All information about the route and teams for Tour of Flanders 2026
On Sunday, April 5, the Flemish cycling spring reaches its climax with the Tour of Flanders. Once again this year, the men will start from Antwerp, while Oudenaarde remains the base for the women’s race. Many big names have Flanders' Finest on their schedule, including Tadej Pogačar, Lotte Kopecky, Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel. The latter can become the sole record holder.
After presenting the riders one by one to the public on Antwerp’s Grote Markt, the starting gun for the 110th edition of the Tour of Flanders for men will sound at 10:00 on the Ernest van Dijckkaai. The peloton will then head through the city center and the Meir towards the Left Bank for the official start.
On the way to the Flemish Ardennes, the riders will cross 6 Tour Villages this year: from the Grote Markt in Sint-Niklaas, they will head to Hamme, Erpe-Mere, Haaltert, Herzele, and Zottegem, where the first cobbled sectors await on Lippenhovestraat and Paddestraat. The women will also pass through these last two Tour Villages. After the start at 13:15 on the Markt in Oudenaarde, they will head via the cobbles of Lange Munte towards Herzele and Zottegem.
Course
The first of three climbs of the Oude Kwaremont marks the men’s first ascent of the day, 136 km from the finish. With 45 km remaining, both men and women begin their finale on the Koppenberg. The climb in Melden is followed by the Mariaborrestraat (this year without the Steenbeekdries due to roadworks), Taaienberg, and Oude Kruisberg/Hotond. The key section this year is again the Oude Kwaremont – Paterberg duo, with the top of the latter 13 km from the finish on the Minderbroedersstraat in Oudenaarde.
The men will reach the finish around 16:20 after approximately 270 km. The winner of the women’s Tour of Flanders will have covered 164 km. We will welcome her around 17:25 on the Minderbroedersstraat.
Teams
The men’s UCI WorldTour teams are joined by three teams automatically guaranteed a spot due to their performances last season: Cofidis, Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, and Tudor Pro Cycling Team. These teams can also plan their trip to Antwerp: Burgos-BH, Team Flanders – Baloise, TotalEnergies, and Unibet Rose Rockets.
The wildcards for the women’s race go to Cofidis Women Team, Laboral Kutxa – Fundación Euskadi, Lotto Intermarché Ladies, Mayenne Monbana My Pie, St Michel – PREFERENCE HOME – Auber 93, and VolkerWessels Cycling Team.
