The first phase of the 2026 season is done. With the UAE Tour, Volta ao Algarve and Vuelta a Andalucía wrapped up, the focus now shifts to what many consider the most captivating stretch of the cycling calendar: the spring classics.
Stage racing will continue, but March and April belong to the one-day specialists. Cobbles, sterrato, crosswinds and climbs. Strade Bianche. Opening Weekend. Milano-Sanremo. The Tour of Flanders. Paris-Roubaix. Liege-Bastogne-Liege. It is a period that defines reputations and crowns legends.
And this year, the star power is extraordinary. Tadej Pogacar. Mathieu van der Poel. Wout van Aert. Remco Evenepoel. Jasper Philipsen. Mads Pedersen. Cian Uijtdebroeks. Matteo Jorgenson. Isaac del Toro. Tom Pidcock. Julian Alaphilippe. Biniam Girmay.
With that in mind, here are the five riders generating the most anticipation ahead of the 2026 spring classics. Would you pick the same five?
1. Tadej Pogacar
The most obvious name comes first.
All eyes are on Strade Bianche on 7 March, where Pogacar will make his 2026 debut with one clear objective: to win again. He returns as defending champion from 2024 and 2025, aiming to extend a run of victories that stretches back to last year’s World Championships in Kigali.
But his ambitions do not stop in Tuscany. The UAE Team Emirates - XRG leader is once again targeting all five Monuments. After Strade Bianche, his programme includes Milano-Sanremo on 21 March, the Tour of Flanders on 5 April, Paris-Roubaix on 12 April and Liege-Bastogne-Liege on 26 April.
After a near-perfect 2025, the bar could hardly be higher.
2. Mathieu van der Poel
If Pogacar sits at the top, van der Poel is right alongside him.
The Dutchman remains the great spring rival, particularly in Milano-Sanremo and Paris-Roubaix — two Monuments Pogacar has yet to add to his palmares. When van der Poel lines up, he does so as a genuine favourite.
His road calendar has not yet been officially confirmed. His cyclocross season concluded on 1 February with victory at the World Championships in Hulst, where he secured a record eighth rainbow jersey.
Even so, expectations are clear: Milano-Sanremo, Flanders and Roubaix are almost certain to feature, along with at least one preparatory outing.
3. Wout van Aert
Few riders command spring attention quite like Wout van Aert.
His fractured ankle at the Exact Cross in Mol on 3 January initially raised serious concern within Team Visma | Lease a Bike. Yet his recovery has progressed rapidly, and his return to the road is imminent.
Van Aert is set to begin at Opening Weekend on 28 February, leading the team at Omloop Nieuwsblad. His schedule then includes Le Samyn on 3 March, Strade Bianche on 7 March, and Tirreno-Adriatico as preparation for his two major targets: Milano-Sanremo and the Tour of Flanders.
Whenever Van Aert starts a spring campaign, expectation follows.
4. Mads Pedersen
Mads Pedersen’s form remains one of the key unknowns of this spring.
The Dane opened his 2026 season at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana but crashed on the first stage, suffering multiple fractures. For a moment, his favourite part of the year appeared under threat.
His classics campaign has been delayed, yet significant appearances are still expected. Should he hit top condition, he has the pedigree to challenge anyone. His likely programme includes Milan-San Remo on 21 March, E3 Saxo Classic on 27 March, Gent-Wevelgem on 29 March, Dwars door Vlaanderen on 1 April, the Tour of Flanders on 5 April and Paris-Roubaix on 12 April.
If fit, he will not simply be making up the numbers.
5. Cian Uijtdebroeks
Cian Uijtdebroeks’ spring will follow a different path.
The Movistar Team talent returns from injury at Paris-Nice before racing Itzulia. Both stage races offer crucial opportunities for the Spanish squad to collect valuable UCI points during a traditionally challenging stretch of the calendar.
After that, attention turns to the Ardennes. Uijtdebroeks is expected to race La Fleche Wallonne on 22 April and Liege-Bastogne-Liege on 26 April. A top-10 in either would represent an important step forward for both the rider and the team.
Of course, other major names will shape the narrative. Remco Evenepoel is scheduled for the Ardennes trilogy — Amstel Gold Race, La Fleche Wallonne and Liege-Bastogne-Liege — with a possible Milano-Sanremo appearance still undecided.
However, the level of anticipation differs slightly. The Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe leader has already raced five times in 2026, including the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana and the UAE Tour. By contrast, several of the riders above have either yet to debut or have barely been seen this season.
And that sense of absence only makes the wait for the spring classics feel even bigger.
Jorge BorregueroWriter
Jorge Borreguero is a journalist with a degree from the Complutense University of Madrid and has been a writer for Cyclinguptodate and Ciclismoaldia since early 2023. In this role, he has played a key part in the evolution of the website, particularly as a specialist covering Movistar Team. He regularly writes race reports, analytical pieces, and in-depth features about the team, and has conducted exclusive interviews and attended multiple team presentations, providing readers with firsthand insights into one of the leading professional cycling squads.
Throughout his career, Jorge has maintained a strong focus on sports journalism, gaining experience across a variety of disciplines, including basketball and football. However, his current work is almost entirely dedicated to cycling, contributing extensively to Ciclismoaldia and its sister website Cyclinguptodate. For these platforms, he combines thorough research with detailed reporting to deliver high-quality content, ranging from race previews and results to expert analysis of teams and riders.
Jorge’s reporting is marked by accuracy, depth, and a commitment to providing readers with reliable and authoritative information. His direct engagement with teams, athletes, and events ensures that his coverage reflects firsthand knowledge and professional insight. Through his work, he has established himself as a trusted voice in professional cycling journalism, bridging the gap between the sport and its global audience while maintaining rigorous editorial standards.
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