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 Alpecin-Premier Tech; Soudal – Quick-Step; NSN Cycling Team (Hugo Hofstetter); Groupama – FDJ United; Team Picnic PostNL; Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe (Jordi Meeus & Danny van Poppel) and Lotto-Intermarché.Startlist Le Samyn 2026 Alpecin – Premier Tech1Thijssen, Gerben2Rickaert, Jonas3Dillier, Silvan4Price-Pejtersen, Johan5Sénéchal, Florian6Geens, Jonas7Dehairs, SimonSoudal – Quick-Step11Rex, Laurenz12Bastiaens, Ayco13Svrček, Martin14Vangheluwe, Warre15Desal, Ceriel16Tricht, Stan Van17Lerberghe, Bert VanTotalEnergies21Dauphin, Florian22Boulahoite, Rayan23Gachignard, Thomas24Thierry, Pierre25Marcerou, Nicola26Tesson, Jason27Vadic, BaptisteNSN Cycling Team31Hofstetter, Hugo32Kogut, Oded33Watts, Kiaan34Pirinen, Miko35Tricht, Floris Van36Verbrugghe, Jens37Asbroeck, Tom VanGroupama – FDJ United41Barthe, Cyril42Fontaine, Titouan43Gruel, Thibaud44Huens, Axel45Milan, Matteo46Penhoët, Paul47Agnoletto, BlakeTeam Visma – Lease a Bike51Aert, Wout van52Kerckhove, Matisse Van53Belle, Loe van54Hagenes, Per Strand55Laporte, Christophe56Mattio, Pietro57Taillieu, AldoTeam Picnic PostNL61Biesterbos, Frits62Berg, Julius van den63Scheldeman, Xander64Flynn, Sean65Jakobsen, Fabio66Haquin, Henri-François67Roosen, TimoRed Bull – BORA – hansgrohe71Meeus, Jordi72Marit, Arne73Drizners, Jarrad74Poppel, Danny van75Magagnotti, Alessio76Mouris, Michiel77Vermeersch, GianniLotto – Intermarché81Grisel, Matys82Beullens, Cedric83Braet, Vito84Ørn-Kristoff, Felix85Schuyteneer, Steffen De86Grignard, Sébastien87Sintmaartensdijk, Roel vanUnibet Rose Rockets91Reinders, Elmar92Vries, Hartthijs de93Bloem, Joren94Feldmann, Karsten Larsen95Groenewegen, Dylan96Kopecký, Tomáš97Kubiš, LukášTeam Flanders – Baloise101Huysmans, Nolan102Lambrecht, Michiel103Thonnon, Senne104Torney, Artuur105Haute, Milan Van den106Vandenbranden, Noah107Vanhoof, WardCofidis111Aniołkowski, Stanisław112Biermans, Jenthe113Page, Hugo114Renard, Alexis116Teuns, Dylan117Maas, JanModern Adventure Pro Cycling121Boardman, Samuel122Christian, Sean123Caudell, Ezra124McDonald, Brody125Oliver, Ben126Pickrell, Riley127Stewart, MarkEEW-VDK Cyclingteam131Wal, Rik van der132Bouma, Jelle133Uptegrove, Ed134Schulten, Chiel135Bronswijk, Mike136Visser, Guillaume137Huitema, JasperVolkerWessels Cycling Team141Abma, Elmar142Bolle, Bert143Claeys, Robbe144Crockett, Finn145Dobbelaere, Born De146Paardekooper, Thijmen147Woets, MattanjaBEAT CC pb Saxo151Dekker, David152Appel, Stijn153Maas, Marijn154Kerckhaert, Jochem155Kroonen, Max156Coppens, Michiel157Sintmaartensdijk, Daan vanTarteletto – Isorex161Dupont, Timothy162Lauryssen, Yorben163Moonen, Zeno164Santy, Arne165Harteel, Jelle166Petegem, Axandre Van167Vermoote, JelleElite Fondations Cycling Team171George, Alfred172Rouiller, Loris173Blum, Elia174Sommer, Jan175Jean, Victor176Darbellay, Valentin177Bögli, NoahTeam Lotto Kern-Haus Outlet Montabaur181Huppertz, Joshua183Rottmann, Jonathan184Jablonski, Ole185Behrens, Eike186Grupp, LouisVan Rysel Roubaix191Arnes, Daniel192Avoine, Kévin193Heremans, Joppe194Oosterlinck, Joes195Raugel, Antoine196Tendon, Arnaud197Théot, KillianSt Michel – Preference Home – Auber93201Bénéteau, Lucas202Bouquet, Axel203Berger, Antoine205Delacroix, Théo206Lecroq, Jérémy207Niekerk, Morné vanBahrain Victorious211Segaert, Alec212Borgo, Alessandro213Bruttomesso, Alberto214Eržen, Zak215Govekar, Matevž216Stannard, Robert217Dunwoody, SethAtom 6 Bikes – Cycleur de Luxe – Auto Stroo Team221Dhaeye, Enrico222Gullhav, Kristoffer223King, Matthew224McKay, James225Nielsen, Magnus226Radcliffe, George227Rigole, BrianAarco231Baguelin, Jocelyn232Dockx, Gilles233Hannes, Victor234Lowagie, Arthur235Staes, Gibbe236Broek, Axel Van den237Zabelinskiy, BogdanColor Code – Alu Center241Desmarets, Julien242Melotte, Matteo243Noirhomme, Arnaud244Wertz, Hugo245Marx, Louis246Cardinal, Nathan247Jacques, Lucas