In Flanders Fields 2026: Philipsen sprints to triumph in thriller

fotobureau Cor VosWout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel light up In Flanders Fields with a fantastic show, but when they are reeled in just before the flamme rouge, the fast men take over. Jasper Philipsen powers to victory, with Tobias Lund Andresen and Christophe Laporte completing the podium. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results – 2026 In Flanders Fields

1. Jasper Philipsen (bel) 5:08:03
2. Tobias Lund Andresen (den) s.t.
3. Christophe Laporte (fra) s.t.
4. Arnaud De Lie (bel) s.t.
5. Robert Donaldson (gbr) s.t.
6. Matteo Trentin (ita) s.t.
7. Luca Mozzato (ita) s.t.
8. Aimé De Gendt (bel) s.t.
9. Jonas Abrahamsen (nor) s.t.
10. Jasper Stuyven (bel) s.t.

Race report

Julius Johansen, Victor Vercouillie, Camill Charret and Wessel Mouris initiate the breakaway, and after 20 kilometres Dries De Bondt, Frits Biesterbos, Jules Hesters and Hartthijs de Vries also join them. The upen up a maximum lead of 6 minutes.

Well before the hilly section, the peloton breaks and the likes of Filippo Ganna, Tobias Lund Andresen and Jonathan Milan are forced to chase. They regain contact on the approach to the Monteberg, but dark horse Matthew Brennan is still missing.

After the plugstreets, the lead group is down to De Bondt, Biesterbos, Johansen, Vercouillie, De Vries and Mouris, while Wout van Aert, Florian Vermeersch and Mathieu van der Poel come across on the second ascent of the Kemmelberg. Reaching the top, the three have replaced Vercouillie at the front.

Reaching the final, steepest ascent of the Kemmelberg, Van Aert and Van der Poel shake off the remaining early attackers. Vermeersch reaches the summit 9 seconds behind the two.

With 12 kilometres to go, the peloton swallows up Vermeersch. The gap to the leading duo is then 23 seconds and they keep edging closer, until they start the final five kilometres with a 10-second advantage. Alec Segaert is chasing alone and joins Van Aert and Van der Poel with four kilometres to the finish.

Just before the flamme rouge, Segaert attacks, and almost at the same moment Filippo Ganna leads the peloton across to the two escapees. Segaert cannot hold on either, and it’s over to the fast men.

Tobias Lund Andresen opens the sprint, but Jasper Philipsen comes alongside and powers to victory. The Dane finishes second, with Christophe Laporte crossing the line in third.

Other interesting reads: route and start list 2026 In Flanders Fields.