The route varies over the years and favours different types of riders. Tim Wellens is the record holder with three overall wins whilst in 2025 Arnaud de Lie conquered the overall classification after a formidable battle with Mathieu van der Poel.
Renewi Tour 2026 Route and Stage Schedule
Preview Renewi Tour 2026 overall classifcation
Unlike last year, the overall classification battle appears to be very open. Mathieu van der Poel is not present, and whilst defending champion Arnaud de Lie is, his form over the past few months has been very low.
Hence it is an open race for plenty riders, and no clear favourite. UAE back up Florian Vermeersch and the likes of Per Strand Hagenes, Soren Kragh Andersen, Alberto Bettiol and Fred Wright get a sole leadership that can be quite interesting and motivating.
Decathlon have both Tiesj Benoot and Paul Lapeira who will be dangerous; Red Bull have Laurence Pithie and Tim van Dijke; INEOS have Ben Turner, Magnus Sheffield and Sam Watson… Teams with depth have the advantage here, in a race with a few stages that are for the classics specialists but are not overly selective.
Jasper Philipsen, Matej Mohoric, Jonas Abrahamsen, Matteo Trentin, Lukas Kubis and Jon Barrenetxea are also interesting riders to take into consideration for the overall classification.Prediction Renewi Tour 2026 overall classification:
*** Tiesj Benoot, Florian Vermeersch, Laurence Pithie
** Tim van Dijke, Ben Turner, Per Strand Hagenes
* Arnaud de Lie, Jasper Philipsen, Paul Lapeira, Magnus Sheffield, Sam Watson, Jonas Abrahamsen, Alberto Bettiol, Fred Wright, Lukas Kubis
Pick: Laurence Pithie
Preview Renewi Tour 2026 Stage 1The sprinter field here is perhaps the best out of the entire season. We have Tim Merlier, Jasper Philipsen and Jonathan Milan all lining up at the start in pursuit of success in the bunch sprints and this first stage will certainly feature one. It’s an explosive day, but the climbs are not meaningful and there are too many interests to bring it back to a sprint.
The three best sprinters in the world are present – although you would include Paul Magnier in that conversation, who is the only one missing here. Behind them there is equal quality almost in the pure sprinter Dylan Groenewegen; whilst both Biniam Girmay and Olav Kooij are also present.
Soren Waerensjold, Arnaud de Lie, Pavel Bittner, Juan Sebastián Molano and Sam Welsford are all, on their best day, also top sprinters who can grab an opportunity with certainty.
Prediction Renewi Tour 2026 stage 1:
*** Tim Merlier, Jasper Philipsen, Jonathan Milan
** Olav Kooij, Biniam Girmay, Dylan Groenewegen
* Pavel Bittner, Arnaud de Lie, Tom Crabbe, Soren Waerenskjold, Arne Marit, Juan Sebastián Molano, Sam Welsford, Arvid de Kleijn, Madis Mihkels, Davide Ballerini
Pick: Tim Merlier
Profile stage 1: Diest – Diest
Diest – Diest, 191 kilometers
The race begins in Diest and the opening stage will both start and finish in the Belgian city. It will immediately be an explosive stage, where a few riders may look to get ahead in the fight for the overall classification.
The stage features two cobbled ascents which will be tackled twice; and then a final circuit that will have four laps and a small climb of 400 meters at 5.5% – with a golden kilometer placed 21 kilometers from the finish.
A stage that is likely to finish in a sprint once again in Diest, however not something that can be said with certainty with quite a few obstacles in the day.
Profile stage 2: Blankenberge – Ardooie
Blankeberge – Ardooie, 174 kilometers
Stage 2 takes place in the Flandrien flatlands. The region often has very strong wind and exposed roads, making a seemingly innocent sprint stage one that can be very dangerous, and crucial for the overall classifications.
The riders do not tackle a single climb throughout the day, and have a golden kilometer with 20 to go. But after the start in Blankenberge, it is still inevitable that a bunch sprint will decide things in Ardooie.
Profile stage 3: Celles – Geraardsbergen
Celles – Geraardsbergen, 181 kilometers
The queen stage is one that is familiar to the riders that participate in the spring classics. The peloton takes on the ‘Geraardsbergen stage’ on the third day of racing, likely the most important of the week.
Climbs such as the Knokteberg, the Paterberg, Oude Kruisberg and Berg ten Houte are all climbed early in the day, before the riders move on to the circuit that will decide the stage.
The riders climb the full Denderoordberg (700 meters at 7%); Muur de Geraardsbergen (1.2Km; 7.1%) and Bosberg (1.4Km at 4.6%) on two separate occasions. Each time, the steep ‘Muur’ packs the chance to blow the race to bits in its narrow road and extremely steep sections.
The riders then on one more occasion go up the Denderoordberg with a mere 5 kilometers to go, before finishing in the center of Geraardsbergen with an iconic cobbled uphill sprint.
Profile stage 4: Riemst – Bilzen
Riemst – Bilzen, 187 kilometers
The fourth stage of the race is a rugged one, going through the traditionally explosive Belgian terrain that favours the classics specialists. With the overall classification at play, such a stage could detonate.
There are plenty small climbs throughout the day in what is essentially a circuit stage. They are all short, and not overly explosive, but the roads will feature a constant up and down.
With only 7.5 kilometers to go there is a small hilltop that can be used for late attacks, whilst the golden kilometer is 25 kilometers away from the finish. In Bilzen, the sprint also packs a small uphill gradient.
Stage 5: Leuven – Leuven 
Leuven – Leuven, 183 kilometers
The race ends in Leuven with the same circuit that saw last year’s dramatic finale. The city hosted the 2021 World Championships and the circuit is designed for explosive racing.
In the roads of Leuven, putting on an organized chase is very hard. The stage is 183 kilometers long and the final 50 will be inside the city, with its three-ascent design featuring plenty opportunities for attacks.
The climbs are interesting, but the technical aspect of the circuit makes it specially attractive for attacks – including long-range ones. Tactical racing is assured, whilst a bunch sprint of some sorts also can’t be ruled out.
List of winners Renewi Tour