision to only be confirmed after the photo-finish. Tim Merlier and Jasper Philipsen arrived third and fourth at the finish line.
Read also
Renewi Tour 2026 stage 1
Carlos Silva is a writer for CiclismoAtual.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he contributes race reports, interviews, analysis pieces, and live coverage of the international cycling calendar. Holding a degree in Sports from the Jean Piaget Institute, he combines academic knowledge of performance, training, and competition with hands-on journalism experience in professional cycling.
Throughout his career, Carlos has conducted interviews with leading figures in the sport, including Alberto Contador, Joaquim Rodríguez, Óscar Pereiro, João Almeida, Isaac del Toro, Derek Gee, John Degenkolb and Geraint Thomas. These conversations reflect direct engagement with Grand Tour winners, Classics specialists, and emerging talents.
He has provided on-site coverage at major events ranging from the Vuelta a España to the Tour de France, alongside stage races such as Vuelta a Andalucía, Volta ao Algarve, Volta a Portugal and O Gran Camiño. Covering the mythical climbs of the Giro d'Italia remains one of his professional ambitions.
Carlos is responsible for liveblog coverage of all major WorldTour races and beyond, including the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España. His reporting integrates verified data from ProCyclingStats to ensure statistical accuracy, contextual depth, and analytical precision.
A lifelong cycling enthusiast, he approaches storytelling across written, photographic, and video formats with a focus on credibility, tactical insight, and informed race interpretation.
claps 1visitors 1
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Mads vs Wout will be interestingmij19-08-2026
- I wonder if he will throw in gravel races? maybe even CX? It was rumored that he wanted to ride the gravel world championships last year, and even a cross race.mij19-08-2026
- I'd love to have his "dry patch". Last year was one of his worst and he still won a stage in the Giro and TdF.mij19-08-2026
- What's the problem now? They bought a versatile but not excellent at anything good ridervappaxbipmv19-08-2026
- what's all the patriotic BS about anyways here? the point is that nationality-based races have sort of died out in road cycling since many years. back in the days the tdf rosters were nationality-based and they rode in the same jersey. but that is long gone. tell me about any race in road cycling where racing for one's country objectively means something ... an exception maybe being the olympics because you contribute to your country's medal total. but also here, the fame goes mostly to the individual rider. there is no history in nationality-based races in cycling. there is no 'slovenia has won the world championships in road cycling three times in a row'. there is only 'tadej won it (well, will have won it) three times in a row'. so please stop talking about patriotic duties in a discipline where nobody cares about this. you could run the same argument for hockey or many other sports. why do the NHL pros not run for their country in hockey world championships? they don't because in their pro leagues nobody cares. they continue their play-off season over there. according to the argumentation of some of you guys here, all of them would have to be called un-patriotic. heck, back in the days the US even sent their college boys to the basketball olympics instead of the pros. bottom line, nobody cares in cycling about nationalities. cycling races are individual matters. and you cannot impose some patriotic whatever to something where this simply hasn't mattered for ages.Ketterechts19-08-2026
- It was a sarcastic comment in response to Mistermaumau's ridiculous comment about wishing for war to prove loyalty to one's country
Rafionain-Glas19-08-2026 - We also have to read "between the lines. " One of his clauses is "greater control over his race programme." That tells me a lot. Pogi has said on many occasions, that he prefers one day races over stage races. In one day races you give it all you've got, especially if it's a famous one day race like the Monuments or other historical classics, where all the best cyclists show up. No thinkig and calculating about the race that happened yesterday and the race that will be tomorrow or the next day, like in stage races. It's that one day, when you leave your heart on the road. That's what Pogi loves. So my take is: When Pogi will win another 2 to 3 TdF it will be over for him. That's where his clause "greater control over his race programme" will be impemented. That's why he's preparing Del Toro, to take over the Giro, Tour and Vuelta races, and Pogi will concentrate only on one day races in his "old age." He will put on more muscle and weight and race most of the classics. I can hardly wait those days to come!!!PogiSloFans19-08-2026
- Yeah, exactly... you just can't handle the truth. I just don't understand why you hate His Royal Infalible Pogness???PogiSloFans19-08-2026
- One more thing they talked about: Carera did not disclose all the details, while Benson cites the possibility of discussions about copyrights and the use of Pogačar's own advertising material, used to promote his own brand and products. The Tadej Pogačar official logo is “T” and “P” - identifying him. The MET helmets already use this logo. All I can say; We are watcing a legend being "born" and his legacy will go on for decades.PogiSloFans19-08-2026
- Die for your country? What nonsense Raf! I understand that that is a quote from Wilfred Owens anti war poem but you have used it out of context here.Cyclingsbestfan19-08-2026
Loading
Write a comment