In a stacked sprinters’ field, Girmay overcomes Merlier at Baloise Belgium Tour stage 1

The first stage of the Baloise Belgium Tour was won by Biniam Girmay. The Eritrean rider from NSN Cycling was the strongest after a superb opening stage, in which attacker Rune Herregodts (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) was caught at the last moment. In the sprint, Girmay was just quicker than Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) and Max Kanter (XDS Astana).

A sprinter’s paradise in Belgium! The 2026 Baloise Belgium Tour got underway on Wednesday, and four of the five stages suited the fastest riders. That was also the case for the opening stage around Scherpenheuvel-Zichem, which therefore attracted plenty of big names to the start: Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step), Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Biniam Girmay (NSN), Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM) and many more.

In stage one, four riders got the freedom of the road, and half of them were Dutch. Roy Hoogendoorn (Metec-SOLARWATT) and Stijn Appel (BEAT) were joined by Storm Ingebrigtsen (Uno-X Mobility) and Olivier Godfroid (Baloise - Het Poetsbureau Lions). But the sprinters’ teams gave them no room at all. With 70 kilometres to go, they had already been caught.

In the phase before the real finale, we were treated to a new breakaway group, including Dutchman Bart Kortleve (Metec-SOLARWATT). He was joined by three Belgians: Jarno Bellens, Robbe Mellaerts (both Baloise - Het Poetsbureau Lions) and Wies Nuyens (Pauwels Sauzen - Altez). Cypriot Bogdan Zabelinskiy (Aarco) was also there, but he had to let go early.

Still, a sprint was naturally expected. One man we would not see there was Juan Sébastian Molano (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), who abandoned. The escapees were quickly brought back, but it happened in a chaotic phase. The short climbs and cobbled sections created a moment when attackers sensed their chance.

We saw, among others, Mike Teunissen (XDS Astana), Brent Van Moer (Pinarello - Q36.5) and Héctor Alvarez (Lidl-Trek) in action, but it was difficult to stay away. Rune Herregodts (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) managed to get his move to stick, but he also realised it was not ideal on his own. Alpecin-Premier Tech and Decathlon CMA CGM came to the front and kept him within sight.

But in the closing kilometres the rouleur held on well. The sprinters’ teams suddenly found themselves at a disadvantage: would Herregodts be caught back? The sprinters came very late, but caught him at the last moment. XDS Astana brought up Max Kanter, but it was Biniam Girmay who narrowly held off the late-surging Tim Merlier.