The Classics are here at long last. Opening Weekend is but a single sleep away, with Omloop Nieuwsblad kicking things off tomorrow. Before you know it we’ll be deep in the throes of cobble chaos and punchy hills.
To get you ready, we have put together a bumper form guide to assess which contenders are primed for the Classics.
Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Mathieu van der Poel couldn’t have had a better cyclocross campaign, winning 13 consecutive races and another rainbow jersey to boot. He’s starting his road season slightly earlier than usual, lining up to make his debut at Omloop Nieuwsblad. The flying Dutchman always sets the Classics alight, and while he has no road form to go off just yet, we’re pretty confident he’ll be ready to dominate once more.
In 2025 he won Milan-San Remo, E3 Saxo Classic and Paris-Roubaix, and his growing rivalry with Tadej Pogačar will be the main draw of this year’s Classics once again, with the Slovenian hoping to turn around his fortunes at San Remo and Roubaix, while Van der Poel aims to get back on the top step at the Tour of Flanders.
Mathieu van der Poel
- Age: 31
- Classics seasons: 7
- Best Classics performances: 1st (Milan-San Remo x2, Tour of Flanders x3, Paris-Roubaix x3, Strade Bianche, Dwars door Vlaanderen x2, E3 Saxo Classic x2, Amstel Gold Race, Brabantse Pijl, Ename Samyn)
- Best result in the Classics in 2025: 1st (Milan-San Remo, E3 Saxo Classic, Paris-Roubaix)
- 2026 schedule: Omloop Nieuwsblad, Milan-San Remo, E3 Saxo Classic, In Flanders Fields – From Middelkerke to Wevelgem, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix
2026 last five results
- 1st: Cyclocross World Championships
- 1st: CX World Cup Hoogerheide
- 1st: CX World Cup Maasmechelen
- 1st: CX World Cup Benidorm
- 1st: CX World Cup Zonhoven
Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Alpecin’s next best choice, Jasper Philipsen, just happens to be one of the best sprinters in the world. Philipsen will take over leadership duties in the flatter Classics, but he can also get the job done in the Monuments, with Van der Poel leading his Belgian teammate to the 2024 Milan-San Remo win. The Alpecin-Premier Tech pair are formidable at Paris-Roubaix too, with two consecutive 1-2s in 2023 and 2024.
He’s not got off to the best start in 2026, but will be hoping to leave Opening Weekend with at least one win, having come away with third and first last time around.
Jasper Philipsen
- Age: 27
- Classics seasons: 7
- Best Classics performances: 1st (Milan-San Remo, Scheldeprijs x2, Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, Brugge-De Panne x2), 2nd (Paris-Roubaix x2), 3rd (Omloop Nieuwsblad), 4th (Dwars door Vlaanderen, Gent Wevelgem)
- Best result in a Classic in 2025: 1st (Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne)
- 2026 schedule: Omloop Nieuwsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, Nokere Koerse, Milan-San Remo, Ronde van Brugge, In Flanders Fields – From Middelkerke to Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Scheldeprijs, Paris-Roubaix
2026 last relevant results
- 10th: Stage 4, Volta ao Algarve
- 4th: Stage 2, Volta ao Algarve
Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike)
Wout van Aert was set to start his season at Omloop Nieuwsblad despite fracturing his ankle less than two months ago, however he has been forced to pull out through illness. Van Aert didn’t win a Classic in 2025, finishing second at Dwars door Vlaanderen and Brabantse Pijl then fourth at the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix and the Amstel Gold Race.
Discount him at your peril though. With wins in Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo, Gent-Wevelgem, Omloop Nieuwsblad, Amstel Gold Race and the E3 Saxo Bank Classic over the years, he thrives on the toughest terrain and only needs a bit of luck to get things clicking again.
Wout van Aert
- Age: 31
- Classics seasons: 8
- Best Classics performances: 1st (Milan-San Remo, E3 Saxo Classic x2, Amstel Gold Race, Strade Bianche, Omloop Nieuwsblad, Gent-Wevelgem, Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne)
- Best result in a Classic in 2025: 2nd (Dwars door Vlaanderen, Brabantse Pijl)
- 2026 schedule: Ename Samyn Classic, Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix
Van Aert’s only race in 2026 was on 2nd January when he fractured his ankle.
Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG)
There aren’t many races left that Tadej Pogačar hasn’t won, but two of those are Monuments in Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix, it’s a safe bet he’s going to continue to try everything he can change that.
In any of the Classics on his schedule, it’s a case of where he’s going to attack, how far he wants to go solo, and if Van der Poel can stick with him.
Tadej Pogačar
- Age: 27
- Classics seasons: 7
- Best Classics performances: 1st (Tour of Flanders x2, Liège-Bastogne-Liège x3, Strade BIanche x3, Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne x2)
- Best result in the Classics in 2025: 1st (Tour of Flanders, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Strade BIanche, La Flèche Wallonne)
- 2026 schedule: Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Pogačar is yet to race in 2026.
Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe)
Remco Evenepoel had a tough start to his 2025 season thanks to injury, but immediately won his first race at Brabantse Pijl and podiumed at the Amstel Gold Race. Now on a new team in Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe, the double Olympic gold medallist got off to a great start in 2026 by winning his first three one-day races in Mallorca in dominant fashion.
But he had less success at the UAE Tour though, when, after winning the time-trial, he lost heaps time on both summit finishes. That’s very different terrain to the Classics though, and his one-day record this season is reason enough to be confident he’ll be lighting up the action in the Ardennes this season.
Remco Evenepoel
- Age: 26
- Classics seasons: 3
- Best Classics performances: 1st (Liège-Bastogne-Liège x3, Brabantse Pijl), 3rd (Amstel Gold Race)
- Best result in the Classics in 2025: 1st (Brabantse Pijl)
- 2026 schedule: Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège
2026 last five relevant results
- 15th: Stage 6, UAE Tour
- 18th: Stage 3, UAE Tour
- 1st: Stage 4, Volta Comunitat Valenciana
- 1st: Trofeo Andratx – Pollenca
- 1st: Trofeo Serra Tramuntana
Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek)
If you see a guy out in front in a sprint finish, it’s likely to be Jonathan Milan. If he’s bobbing and weaving and you’re left wondering how the bike isn’t in two pieces as he crosses the line in first place, then it’s definitely Jonathan Milan. The sprinting giant is no stranger to Grand Tour stage success but is yet to win a Classic having raced to second at Brugge-De Panne and third at Gent-Wevelgem last season.
It’s hard to see past his name in the races that come to bunch sprint finishes, with the cobbles and punchy hills are more suited to his teammate Mads Pedersen, though his return from injury is still to be confirmed. Milan has got off to a fast start in 2026 with stage victories at the AlUla Tour and UAE Tour, but he’s not unbeatable.
Jonathan Milan
- Age: 25
- Classics seasons: 5
- Best Classics performances: 2nd (Brugge-De Panne), 3rd (Gent-Wevelgem), 6th (Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne)
- Best result in the Classics in 2025: 2nd (Brugge-De Panne)
- 2026 schedule: Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, Milan-San Remo, In Flanders Fields – From Middelkerke to Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Paris-Roubaix
2026 last five relevant results
- 1st: Stage 7, UAE Tour
- 1st: Stage 5, UAE Tour
- 1st: Stage 4, UAE Tour
- 144th: Stage 1, UAE Tour
- 2nd: Stage 4, AlUla Tour
Paul Magnier (Soudal-QuickStep)
21-year-old Paul Magnier commands attention everywhere he goes now after a 2025 season that brought a second place at Omloop Nieuwsblad, three consecutive stage wins at the Cro Race and four consecutive stage victories at both the Tour of Slovenia and Tour of Guangxi.
He’s already kicked off 2026 with two stage wins at the Volta ao Algarve and looks to have taken a leap in his development. He has already admitted to wanting to take more steps in the Classics and with Evenepoel off the team and Soudal-QuickStep’s first choice sprinter Tim Merlier out injured, we’re about to really see what Magnier is made of.
Paul Magnier
- Age: 21
- Classics seasons: 1.5
- Best Classics performances: 2nd (Omloop Nieuwsblad, Ename Samyn Classic)
- Best result in the Classics in 2025: 2nd (Omloop Nieuwsblad, Ename Samyn Classic)
- 2026 schedule: Omloop Nieuwsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, Milan-San Remo, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Tour of Flanders
2026 last relevant results
- 1st: Stage 4, Volta ao Algarve
- 1st: Stage 1, Volta ao Algarve
- 2nd: Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana
Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling)
Tom Pidcock won Brabantse Pijl, Strade Bianche and the Amstel Gold Race with Ineos Grenadiers. Now in his second season with Pinarello-Q36.5, the Brit comes off a year that saw a strong Classics campaign with second at Strade Bianche, third at La Flèche Wallonne and top ten finishes at the Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Bastogne-Liège before finishing his season with an impressive overall podium at the Vuelta.
Never one to shy away from lighting up a race, expect to see him at the front a fair few of the many Classics he has lined up for 2026, he’s one of a couple of riders brave enough to attack Pogačar. Pidcock is looking good so far this season, finishing second at Clásica Jaén and third overall at Vuelta a Andalucia after winning the last stage.
Tom Pidcock
- Age: 26
- Classics seasons: 5
- Best Classics performances: 1st (Strade Bianche, Amstel Gold Race, Brabantse Pijl) 2nd (Liège-Bastogne-Liège), 3rd (La Flèche Wallonne)
- Best result in the Classics in 2025: 2nd (Strade Bianche)
- 2026 schedule: Omloop Nieuwsblad, Strade Bianche, Milano-Torino, Milan-San Remo, Brabantse Pijl, Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège
2026 last five results
- 1st: Stage 5, Vuelta a Andalucia
- 8th: Stage 3, Vuelta a Andalucia (bunch sprint)
- 16th: Staeg 2, Vuelta a Andalucia
- 2nd: Clásica Jaén
- 3rd: Vuelta a la Región de Murcia
Ben Healy (EF Education-EasyPost)
Ben Healy loves a breakaway and the Classics suit his do-or-die attitude perfectly. Last season, the Irishman finished fourth at Strade Bianche, fifth at La Flèche Wallonne and third at Liège-Bastogne-Liège before having a memorable run at the Tour de France in the summer. He has finished second at both the Amstel Gold Race and Brabantse Pijl in the past and he’s always there or thereabouts in the hilly Classics. This might be the season he closes the gap to cross the line first.
Ben Healy
- Age: 25
- Classics seasons: 4
- Best Classics performances: 2nd (Amstel Gold Race, Brabantse Pijl), 3rd (Liège-Bastogne-Liège), 4th (Strade BIanche)
- Best result in the Classics in 2025: 3rd (Liège-Bastogne-Liège)
- 2026 schedule: Faun-Ardèche Classic, Faun Drome Classic, Strade Bianche, Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Healy is yet to race in 2026.
Arnaud De Lie (Lotto-Intermarché)
Arnaud De Lie has been really unfortunate in the Classics over the years with badly timed setbacks, whether it be Lyme disease in late March in 2024, a knee injury at the beginning of last season or sprained ankle ligaments at the end of it. When fully fit, De Lie is a formidable Classics rider and sprinter.
The Belgian raced to an impressive second place at Omloop Nieuwsblad in 2023 on debut with top ten finishes to follow at Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Brabantse Pijl and Tro-Bro Léon. Now on the newly merged Lotto and Intermarché squad, the 23-year-old has a packed Classics schedule including a debut at the Tour of Flanders.
Arnaud De Lie
- Age: 23
- Classics seasons: 4
- Best Classics performances: 1st (Tro-Bro Léon), 2nd (Omloop Nieuwsblad), 3rd (Nokere Koerse), 6th (Dwars door Vlaanderen), 7th (Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne)
- Best result in the Classics in 2025: 14th (Ename Samyn Classic)
- 2026 schedule: Omloop Nieuwsblad, Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, GP de Denain, Ronde van Bruges, In Flanders Fields – From Middelkerke to Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix
2026 last relevant results
- 83rd: Stage 4, Volta ao Algarve
- 5th: Stage 1, Volta ao Algarve
- 6th: Clasica de Almeria
Matthew Brennan (Visma-Lease a Bike)
Matthew Brennan’s debut pro season in 2025 could hardly have gone any better, racking up 14 victories including the Tour of Norway general classification. He raced in two major Classics at Omloop Nieuwsblad and Paris-Roubaix, making quite the impression in the latter at the head of the race.
Now, with Visma team leader Van Aert coming off injury and illness, Brennan might be able to play an even bigger role. His race schedule has a handful of Monuments in Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. Given he can crush cobbles, survive the hills and sprint with the best of them, it’ll be interesting to see how his spring campaign unfolds.
Matthew Brennan
- Age: 20
- Classics seasons: Barely 1
- Best Classics performances: 1st (GP Denain), 44th (Paris-Roubaix), 69th (Omloop Nieuwsblad)
- Best result in the Classics in 2025: 1st (GP Denain)
- 2026 schedule: Omloop Nieuwsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, Milan-San Remo, In Flanders Fields – From Middelkerke to Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix
2026 last five relevant results
- 2nd: Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
- 72nd, Cadel’s Criterium
- 1st: Stage 5, Tour Down Under
- 12th: Stage 3, Tour Down Under
- 2nd: Stage 1, Tour Down Under
Paul Seixas (Decathlon-CMA CGM)
Paul Seixas’s potential is through the roof, having been handed the crown as France’s next great Tour de France hope with only one pro season under his belt as the youngest rider in the WorldTour. Last season, the only one-day races he did in the spring were French 1.1 races, but that included second at Paris-Camembert. Following that, he impressed at the Tour of the Alps and Critérium du Dauphiné, won the Tour de l’Avenir then capped things off with 13th at Worlds, third behind only Pogačar and Evenepoel at the European Championships and seventh at Il Lombardia.
Seixas already has experience in the Classics at age group level, with victory at the junior Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2024. This year, he’ll kick things off at Faun-Ardèche Classic before making his debuts at Strade Bianche, La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, and he arrives in great form having won a stage and finished second overall at the Volta ao Algarve.
Paul Seixas
- Age: 19
- Classics seasons: 0
- Best Classics performances: 2nd (Paris-Camembert)
- Best result in the Classics in 2025: 2nd (Paris-Camembert)
- 2026 schedule: Faun-Ardèche Classic, Strade Bianche, La Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège
2026 last relevant results
- 3rd: Stage 5, Volta ao Algarve
- 1st: Stage 2, Volta ao Algarve
Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez)
Moving onto the women’s peloton, FDJ United-Suez’s Demi Vollering is fearsome in the hills. The Dutch star has a pair of Liège-Bastogne-Liege victories to her name as well as wins at Strade Bianche, Amstel Gold and La Flèche Wallonne.
She has wasted no time in getting her 2026 underway too, immediately winning the first stage solo at the Setmana Ciclista Valenciana and topping the GC at the end of the race. Vollering will be on the start line for Omloop Nieuwsblad, followed by Strade Bianche, Dwars door Vlaanderen, the Tour of Flanders (which she didn’t ride last year), the Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Interestingly, she looks to have swapped Milan-San Remo for the Tour of Flanders this year, despite finishing fourth in San Remo at the first edition since its revival last year, but she is yet to win Flanders and it’s well within her capability.
Demi Vollering
- Age: 29
- Classics seasons: 7
- Best Classics performances: 1st (Liège-Bastogne-Liege x2, Strade Bianche x2, Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne, Brabantse Pijl, Dwars door Vlaanderen)
- Best result in the Classics in 2025: 1st (Strade Bianche)
- 2026 schedule: Omloop Nieuwsblad, Strade Bianche, Tour of Flanders, Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège
2026 last relevant results
- 1st: Stage 3, Setmana Volta de la Comunitat Valenciana
- 1st: Stage 1, Setmana Volta de la Comunitat Valenciana
Lotte Kopecky (SD Worx-Protime)
Lotte Kopecky will be aiming to return to her best following a ‘down season’ that only brought three victories, one of which being the Tour of Flanders. At her best, the former World Champion is a force to be reckoned with, particularly over the cobbles and up punchy hills. She already has Omloop Nieuwsblad, Strade Bianche, Paris-Roubaix and three Tour of Flanders to her name, there isn’t a lot more to achieve but there are several races on her schedule this year that’s she’s yet to win. Look out world.
Kopecky is also a key engine in delivering teammate Lorena Wiebes to victory too. If it’s a flat finish, you can be sure the SD Worx-Protime duo will be up there, as demonstrated at Milan-San Remo last year when Kopecky was the only rider capable of reeling in Elisa Longo Borghini, delivering Wiebes to victory.
Lotte Kopecky
- Age: 30
- Classics seasons: 9
- Best Classics performances: 1st (Tour of Flanders x3, Paris-Roubaix, Strade Bianche x2, Omloop Nieuwsblad, Nokere Koerse x2, Le Samyn,
- Best result in the Classics in 2025: 1st (Tour of Flanders)
- 2026 schedule: Omloop Nieuwsblad, Strade Bianche, Trofeo Alfredo Binda, Nokere Koerse, Milan-San Remo, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Kopecky is yet to race in 2026.
Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime)
Lorena Wiebes is far and away the best sprinter in the world, and is showing no signs of slowing down this season having racked up three consecutive stages at the UAE Tour. In the Classics last year, she claimed her first Monument victory at the return of Milan-San Remo, then won Brugge-De Panne and Gent-Wevelgem before podiuming at Paris-Roubaix. Expect her to go on another rampage this year.
Lorena Wiebes
- Age: 26
- Classics seasons: 8
- Best Classics performances: 1st (Milan-San Remo, Gent-Wevelgem, Brugge-De Panne x2, Nokere Koerse x2, Scheldeprijs x4, Le Samyn, Omloop van het Hageland, Ronde van Drenthe x4
- Best result in the Classics in 2025: 1st (Milan-San Remo, Brugge-De Panne, Gent-Wevelgem, Le Samyn)
- 2026 schedule: Omloop Nieuwsblad, In Flanders Fields – From Middelkerke to Wevelgem, Amstel Gold Race
2026 last five results
- 1st: Stage 3, UAE Tour
- 1st: Stage 2, UAE Tour
- 1st: Stage 1, UAE Tour
Kim Le Court-Pienaar (AG insurance-Soudal)
Kim Le Court-Pienaar made history last year when she became the first African rider to win a Monument, standing atop the podium at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. That success, as well as what she achieved at the Tour de France later in the year, will now work against her, with expectations higher than ever and competitors watching her every move.
The Mauritian National Champion is leading a mightily impressive AG Insurance-Soudal squad that, given the chance, could shake up proceedings throughout the Classics with riders including Letizia Borghesi and Justine Ghekiere.
Kim Le Court-Pienaar
- Age: 29
- Classics seasons: 2
- Best Classics performances: 1st (Liège-Bastogne-Liège), 5th (Milan-San Remo, Tour of Flanders), 6th (La Flèche Wallonne)
- Best result in the Classics in 2025: 1st (Liège-Bastogne-Liège)
- 2026 schedule: Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Tour of Flanders, Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège
2026 last relevant results
Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ)
Elisa Longo Borghini has started her season the same way she started 2025, with a UAE Tour victory. The Italian champion claimed the win on Jebel Hafeet to kickstart her 2026, with hopes to improve on what she probably would see as slightly disappointing Classics wise, winning ‘only’ Dwars door Vlaanderen and Brabantse Pijl.
Longo Borghini is a serial Monument winner and she’ll be looking to get back to that form this year. She’s set to line up at Strade Bianche, Trofeo Alfredo Binda, Milan-San Remo, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix, and she’ll be one of the favourites in each one.
Elisa Longo Borghini
- Age: 34
- Classics seasons: 15
- Best Classics performances: 1st (Tour of Flanders x2, Paris-Roubaix, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Strade Bianche, Trofeo Alfredo Binda x2, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Brabantse Pijl x2)
- Best result in the Classics in 2025: 1st (Dwars door Vlaanderen, Brabantse Pijl)
- 2026 schedule: Strade Bianche, Trofeo Oro, Trofeo Alfredo Binda, Milan-San Remo, In Flanders Fields – From Middelkerke to Wevelgem, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix
2026 last relevant results
Marianne Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike)
Marianne Vos is one of the greatest cyclists of all time, there is hardly a one-day race that she is yet to win having notched almost 260 victories in her career so far, and counting. That CV includes five editions of La Flèche Wallonne, four editions of Trofeo Alfredo Binda, two editions of the Amstel Gold Race and a Tour of Flanders in the bag.
Such is the length of her career, though, that she has seen newer races come onto the women’s calendar including Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Paris-Roubaix and most recently Milan-San Remo. While she won’t be going for Liège-Bastogne-Liège, she’s perfectly suited to both Roubaix and San Remo, and you know she’s desperate to add those to her collection. Although she’ll be looking to get her hands in the air anywhere this spring, having uncharacteristically gone without a Classics win in 2025.
Marianne Vos
- Age: 38
- Classics seasons: 20
- Best Classics performances: 1st (Tour of Flanders, La Flèche Wallonne x5, Trofeo Alfredo Binda x4, Ronde van Drenthe x3, Amstel Gold Race x2, Omloop Nieuwsblad, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Gent-Wevelgem)
- Best result in the Classics in 2025: 2nd (Milan-San Remo, Brabantse Pijl)
- 2026 schedule: Strade Bianche, Trofeo Alfredo Binda, Milan-San Remo, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Amstel Gold Race
Vos is yet to race in 2026
Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek)
Versatile sprinter Elisa Balsamo suits any race that comes down to a sprint, whether the bunch is big or small. The former World Champion would probably have won a lot more were it not for the might of Lorena Wiebes and SD Worx-Protime.
She won Trofeo Alfredo Binda and Scheldeprijs in 2025, and this year her calendar includes Milan-San Remo, Ronde van Brugge, the Tour of Flanders and Paris-Roubaix. Her best result in a Monument so far was a second place at Paris-Roubasix in 2024, which she just lose against Lotte Kopecky in a sprint.
Elisa Balsamo
- Age: 28
- Classics seasons: 8.5
- Best Classics performances: 1st (Trofeo Alfredo Binda x3, Brugge-De Panne x2, Gent Wevelgem, Scheldeprijs)
- Best result in the Classics in 2025: 2nd (Milan-San Remo, Brabantse Pijl)
- 2026 schedule: Omloop Nieuwsblad, Omloop van het Hageland, Milan-San Remo, Ronde van Brugge, In Flanders Fields – From Middelkerke to Wevelgem, Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix
2026 last five results
- 6th: Stage 3, Setmana Volta de la Comunitat Valenciana
- 37th: Stage 2, Setmana Volta de la Comunitat Valenciana
- 11th: Stage 1, Setmana Volta de la Comunitat Valenciana
Cédrine Kerbaol (EF Education-Oatly)
Cédrine Kerbaol had a strong first season at EF in 2025 with a fourth place at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, fourth place at the Vuelta Femenina, sixth place at the Tour de Suisse and eighth place at the Tour de France Femmes. The squad have many cards to play too including Olympic gold medallist Kristen Faulkner, fast finisher Noemi Rüegg who beat big names to nab the final spot on the Milan-San Remo podium last year, and World Champion Magdeleine Vallieres. With those riders their real strength comes in the hilly Classics like Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo and the Ardennes.
Kerbaol is only 24, and getting better every year, so expect another step up in 2026.
Cedrine Kerbaol
- Age: 24
- Classics seasons: 5
- Best Classics performances: 4th (Liège-Bastogne-Liège)
- Best result in the Classics in 2025: 4th (Liège-Bastogne-Liège)
- 2026 schedule: Omloop Nieuwsblad, Trofeo Oro, other races TBC
2026 last relevant results
- 14th: Stage 3, Setmana Volta de la Comunitat Valenciana
- 6th: Stage 1, Setmana Volta de la Comunitat Valenciana
Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech)
Puck Pieterse lit up the Classics last year and never finished outside of the top ten. Let that sink in.
It was a dynamite two months for the young multi-discipline star, with a tenth place at Milan-San Remo, ninth at the Tour of Flanders, seventh at Strade Bianche and Trofeo Alfredo Binda, fourth at Omloop Nieuwsblad, Omloop van het Hageland and Dwars door Vlaanderen, and second at Trofeo Oro.
It was in the Ardennes that the Dutchwoman commanded the most attention, her win at La Flèche Wallonne sandwiched by a third place at the Amstel Gold Race and second place at Liège-Bastogne-Liège. She was frequently the only rider able to follow Demi Vollering, and 2026 should be no different. At just 23 years old, expect her to keep improving too.
Puck Pieterse
- Age: 23
- Classics seasons: 2 (plus two bonus races)
- Best Classics performances: 1st (La Flèche Wallonne), 2nd (Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Trofeo Oro), 3rd (Amstel Gold Race, Trofeo Alfredo Binda, Ronde van Drenthe)
- Best result in the Classics in 2025: 1st (La Flèche Wallonne)
- 2026 schedule: Trofeo Oro, the rest TBC
2026 last five results
- 3rd: Cyclocross World Championships
- 1st: CX World Cup Hoogerheide
- 1st: CX World Cup Maasmechelen
- 2nd: CX Dutch National Championships
- 3rd: CX World Cup Zonhoven
Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM Zondacrypto)
Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney knows how to keep believing and keep fighting, ending her almost five-year victory drought with a triumphant win at La Flèche Wallonne in 2024. A Tour de France Femmes champion the same year, Niewiadoma-Phinney has been embracing her mentorship role with the riders at Canyon-SRAM Zondacrypto with a stacked squad that includes Chiara Consonni, Antonia Niedermaier and Zoe Bäckstedt.
Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney
- Age: 31
- Classics seasons: 12
- Best Classics performances: 1st (La Flèche Wallonne, Amstel Gold Race, Trofeo Alfredo Binda)
- Best result in the Classics in 2025: 4th (Ronde van Vlaanderen, La Flèche Wallonne)
- 2026 schedule: Omloop Nieuwsblad, the rest TBC
2026 last relevant results
Zoe Bäckstedt (Canyon-SRAM Zondacrypto)
Keep an eye on Zoe Bäckstedt throughout the Classics. After skirting another U23 rainbow jersey at the cyclocross World Championships to try her hand in the elite field (where she finished seventh), the 21-year-old has shown she’s ready to take the step towards the next level of her career. She is already a Classics winner at the junior level with a Tour of Flanders victory in 2022, and thrives in the hardest conditions.
One race that understandably calls her name is Paris-Roubaix. Her father, Magnus, won the race in 2004 and Zoe has placed 16th and 15th in 2024 and 2025, playing a key domestique role for her team last year.
Zoe Backstedt
- Age: 21
- Classics seasons: 3
- Best Classics performances: 5th (Dwars door het Hageland), 13th (Dwars door Vlaanderen), 15th (Paris-Roubaix)
- Best result in the Classics in 2025: 5th (Dwars door het Hageland)
- 2026 schedule: Omloop Nieuwsblad, In Flanders Fields – From Middelkerke to Wevelgem, Dwars door Vlaanderen
2026 last relevant results
- 3rd: Stage 1, UAE Tour
- 7th: CX World Championships
- 4th: CX World Cup Hoogerheide
- 8th: CX World Cup Maasmechelen
- 10th: CX World Cup Benidorm
Marlen Reusser (Movistar)
Marlen Reusser has really stepped things up a notch in Grand Tours, but last season she was unable to leave her mark in the Classics. Her best result came in the form of a sixth place at Liège-Bastogne-Liège in a group behind the main protagonists. Reusser has won previously with an edition of In Flanders Fields – From Middelkerke to Wevelgem in the bag, but this came in 2023. Her 2024 wasn’t much better, a 15th place at Trofeo Alfredo Binda preceding a disqualification at In Flanders Fields and DNF at the Tour of Flanders.
Movistar also have Liane Lippert, who podiumed at the Tour of Flanders last season and came second at La Flèche Wallonne in 2023, as well as Cat Ferguson (more on her below), so Reusser has a strong team to ride with.
Marlen Reusser
- Age: 34
- Classics seasons: 7
- Best Classics performances: 1st (Gent-Wevelgem), 3rd (Liège-Bastogne-Liège)
- Best result in the Classics in 2025: 6th (Liège-Bastogne-Liège)
- 2026 schedule: Strade Bianche, Dwars door Vlaanderen, Tour of Flanders, La Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liege
2026 last five results
- 2nd: Trofeo Marratxi-Felantitx
Cat Ferguson (Movistar)
British rider Cat Ferguson was wasted no time getting acquainted with the WorldTour level. 2025 was her first full pro season, grabbing a podium at Trofeo Alfredo Binda and top ten finish at Brabantse Pijl in her first Classics campaign. The 19-year-old has come out of the gates swinging this season too, a win and podium in two of the three Spanish one-day races she rode as well as a stage win at Valenciana.
She’s gearing up for her second Classics season with winning in mind. She’ll start at Omloop Nieuwsblad before heading into familiar territory at Trofeo Alfredo Binda and onwards to Milan-San Remo, In Flanders Fields – From Middelkerke to Wevelgem, the Tour of Flanders and Amstel Gold Race.
Cat Ferguson
- Age: 19
- Classics seasons: 1
- Best Classics performances: 3rd (Trofeo Alfredo Binda), 9th (Brabantse Pijl)
- Best result in the Classics in 2025: 3rd (Trofeo Alfredo Binda)
- 2026 schedule: Omloop Nieuwsblad, Trofeo Alfredo Binda, Milan-San Remo, In Flanders Fields – From Middelkerke to Wevelgem, Tour of Flanders, Amstel Gold Race.
2026 last relevant results
- 7th: Stage 3, Setmana Volta de la Comunitat Valenciana
- 1st: Stage 2, Setmana Volta de la Comunitat Valenciana
- 3rd: Vuelta CV Feminas
- 11th: Trofeo Binissalem-Andratx
- 1st: Trofeo Llucmajor
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