Ename Samyn Classic 2026 | Visma | Lease a Bike return to Wallonia with a powerhouse line-up

The Ename Samyn Classic roll of honour is a strong one. Niki Terpstra — now in the team car at Soudal Quick-Step — won the race twice (2016 and 2018). Recent winners also include Florian Sénéchal, Hugo Hofstetter, Tim Merlier, Matteo Trentin and Laurenz Rex.

The Ename Samyn Classic roll of honour is a strong one. Niki Terpstra — now in the team car at Soudal Quick-Step — won the race twice (2016 and 2018). Recent winners also include Florian Sénéchal, Hugo Hofstetter, Tim Merlier, Matteo Trentin and Laurenz Rex.

2025 Mathieu van der Poel
2024 Laurenz Rex
2023 Milan Menten
2022 Matteo Trentin
2021 Tim Merlier
2020 Hugo Hofstetter
2019 Florian Sénéchal
2018 Niki Terpstra
2017 Guillaume Van Keirsbulck
2016 Niki Terpstra

The Ename Samyn Classic still starts in Quaregnon and finishes in Dour, but the route looks different from recent years. Instead of one big lap, the riders now tackle multiple circuits on different loops around Dour — with plenty of cobbled sectors and short climbs included.

“Because of the changes to the route, Samyn has become even more demanding, with more cobbled sections in succession. That makes positioning and teamwork even more important throughout the day,” said Picnic PostNL sports director Pim Ligthart.

The finale is raced on a local lap featuring several cobbled sectors, with the Côte de la Roquette (400 metres at 3.2%) and the Côte des Nonettes (300 metres at 3.6%) as key points in the finale.

Just before the finish line, the riders still have to deal with the cobbles on the Rue de Belle Vue. That is a perfect place to make one last difference before a slightly uphill finish in the narrow, twisting streets of Dour.

Weather
Conditions look very pleasant in Western Europe at the moment. In Wallonia it is forecast to be around 17°C on Tuesday, with barely any wind.

Times
Start: 12:35 PM
Finish: 5:30 PM

Visma | Lease a Bike return to the Ename Samyn Classic for the first time in several years — and they do so with serious firepower. Wout van Aert is expected to be fit enough to take part after illness, and the squad can also call on major strength from Christophe Laporte and Per Strand Hagenes, plus Loe van Belle.

Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe were among the most active teams across Omloop and Kuurne and will aim to do the same on Tuesday. They start with fast finishers Jordi Meeus and Danny van Poppel, alongside Arne Marit, and also include Gianni Vermeersch and Dutch talent Michiel Mouris.

At Alpecin–Premier Tech there is no Van der Poel or Jasper Philipsen, but there is Kaden Groves, plus Gerben Thijssen and Jonas Geens. Soudal Quick-Step rely on former winner Laurenz Rex, who was sixth in Kuurne on Sunday. At Lotto–Intermarché, keep an eye on Matys Grisel, Vito Braet and Cedric Beullens.

Groupama–FDJ bring quick Frenchmen Thibaud Gruel and Paul Penhoët, while TotalEnergies select Sandy Dujardin and Jason Tesson. Cofidis arrive with Hugo Page, Dylan Teuns, Jenthe Biermans, Stanislaw Aniolkowski and Alexis Renard. Arkéa–B&B Hotels can call on former winner Hugo Hofstetter.

Picnic PostNL include Frits Biesterbos and Fabio Jakobsen, while Unibet Tietema Rockets may look to Lukas Kubis. Bahrain Victorious have options for different scenarios with Phil Bauhaus, Matevž Govekar and Robert Stannard. Finally, a name worth mentioning is David Dekker (BEAT). In 2020, riding for SEG, he impressed at Samyn by finishing third.

Top favorites: Christophe Laporte (Visma | Lease a Bike) and Jordi Meeus (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Outsiders: Wout van Aert (Visma | Lease a Bike), Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Thibaud Gruel (Groupama-FDJ) and Laurenz Rex (Soudal Quick-Step)
Long shots: Lukas Kubis (Unibet Rose Rockets), Danny van Poppel, Gianni Vermeersch (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Hugo Hofstetter (NSN), Hugo Page (Cofidis), Matevz Govekar (Bahrain Victorious), Paul Penhoët (Groupama-FDJ) and Sandy Dujardin (TotalEnergies)

The Ename Samyn Classic can be followed Tuesday on Sporza (VRT 1), Eurosport and HBO Max. The race can be followed from 3:15 p.m. on those platforms.