After the ‘Opening Weekend’, the peloton will begin the semi-classic period in Belgium, consisting of many non-World Tour cobbled classics. The first of which is Le Samyn, a race with plenty history, notable winners, and with Wout van Aert at the start line this 3rd of March. We take a look at its startlist.
The event was first held in 1968 and has been a benchmark for classics specialists for decades, serving the Belgian crowd favourites many times. Since the start of the 21st century a lot of meaningful names have won here such as Magnus Bäckstedt, Robbie McEwen, Philippe Gilbert, Arnaud Démare, Niki Terpstra… It is a race that both suits the sprinters and classics specialists, an interesting dynamic, and so we have both types of riders in the palmarès.
This decade, every single edition has been won in a sprint – two of them from small groups however. Hugo Hofstetter, Tim Merlier, Matteo Trentin, Milan Menten and Laurenz Rex were all winners; whilst last year it was last-minute addition Mathieu van der Poel who opened his season here and took a victory over Paul Magnier.
Download the startlist in A4. Team Visma | Lease a Bike headline the race this year round with Wout van Aert at the start line followed by former European Champion Christophe Laporte, both big favourites. The World Tour is also represented with Bahrain – Victorious (Phil Bauhaus); NSN Cycling Team (Hugo Hofstetter); Alpecin – Premier Tech (Kaden Grovwes); Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe (Jordi Meeus); Team Picnic PostNL (Fabio Jakobsen); Lotto – Intermarché (Milan Menten); Soudal – Quick-Step and Groupama – FDJ. Dylan Groenewegen is also present, leading Unibet Rose Rockets.Startlist Le Samyn 2026
TotalEnergies
Dauphin, Florian
Dujardin, Sandy
Leroux, Samuel
Manzin, Lorrenzo
Marcerou, Nicola
Tesson, Jason
Team Lotto Kern-Haus Outlet Montabaur
Vadic, Baptiste
Behrens, Eike
Grupp, Louis
Huppertz, Joshua
Jablonski, Ole
Kess, Alexandre
Rottmann, Jonathan
Wrobel, Jesko
Aarc
Baguelin, Jocelyn
Broek, Axel Van den
Dockx, Gilles
Hannes, Victor
Lowagie, Arthur
Staes, Gibbe
Zabelinskiy, Bogdan
Modern Adventure Pro Cycling
Boardman, Samuel
Christian, Sean
Kessler, Cole
McDonald, Brody
Oliver, Ben
Pickrell, Riley
Stewart, Mark
Elite Fondations Cycling Team
Bagou, Guillaume
Bögli, Noah
Darbellay, Valentin
George, Alfred
Jean, Victor
Rouiller, Loris
Sommer, Jan
Atom 6 Bikes – Cycleur de Luxe – Auto Stroo Continental Team
Dhaeye, Enrico
Gullhav, Kristoffer
King, Matthew
McKay, James
Nielsen, Magnus
Radcliffe, George
Rigole, Brian
Unibet Rose Rockets
Bloem, Joren
Feldmann, Karsten Larsen
Groenewegen, Dylan
Johannink, Jelle
Kopecký, Tomáš
Rasenberg, Martijn
Reinders, Elmar
Townsend, Rory
EEW-VDK Cyclingteam
Ottema, Rick
Paats, Hugo
Rouffaer, Lars
Schulten, Chiel
Uptegrove, Ed
Veling, Quinten
Visser, Guillaume
VolkerWessels Cycling Team
Abma, Elmar
Bolle, Bert
Claeys, Robbe
Crockett, Finn
Dobbelaere, Born De
Paardekooper, Thijmen
Woets, Mattanja
BEAT Cycling Club
Appel, Stijn
Coppens, Michiel
Dekker, David
Kerckhaert, Jochem
Kroonen, Max
Maas, Marijn
Sintmaartensdijk, Daan van
Bahrain Victorious
Bauhaus, Phil
Borgo, Alessandro
Bruttomesso, Alberto
Eržen, Zak
Govekar, Matevž
Mechelen, Vlad Van
Stannard, Robert
NSN Cycling Team
Asbroeck, Tom Van
Hofstetter, Hugo
Kogut, Oded
Tene, Rotem
Tricht, Floris Van
Verbrugghe, Jens
Watts, Kiaan
Alpecin – Premier Tech
Dehairs, Simon
Dillier, Silvan
Geens, Jonas
Groves, Kaden
Price-Pejtersen, Johan
Rickaert, Jonas
Thijssen, Gerben
Cofidis
Allegaert, Piet
Aniołkowski, Stanisław
Biermans, Jenthe
Maas, Jan
Page, Hugo
Renard, Alexis
Teuns, Dylan
Tarteletto – Isorex
Dupont, Timothy
Lauryssen, Yorben
Moonen, Zeno
Petegem, Axandre Van
Santy, Arne
Sterck, Joppe
Vermoote, Jelle
Van Rysel Roubaix
Arnes, Daniel
Avoine, Kévin
Heremans, Joppe
Oosterlinck, Joes
Raugel, Antoine
Tendon, Arnaud
Théot, Killian
Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe
Drizners, Jarrad
Etxeberria, Haimar
Magagnotti, Alessio
Marit, Arne
Meeus, Jordi
Mouris, Michiel
Vermeersch, Gianni
St Michel – Preference Home – Auber93
Bénéteau, Lucas
Berger, Antoine
Bouquet, Axel
Cardis, Romain
Delacroix, Théo
Lecroq, Jérémy
Niekerk, Morné van
Team Flanders – Baloise
Lambrecht, Michiel
Team Picnic PostNL
Biesterbos, Frits
Corkery, Dillon
Flynn, Sean
Haquin, Henri-François
Jakobsen, Fabio
Roosen, Timo
Lotto – Intermarché
Artz, Huub
Beullens, Cedric
Braet, Vito
Buyst, Jasper De
Menten, Milan
Schuyteneer, Steffen De
Sintmaartensdijk, Roel van
Team Visma – Lease a Bike
Aert, Wout van
Behrens, Niklas
Belle, Loe van
Hagenes, Per Strand
Laporte, Christophe
Mattio, Pietro
Taillieu, Aldo
Soudal – Quick-Step
Desal, Ceriel
Gelders, Gil
Schaper, Joeri
Svrček, Martin
Tricht, Stan Van
Vangheluwe, Warre
Groupama – FDJ United
Agnoletto, Blake
Barthe, Cyril
Fontaine, Titouan
Gruel, Thibaud
Huens, Axel
Milan, Matteo
Penhoët, Paul
Color Code – Alu Center
Aernouts, Nicolas
Daix, Guillaume
Desmarets, Julien
Graff, William
Jacques, Lucas
Melotte, Matteo
Wertz, Hugo