A first-time winner is all but guaranteed in at least one of the three Ardennes Classics, with some top favourites – including Tadej Pogačar – opting out of the triple crown.
Cor Vos, Gruber Images
The Ardennes Classics have become a bit of a coda to their flatter, more cobbled, more Flemish cousins further north. While the Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège have often presented opportunities for the underdogs among the more climb-oriented puncheurs, we’re now very used to seeing the same riders show themselves across the entire spring. There is, though, at least some reason to be excited about Ardennes Week 2026.
Before we get ahead of ourselves, it’s worth pointing out that at least two outcomes this week are fairly easily predictable. That is, Remco Evenepoel will try and go solo to avoid a repeat of his 2025 disappointment at the Amstel Gold Race, and Tadej Pogačar will come back fighting post-Paris-Roubaix to win his third Liège-Bastogne-Liège in a row, capping off his remarkable spring Classics campaign.
However, there will be reason to tune in, if for no other reason than a determined optimism that one or many will spice things up, do their damnedest to spoil the favourites’ party, just as Mattias Skjelmose managed 12 months ago.
Skjelmose shocks Pogačar and Evenepoel to win the Amstel Gold Race
For the first time in recent memory, a long-range strike from Tadej Pogačar was brought to heel.
A new chapter for the Amstel Gold Race
There have been some truly epic editions of Amstel Gold in the past decade or so: Michał Kwiatkowski’s first and only win in the rainbow bands of road world champion in 2015, and his second win seven years later; Philippe Gilbert’s fourth and final win on happy hunting ground in 2017; Wout van Aert’s contentious sprint victory ahead of Tom Pidcock in 2021, and the Brit’s redemptive triumph three years later; Mattias Skjelmose’s surprise win after he and Evenepoel brought Pogačar to heel last season – but none have come close to the legendary 2019 edition which became a benchmark for one-day drama, a reference point for every race since, and proof that Group 2 Syndrome can be overcome if only you’re motivated (and strong) enough to throw caution to the wind.
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