Dwars door Vlaanderen 2026 returns on Wednesday, April 1, with the men's 80th edition racing 184.6km from Roeselare to Waregem and the women tackling a 128.9km loop from Waregem in what is now a Women's WorldTour event.
Whether you're at home or abroad, here's how to watch live, with all official TV channels, legitimate free streams, and a simple way to keep access to your home subscription securely through a VPN while travelling.
Dwars door Vlaanderen 2026 Race Times
Wednesday 1 April 2026
| Timezone | Men Elite Start (Roeselare) | Men Elite Est. Finish (Waregem) | Women Elite Start (Waregem) | Women Elite Est. Finish (Waregem) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local | CEST / UTC+2 | 11:55 | 16:05 | 14:10 | 17:27 |
Dwars door Vlaanderen favourites
The men's race features 12 climbs and seven cobbled sectors across the Flemish Ardennes, including two new additions for 2026: the Hellestraat (returning after a year's absence) and the Onderbossenaarstraat, a flank of the Taaienberg that ramps to 10%.
The familiar finale sends riders twice over the Nokereberg and the cobbles of Herlegemstraat before the finish on the Verbindingsweg in Waregem. Neilson Powless (EF Education-EasyPost) won last year's edition after outsmarting a three-rider Visma-Lease a Bike contingent that included Wout van Aert (Visma-Lease a Bike), but is absent this spring due to a knee injury.
All eyes this year will be on Van Aert. In the absence of Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin–Premier Tech) or Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Van Aert is the remaining superstar in the startlist, though the Lidl-Trek combo of Mads Pedersen and Jonathan Milan could present a serious challenge.
The women's race covers eight climbs and six cobbled sectors over 128.9km, with the same double-loop Nokereberg and Herlegemstraat finale as the men. Elisa Longo Borghini won in 2025 after a solo attack on the Huisepontweg cobbles with 25km to go. The race's elevation to the Women's WorldTour in 2026 is a first, raising its status from the Pro Series calendar.
Longo Borghini returns to defend her title but has Demi Vollering (FDJ–Suez) to content with.
You can look at the full men's and women's startlists below:
Dwars door Vlaanderen 2026 Start List (175 riders)
Dwars door Vlaanderen 2026 Women's Start List (113 riders)
How to Watch Dwars door Vlaanderen 2026
Broadcasting rights for Dwars door Vlaanderen are split across several platforms depending on your region. UK viewers should note that TNT Sports migrated from discovery+ to HBO Max on March 26, 2026. The full breakdown is below.
Where to Watch Dwars door Vlaanderen 2026
| Region | Broadcaster | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | TNT Sports via HBO Max | From £25.99/mo (12-month term) or £30.99/mo | TNT Sports moved from discovery+ to HBO Max on March 26, 2026 |
United States | FloBikes | $39.99/mo or $155.88/year | Annual plan offers 67% discount |
Canada | FloBikes | CAN$39.99/mo or CAN$203.88/year | — |
Australia | FloBikes | From AU$12.99/mo (billed annually) | — |
Belgium | VRT / RTL | Free | Free-to-air via VRT Max (Flanders) and RTL (Wallonia) |
Netherlands | NOS | Free | Free-to-air |
France | MAX / Discovery+ | Varies | Via European MAX/Discovery+ feed |
Italy | MAX / Discovery+ | Varies | Via European MAX/Discovery+ feed |
Viewers across the rest of Europe and Asia can access the race through MAX/Discovery+ and Eurosport 2 International, according to the race organisers. In Latin America, ESPN holds the rights, while SuperSport covers Africa.
Legal Free Streams
Velora tip: Several countries offer free-to-air official coverage of Dwars door Vlaanderen. You can watch entirely legally and without a subscription in:
- Belgium – VRT / VRT Max (Dutch-language) and RTL (French-language)
- Netherlands – NOS
These are the confirmed free-to-air options based on the official Flanders Classics broadcaster list. If you already have access to one of these services at home and are travelling abroad, you can connect via a VPN to your home country to access these official, legal feeds, just as if you were at home.
Using a VPN Legally While Travelling
Broadcasters often limit streams to home viewers based on location. If you're travelling on race day, a VPN lets you securely connect to your home network so you can keep watching your existing paid or free account from abroad.
Velora Choice: NordVPN
Use a secure VPN connection to watch cycling on your existing subscription services or free streams while you’re away from home. Always follow local laws and your provider’s terms of use.
Our editorial team uses NordVPN by choice, we all purchased it independently to watch cycling races wherever we are.
- 8,400+ VPN servers covering 167+ locations
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How to do it:
- Download NordVPN, our recommended VPN for streaming while travelling.
- Connect to your home country (e.g. UK for HBO Max, Belgium for VRT Max, or the Netherlands for NOS).
- Open your usual broadcaster's site or app and start watching safely.
Velora never endorses bypassing broadcast rights. A VPN should only be used to access official services, whether paid or free-to-air, while abroad. Always use legitimate platforms. Unofficial streams often breach copyright and expose viewers to malware or fake ads.
When to watch Dwars door Vlaanderen
Dwars door Vlaanderen occupies the Wednesday slot before the Tour of Flanders, making it the penultimate test of Flemish Holy Week.
Since joining the WorldTour in 2017, it has shifted from a race that could be decided in a bunch sprint to one that rewards aggressive, selective racing. Christophe Laporte soloed to victory in 2023, Matteo Jorgenson attacked alone in 2024, and Powless won from a long-range move in 2025.
Below are the moments where the key moments could take place:
Key Moments to Tune In (Men - CEST)
- ~14:08 — Knokteberg-Trieu, Mont de l'Enclus (first selection)
- ~14:26 — Onderbossenaarstraat (new climb, 10%)
- ~14:55 — Knokteberg-Trieu, second passage
- ~15:15 — Eikenberg (launchpad)
- ~15:30 — Huisepontweg cobbles (finale begins)
- ~15:37 — Nokereberg + Herlegemstraat, first pass
- ~15:53 — Nokereberg + Herlegemstraat, second pass (decisive)
- ~16:05 — Finish, Waregem
Key Moments to Tune In (Women - CEST)
- ~16:06 — Knokteberg-Trieu, Mont de l'Enclus (first selection)
- ~16:12 — Hotond
- ~16:29 — Eikenberg (launchpad)
- ~16:47 — Huisepontweg cobbles (finale begins)
- ~16:55 — Nokereberg + Herlegemstraat, first pass
- ~17:13 — Nokereberg + Herlegemstraat, second pass (decisive)
- ~17:27 — Finish, Waregem
The 2026 men's route adds two climbs to the parcours, pushing the total to 12, with the Onderbossenaarstraat creating a new selection point 77km from the finish. For the women, the upgrade to the Women's WorldTour means the race is no longer a stepping stone but a top-tier target in its own right.
Quick Recap
- Watch live via official broadcasters: FloBikes (US, Canada, Australia), TNT Sports via HBO Max (UK), MAX/Discovery+ (Europe, Asia)
- Access free and legal coverage via VRT in Belgium or NOS in the Netherlands
- Travelling abroad? Use a VPN to keep access to your home subscription safely
- Avoid illegal or pirate streams, they're unsafe and breach copyright
- Both the men's and women's races take place on Wednesday, April 1
Velora Choice: NordVPN
Use a secure VPN connection to watch cycling on your existing subscription services or free streams while you’re away from home. Always follow local laws and your provider’s terms of use.
Get NordVPN - Special OfferDwars door Vlaanderen 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
Velora only promotes VPN use to maintain access to legitimate, paid, or free-to-air services while abroad.
Cover image credit: Zac Williams/SWpix.com
