Tour of Flanders 2026: Route

Sunday 6 April -This year's High Mass of Flemish cycling begins in Antwerp. The route spans 271 kilometres, featuring sixteen (cobbled) climbs and seven flat cobbled sections. As usual, the Tour of Flanders comes down to the last 55 kilometres, with the cobbled Kwaremont–Paterberg combo as the final obstacles before a 13-kilometre flat run-in.

Published on 22 March 2026

The final 55 kilometres are slightly easier compared to recent editions. With the Steenbeekdries and Stationsberg removed from the route, this section has one less cobbled climb and one less cobbled sector, potentially giving struggling riders just enough time to recover before the decisive finale on the Taaienberg, Oude Kruisberg/Hotond, Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg.

But let’s start at the beginning. After a year in Bruges, the race returns to Antwerp. Following a neutral phase of 9.6 kilometres, the start flag waves on the Linkeroever, after which attacks from the breakaway hopefuls are likely to come thick and fast. Once the breakaway is clear, it’s a waiting game for the first cobbles to appear after 102 kilometres on the Lippenhovestraat, immediately followed by a sector on the Paddestraat. Just over 30 kilometres later, the Oude Kwaremont marks the first climb of the day. By then, the Tour of Flanders is roughly halfway through.

About 15 kilometres after the Oude Kwaremont comes the Eikenberg. By this stage, the race is really starting to heat up. From here on, obstacles come thick and fast. The cobbles of the Holleweg flow seamlessly into the Wolvenberg, and shortly after, the riders are battling the Kerkgate and Jagerij. The sequence of Molenberg, Marlboroughstraat, Berendries and Valkenberg is packed into the following 15 kilometres.

Via the Berg Ten Houte and the Nieuwe Kruisberg/Hotond, the riders head into the heart of the Tour of Flanders. With 55 kilometres remaining, they tackle the Oude Kwaremont/Paterberg combo for the first time. The action continues through the Koppenberg, Mariaborrestraat, Taaienberg and Oude Kruisberg/Hotond, a series of obstacles packed into less than 20 kilometres.

Around 8 kilometres after cresting the Oude Kruisberg/Hotond, the riders tackle the Oude Kwaremont for the final time. Its summit lies 16.7 kilometres from the finish, with the only remaining obstacle being the Paterberg. At merely 360 metres, it still poses a serious challenge, as the average gradient sits at 12.9% and the steepest section is 20.3%. So in theory it's a perfect place to shake off any rivals.

When Tadej Pogacar won the Tour of Flanders in 2023 and 2025, he began his decisive moves on the penultimate ascent of the Oude Kwaremont. On every climb thereafter, he continued to apply the pressure. Last year, only Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, Jasper Stuyven and Mads Pedersen were hanging on at the final time Oude Kwaremont. The world champion then struck decisively and soloed to victory.

If he wins again, Pogacar will join a select group of three-time Tour of Flanders champions. Only Achiel Buysse, Fiorenzo Magni, Eric Leman, Johan Museeuw, Tom Boonen, Fabian Cancellara and Mathieu van der Poel have won ‘De Ronde’ three times. This imples that Van der Poel will be the sole record-holder with four victories if he wins.

Fancy riding the route yourself? Download GPX 2026 Tour of Flanders.

The Tour of Flanders starts at 10:00 and is expected to finish around 16:40 - both local times (CEST). For details, see the scheduled times in the slideshow below; specifications for all the climbs can be found under ‘Climbs & Cobbles’.