Although 2026 marks a new chapter under the Ronde van Brugge name, the race continues the lineage of Classic Brugge–De Panne, long established as one of the purest sprinters’ races on the calendar. Recent editions have consistently ended in fast finishes, with Juan Sebastian Molano taking victory in 2025 after a high-speed bunch sprint.
With a flat parcours around Bruges and heavy exposure to crosswinds, the race often sits on a knife-edge between a controlled sprint and echelon chaos, making positioning just as important as outright speed.
Sprint stars headline 2026 startlistThe preliminary startlist for 2026 suggests another high-level sprint showdown, led by Jasper Philipsen, who arrives as the standout name in the field and the rider many will look to beat in a likely bunch finish.He is joined by a strong group of proven winners, including Fabio Jakobsen, Dylan Groenewegen, and defending champion Sebastian Molano, giving the race a clear top tier of contenders.
Beyond that leading quartet, the depth of sprinting talent remains notable. Riders such as Phil Bauhaus, Arvid de Kleijn, Sam Welsford, Max Walscheid, and Luka Mezgec all bring credible podium ambitions, particularly if the race becomes more selective in the wind.
Sam Welsford will lead INEOS Grenadiers’ sprint charge
There is also a layer of classics specialists and powerful rouleurs who could come into play if conditions split the race, with names like Davide Ballerini, Florian Vermeersch, Colby Simmons, Michael Valgren, and Yves Lampaert adding an extra tactical dimension.
With a stacked sprint field and the ever-present threat of crosswinds, the 2026 Ronde van Brugge once again looks set to balance on the fine margins between control and chaos.
Startlist Ronde van Brugge 2026UAE Team Emirates XRG1Molano, Sebastián2Vermeersch, Florian3Giaimi, Luca4Herregodts, Rune5Laengen, Vegard Stake6Johansen, Julius7Oliveira, RuiAlpecin – Premier Tech11Philipsen, Jasper12Thijssen, Gerben13Dehairs, Simon14Geens, Jonas15Marsman, Tim16Rickaert, Jonas17Sénéchal, FlorianBahrain Victorious21Bauhaus, Phil22Gradek, Kamil23Bruttomesso, Alberto24Eržen, Zak25Skerl, Daniel26Stockwell, Oliver27Valter, AttilaDecathlon CMA CGM Team31Bol, Cees32Ghys, Robbe33Pestel, Sander De34Dewulf, Stan35Gautherat, Pierre36Gudmestad, Tord37Pollefliet, GianlucaEF Education – EasyPost41Lamperti, Luke42Albanese, Vincenzo43Mihkels, Madis44Schwarzbacher, Matthias45Simmons, Colby46Honoré, Mikkel47Berg, Marijn van denGroupama – FDJ United51Milan, Matteo52Bower, Lewis53Fontaine, Titouan54Huens, Axel55Jacobs, Johan56Barthe, Cyril57Penhoët, PaulINEOS Grenadiers61Swift, Connor62Heiduk, Kim63Shmidt, Artem64Welsford, Sam65Hamilton, Lucas66Turner, Ben67Watson, SamLidl – Trek71Consonni, Simone72Norsgaard, Mathias73Söderqvist, Jakob74Teutenberg, Tim Torn75Theuns, Edward76Vergaerde, Otto77Walscheid, MaxLotto – Intermarché81Beullens, Cedric82Braet, Vito83Schuyteneer, Steffen De84Giddings, Joshua85Orins, Robin86Taminiaux, Lionel87Sintmaartensdijk, Roel vanMovistar Team91Canal, Carlos92Aular, Orluis93Maciejuk, Filip94Serrano, Gonzalo95García Cortina, Iván96Milesi, Lorenzo97Torres, AlbertNSN Cycling Team101Hofstetter, Hugo102Einhorn, Itamar103Kogut, Oded104Mullen, Ryan105Raisberg, Nadav106Tene, Rotem107Tricht, Floris VanSoudal – Quick-Step111Rex, Laurenz112Lampaert, Yves113Vervenne, Jonathan114Gestel, Dries Van115Bossche, Fabio Van den116Lerberghe, Bert Van117Vangheluwe, WarreTeam Jayco AlUla121Mezgec, Luka122Durbridge, Luke123Donaldson, Robert124Pooter, Dries De125Krijnsen, Jelte126Capiot, Amaury127O’Brien, KellandTeam Picnic PostNL131Jakobsen, Fabio132Haquin, Henri-François133Bittner, Pavel134Märkl, Niklas135Naberman, Tim136Flynn, Sean137Berg, Julius van denUno-X Mobility141Wærenskjold, Søren142Bévort, Carl-Frederik143Blikra, Erlend144Fredheim, Stian145Ingebrigtsen, Storm146Pedersen, Henrik147Resell, ErikXDS Astana Team151Ballerini, Davide152Fedorov, Yevgeniy153Gate, Aaron154Livyns, Arjen155Kanter, Max156Syritsa, Gleb157Toneatti, DavideCofidis161Aniołkowski, Stanisław162Biermans, Jenthe163Charret, Camile164Fretin, Milan165Kirsch, Alex166Maas, Jan167Renard, AlexisTudor Pro Cycling Team171Lienhard, Fabian172Froideveaux, Robin173Kelemen, Petr174Mozzato, Luca175Kolze Changizi, Sebastian176Mikutis, Aivaras177Suter, JoelBurgos Burpellet BH181Koyama, Tomoya182Alvarez, Rodrigo183Bouglas, Georgios184Cavia, Daniel185Kmínek, Vojtěch186Macías, César187Mayer, AlexandreTeam Flanders – Baloise191Hesters, Jules192Crabbe, Tom193Geeraerts, Ferre194Huysmans, Nolan195Torney, Artuur196Haute, Milan Van den197Vandenbranden, NoahTotalEnergies201Jeannière, Emilien202Dauphin, Florian203Leroux, Samuel204Manzin, Lorrenzo205Marcerou, Nicola206Tesson, Jason207Thierry, PierreUnibet Rose Rockets211Groenewegen, Dylan212Feldmann, Karsten Larsen213Larsen, Niklas214Mouris, Wessel215Müller, Tobias216Reinders, Elmar217Stockman, Abram