Sunday March 29th 2026: In Flanders Fields - From Middelkerke to Wevelgem (241 km) 

In Flanders Fields – from Middelkerke to Wevelgem – presents itself as a kind of compact, windswept spring classic, in which open plains, cobbled sections and a series of short climbs test the peloton. The route combines the exposed coastal zone with the more rolling inland terrain, meaning the race can split early but remains tactically open to changes for a long time.

From the start on the seafront in Middelkerke, the riders face a predominantly flat opening section along open polders and towpaths, where the wind can quickly dictate the pace and the race situation. Even before the traditional hill zone, the riders are sent onto narrow farm roads and the first cobbled sectors, which creates constant positioning battles. These early passages are rarely decisive in themselves, but they do eat into the legs and stretch out the peloton towards the hill section.

In the middle part of the race, the route turns towards the southern edge of West Flanders, where a cluster of short climbs begins to define the character of the race. The climbs are rarely long, but their steep ramps and sometimes rough surfaces make them ideal places to attack. The repeated efforts, with little time to recover, turn this phase into a true war of attrition. Teams must choose between controlling the race for a sprinter or opening it up to get a select group off the front.

On the run-in to Wevelgem, the final climbs (Kemmelberg, Banenberg and again Kemmelberg) are interspersed with open, straight roads. The final kilometres towards Wevelgem are flatter, but fatigue and small gaps often produce a tense battle between a chasing group and a strong breakaway. As a result, the race balances on the edge between a sprint from a small group and a successful late attack. A long solo from the last passage over the Kemmelberg is rare, but not impossible, as we saw last year from Mighty Mads Pedersen.

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