Recap & Winning Moments: 2026 Tour of Flanders
Vollering and Pogačar put on an exhibition
The Tour of Flanders is not just a race – it’s a brutal reckoning. The cobbled slopes of the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg tear at legs and spirit alike, while narrow roads and roaring crowds create chaos and pressure. Every surge burns, every mistake punishes. Strength alone isn’t enough – it takes resilience, courage and a level of defiance to win. Here’s a recap of the 2026 edition.
Men’s race
The 2026 men’s race delivered a decisive and familiar outcome with race favorite Tadej Pogačar asserting his dominance. The race was shaped by his repeated attacks on iconic climbs like the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg that reduced the field to a select group of favourites. With around 18km to go, Pogačar then launched a powerful move on the final ascent of the Oude Kwaremont, immediately distancing his main rival Mathieu van der Poel. Despite strong chasing efforts, the Slovenian steadily increased his gap and rode solo to the finish in Oudenaarde. Van der Poel secured second place, while Remco Evenepoel completed the podium, on debut.
The win marked Pogačar’s third Tour of Flanders title, placing him among the race’s all-time greats and underlining his dominance in one-day classics. The race was aggressive throughout, with key contenders like Wout van Aert and Mads Pedersen also animating the action but unable to match the winning move. Watch the winning move here:
Women’s race
The women’s race saw a dynamic and attacking contest over 164km of cobbled roads and climbs. Dutch rider Demi Vollering claimed victory with a decisive late attack, breaking clear in the final kilometres after the key climbs whittled down the peloton. She held off strong challengers to take her first Tour of Flanders win.
Behind her, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot finished second, with Puck Pieterse in third, while pre-race favourite Lotte Kopecky was unable to respond to the decisive move. The race followed a selective pattern, with climbs like the Koppenberg and Oude Kwaremont shaping the finale, but Vollering’s perfectly timed attack proved the difference. Her victory highlighted both tactical precision and climbing strength in one of women’s cycling’s most prestigious one-day races. Watch the winning move here: