The 2026 road season is slowly approaching. Preparations have only just begun, but many important changes are expected for next year's calendar. One of them has to do with the renaming of one of the most historic and prestigious races, the Gent Wevelgem.
The Gent Wevelgem is a race that has been held for almost 100 years. The first edition was in 1934. Its new name will no longer include 'Gent', which was the most recognizable thing about it. The reason? The start will no longer take place in Ypres, but in Middelkerke (a place that has just held, by the way, the European Cyclocross Championships).
The official name of the race will be the following: "In Flanders Fields. From Middelkerke to Wevelgem". The reality is that it is quite long, perhaps what makes it representative is the beginning: "In Flanders Fields"
Exactly the same thing has already happened with one of the best stage races on the calendar: the Criterium du Dauphiné. From 2026, the preparation race for the Tour de France will be renamed Tour Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, but at least this one isn't as long and doesn't feel like a sentence.
Mads Pedersen is one of the cyclists who has won most times "In Flanders Fields".
List of winners of the new In Flanders Fields
The new name of In Flanders Fields does not mean that the winners of the race will restart from scratch. The palmarès will obviously remain the same despite the name change, and the biggest winners of this prestigious Belgian classic are as follows:
- Robert Van Eenaeme: 3 times (1936, 1937 and 1945).
- Rik Van Looy: 3 times (1956, 1957 and 1962).
- Eddy Merckx: 3 times (1967, 1970 and 1973).
- Tom Boonen: 3 times (2004, 2011 and 2012).
- Mario Cipollini: 3 times (1992, 1993 and 2002).
- Peter Sagan: 3 times (2013, 2016 and 2018).
- Mads Pedersen: 3 times (2020, 2024 and 2025).
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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