With the announcement of Celles as host for the start of the third stage, the route for the 2026 Renewi Tour is now complete. The other stage venues had already been confirmed, including the Grand Départ in Diest and the final stage in and around Leuven. The 21st edition of the Renewi Tour, the most sustainable stage race on the cycling calendar and the only multi-day WorldTour competition in the Benelux, will take place this summer from 19 to 23 August.
One of the key stages in the Renewi Tour is traditionally the stage finishing on the Vesten in Geraardsbergen. Celles in Hainaut is the starting point for this queen stage for the first time this year. Celles-Geraardsbergen, featuring climbs such as the Muur van Geraardsbergen and the Bosberg, is the third stage of the 2026 Renewi Tour on Friday 21 August. Last year, Mathieu van der Poel triumphed in Geraardsbergen.
Like Celles, Diest is also a newcomer to the Renewi Tour. At the end of March, the Flemish ‘Orange City’ was already able to announce that it would be organising the Grand Départ of the Renewi Tour this year and that it would also serve as the finish location for a stage in 2028 and 2030. On Wednesday 19 August, Diest-Diest, a challenging stage that crosses the Hageland, will be the opening stage of the 21st Renewi Tour. On Tuesday evening, 18 August, all participating teams and riders will be presented to the public in Diest.
The second stage, on Thursday 20 August, will run from Blankenberge to Ardooie, just like last year when Olav Kooij proved himself the fastest in the peloton. On Saturday and Sunday, the most sustainable stage race on the cycling calendar revisits familiar territory too: the fourth stage takes place in Limburg and runs from Riemst to Bilzen-Hoeselt (won last year by Tim Merlier). The final stage on Sunday takes place in and around Leuven, where Arnaud De Lie beat Mathieu van der Poel in the battle for the stage and overall victory in 2025.
Sustainability & safety
Just as in previous editions, organiser Golazo and title partner Renewi are launching numerous sustainability and inclusion initiatives this year: unique medals made from recycled materials, maximum use of green or renewable energy, the organisation’s race convoy consisting of electric vehicles, the use of crockery, glass and recyclable materials in the VIP areas with a varied range of vegetarian and healthy options, specific waste zones in the riders’ village to collect the teams’ waste separately, …
In addition to the environmental initiatives, there is also renewed collaboration with Safe Cycling to scrutinise the entire route in the run-up to the event and optimise it in terms of signage and safety.
“Absolute WorldTour quality”
“With the stage schedule for the 2026 Renewi Tour, we are once again setting the bar high,” says Christophe Impens of organiser Golazo. “From the Grand Départ in Diest to the final stage in Leuven, featuring iconic cycling terrain such as the Muur and Bosberg on the way to Geraardsbergen, we are bringing five days of absolute WorldTour quality. The fact that Celles is making its debut as a stage venue underlines our ambition to involve new regions in top-level cycling, without compromising on sporting value. Together with Renewi, we also remain at the forefront in terms of sustainability and safety. The Renewi Tour is not only a race for the world’s strongest riders, but also a benchmark for what a modern, socially responsible cycling tour should look like.”
Harld Peters, Chief Executive Officer of Renewi: “The Renewi Tour fits perfectly with the role Renewi wishes to play as a sustainable partner for major events. Cycling offers a strong platform that demonstrates that responsibility and sustainability can also be integral parts of the sport. This 2026 edition once again shows that top-level sport and sustainability can go hand in hand. Together with Golazo, we remain committed to circular solutions during the race, with a focus on waste prevention, reuse and maximum recycling.”
PRACTICAL INFO 2026 RENEWI TOUR
Stage schedule:
• Tuesday 18 August 2026: Team presentation Diest
• Wednesday 19 August 2026: Stage 1: Diest – Diest
• Thursday 20 August 2026: Stage 2: Blankenberge – Ardooie
• Friday 21 August 2026: Stage 3: Celles – Geraardsbergen
• Saturday 22 August 2026: Stage 4: Riemst – Bilzen-Hoeselt
• Sunday 23 August 2026: Stage 5: Leuven – Leuven
Live on TV:
The 2026 Renewi Tour will be broadcast live on Sporza (VRT) and Tipik (RTBF) and on Eurosport outside of Belgium.
