Dwars Door Vlaanderen
The 80th edition of Dwars door Vlaanderen ran 185km from Roeselare to Waregem on April 1, serving as the traditional Wednesday curtain-raiser to the Tour of Flanders. The 2026 course added two new climbs (12 total, two more than 2025) and seven cobblestone sections across the Flemish Ardennes. The finale featured double ascents of Berg Ten Houte, Côte de Trieu, and Hotond, plus twice over the Mariaborrestraat cobbles approaching the finish circuit. The new climb of Onderbossenaarstraat (77km to go, 1.4km climb with 10% ramps on a flank of the Taaienberg) added fresh difficulty. The familiar finishing circuit includes a double loop via Nokereberg and Herlegemstraat.
Where to watch
⚠️ Spoiler warning: live streams and broadcaster home pages may show current standings. Disable autoplay & avoid sidebar recommendations on YouTube.
Dwars Door Vlaanderen
Where the race is made
Who to watch
Narratives to watch
- The penultimate stop of 'Flemish Holy Week' - teams use Dwars to test form and tactics before the Tour of Flanders on Sunday
- The 2026 course additions (Hellestraat, Onderbossenaarstraat) made the race more selective - trending away from the sprinters' finish it once was
- Neilson Powless's 2025 solo victory set a template - long-range attackers thrive when teams get caught looking at each other
- The twin-loop finishing circuit in Waregem via Nokereberg/Herlegemstraat adds a tactical wrinkle - late attacks or sprint setup
Form book & lore
First held in 1945, Dwars door Vlaanderen joined the UCI WorldTour in 2017 and in 2018 moved to its current Wednesday pre-Flanders slot (taking over from the Three Days of De Panne). Historically a sprinter's race, it has evolved dramatically since joining the WorldTour - Christophe Laporte's 2023 solo victory and Neilson Powless's 2025 win reflect the modern template of aggressive, selective racing. The race functions as a key form-indicator for the Monument on Sunday.
When to tune in
Tune in for the final 90 minutes - the race opens up on the second pass of Berg Ten Houte (71.6km to go). Critical viewing from the second Hotond (50km to go) through the Waregem circuit finale. Watch for late attacks on Nokereberg and Herlegemstraat. Spoiler caution: this race concluded on April 1 - avoid YouTube sidebar and autoplay as extended highlights often include race results and winner announcements.