The 21st edition of the Renewi Tour gets underway on Wednesday with a tough stage in Diest, which is set to host the Grand Départ of the Benelux’s only UCI WorldTour stage race for the first time. Flandriens must be ready on Friday for the queen stage to Geraardsbergen, featuring climbs such as the Muur van Geraardsbergen and the Bosberg. The final stage, in Leuven on Sunday, also promises to be a challenging one. In between, there will be opportunities for the fast riders in Ardooie and Bilzen-Hoeselt. The world’s top sprinters have already announced their attendance in the Renewi Tour: Jasper Philipsen, Tim Merlier, Jonathan Milan and Olav Kooij. Defending champion Arnaud De Lie will also be taking part.
On Tuesday evening between 5.30 pm and 7 pm, the Grote Markt in Diest will be the setting for the official Renewi Tour team presentation. The following day, the competition gets underway in the ‘Flemish Orange City’ with an exciting 191 km stage. The riders will race through the hilly Hageland region, including several ascents of the Grasbos.
Alongside Diest, Celles is another newcomer to the Renewi Tour. On Friday, this Hainaut municipality will be the starting point for the queen stage to Geraardsbergen. At the start, the peloton will complete a few short loops around the Ferme d’Ecavée estate before heading into the Flemish Ardennes, taking in the Muur van Geraardsbergen and the Bosberg, culminating in the traditional finish on the Vesten in Geraardsbergen.
There may well be opportunities for the sprinters on Thursday during the stage from Blankenberge to Ardooie and on Saturday on the route from Riemst to Bilzen-Hoeselt. Fast riders who hold their own in the other stages can still make a bid for stage victory there and battle it out for the overall victory. The grand finale follows on Sunday with the final stage in Leuven, featuring climbs such as the Keizersberg and the Wijnpers – which the riders will face several times – meaning the general classification could still be shaken up on the final day.
The Green Kilometre, in which bonus seconds can be gathered across all five stages, will also be of crucial importance throughout the week. After all, the Renewi Tour often comes down to a nail-biting battle for seconds. This was also the case last year, when Arnaud De Lie came out on top.
Classics riders and sprinters
Slovenian Matej Mohoric, the 2018 overall winner, is at the start again. But De Lie and Mohoric will, of course, face stiff competition between Diest and Leuven: Alec Segaert (second in 2024), Per Strand Hagenes (third in 2024), Florian Vermeersch (second in 2023), Søren Kragh Andersen (second in 2020) and Oliver Naesen (second in 2019) have all previously demonstrated their ability to contend for a place on the final podium.
There are also a host of other classics specialists on the start line. Laurence Pithie and Tim van Dijke form a strong pairing. The New Zealander has already racked up six victories in 2026, whilst the Dutchman impressed in the spring at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (second) and the Tour of Flanders. With Alberto Bettiol and Kasper Asgreen, there are also two former Tour of Flanders winners on the start line.
Belgian champion Rune Herregodts, Tiesj Benoot, Jenno Berckmoes, Quinten Hermans, Dylan van Baarle, Mike Teunissen, Toms Skujiņs, Matteo Trentin, Filippo Baroncini, Davide Ballerini, Luca Mozzato, Jonas Abrahamsen and Magnus Sheffield are certainly riders to keep an eye on.
And last but not least, of course, the sprinters. As previously announced, the four fastest riders in the peloton – Jasper Philipsen, Tim Merlier, Olav Kooij and Jonathan Milan – will appear at the start. Joining them are Søren Wærenskjold (stage winner in the Tour de France), Pavel Bittner (winner of the Teamleader points classification in 2025), Arvid de Kleijn, Biniam Girmay, Dylan Groenewegen, Lukas Kubis, Luke Lamperti, Arne Marit, Madis Mikhels, Sam Welsford, …
Safe Cycling
Just like last year, the Renewi Tour, in collaboration with Safe Cycling, will utilise innovative finish cushions and fixed digital signal boards along the course to optimise the peloton’s safety. The digital and dynamic signal boards for mobile signallers – first introduced at the Baloise Belgium Tour – will also be used in the Renewi Tour.
Christophe Impens, Director of Cycling Golazo: “The Renewi Tour proves that elite sport, sustainability and safety can go hand in hand perfectly. We have been the benchmark for sustainability within the UCI WorldTour for several years now, and this season we may even be able to claim that we are the fastest stage race of the year, with the world’s very best sprinters on the start line. At the same time, iconic stages in Geraardsbergen and Leuven provide opportunities for attackers and punchers. However, one ambition takes precedence over all others: the Renewi Tour must be one of the safest races on the international calendar. We are fully committed to this every single day.”
Harld Peters, Chief Executive Officer Renewi: “With the Renewi Tour getting underway this week, we’re looking forward to working with Golazo once again to demonstrate how sustainability can be an integral part of a top-level sporting event. Together, we’re committed to waste prevention, reuse and maximum recycling, stage by stage, both along the course and on the course. Just as in the race itself, small efforts along the way make all the difference at the finish line.”
