ZLM Tour 2026 | A newly created 'Dutch mountain' features as the race makes it return
CyclingTuesday, 01 September 2026 at 21:00
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Follow us on GoogleThe ZLM Tour has been on hiatus for a year, but in 2026, the Dutch cycling race will return. It will take place on an original course, with opportunities for echelons and a brand-new mountain climb in the south of the Netherlands. Unfortunately, however, it will be without Jonathan Milan and Edoardo Affini, two Italian crowd favorites who were actually supposed to compete. IDL Pro Cycling previews the Dutch stage race.
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Recent Winners of the ZLM Tour 2026
2024 Rune Herregodts
2023 Olav Kooij
2022 Olav Kooij
2020 Not held
2019 Mike Teunissen
2017 José Goncalves
2016 Sep Vanmarcke
ZLM Tour 2026: Route, Stage Win Favorites, and Times
Stage 1, Wednesday, September 2, 2026: Kapelle - Kapelle (21.1 km individual time trial)
We're starting with a half marathon—but on a bike. In and around Kapelle, in Zeeland, the riders will have to start right away with an individual time trial that could make all the difference.
Times
Start: 5:15 p.m CET
Finish: 7:40 p.m CET
Start: 5:15 p.m CET
Finish: 7:40 p.m CET
Stage 2, Thursday, September 3, 2026: Westkapelle – Heinkenszand (193.8 km)
On day two, we’ll remain in the province of Zeeland, but this time for a 194-kilometer stage with the potential for echelons. In Heinkenszand, the sprinters will be looking to seize their first opportunity.
Favorites
Danny van Poppel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Gerben Thijssen (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Jason Tesson (TotalEnergies)
Danny van Poppel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Gerben Thijssen (Alpecin-Premier Tech)
Jason Tesson (TotalEnergies)
Times
Start: 11:50 a.m CET
Finish: 4:05 p.m CET
Start: 11:50 a.m CET
Finish: 4:05 p.m CET
Stage 3, Friday, September 4, 2026: Roosendaal – Bergen op Zoom (201.2 km)
On day three, the peloton will cross the Oesterdam twice, so if the wind picks up… this will be the perfect opportunity to make a move. On paper, Lidl-Trek and Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe—which is riding alongside the Van Dijke brothers during their training weeks—are the teams with the roster depth to do so.
Favorites
Max Walscheid (Lidl-Trek)
Tim van Dijke (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Mick van Dijke (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Max Walscheid (Lidl-Trek)
Tim van Dijke (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Mick van Dijke (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Times
Start: 11:30 a.m CET
Finish: 4:05 p.m CET
Start: 11:30 a.m CET
Finish: 4:05 p.m CET
Stage 4, Saturday, September 5, 2026: Schijndel – Schijndel (210.2 km)
In the fourth stage, we’ll get to know a new “mountain” in the Netherlands: the Vlagheideberg. Located in Eerde, near Schijndel, this former landfill, which has just been transformed into a cycling hill, part of the ZLM Tour route: a one-of-a-kind feature.
Favorites
Henry Hobbs (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Alessio Magagnotti (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Frits Biesterbos (Picnic PostNL)
Henry Hobbs (Visma | Lease a Bike)
Alessio Magagnotti (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Frits Biesterbos (Picnic PostNL)
Times
Start: 11:30 a.m CET
Finish: 4:05 p.m CET
Start: 11:30 a.m CET
Finish: 4:05 p.m CET
Stage 5, Sunday, September 6, 2026: Waalwijk – Waalwijk (182.7 km)
We’ll wrap up the ZLM Tour on Sunday with a stage that starts and finishes in Waalwijk. There, the sprinters will typically have one last chance to claim a stage victory.
Favorites
Arne Marit (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Jason Tesson (TotalEnergies)
Tobias Müller (Unibet Rose Rockets)
Arne Marit (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Jason Tesson (TotalEnergies)
Tobias Müller (Unibet Rose Rockets)
Times
Start: 12:00 p.m CET
Finish: 4:05 p.m CET
Start: 12:00 p.m CET
Finish: 4:05 p.m CET
Overall Classification favourites, 2026 ZLM Tour
If we look at the ZLM Tour start list, we see that two teams seem poised to dictate the race. First and foremost is Lidl-Trek, although that team will have to do without top sprinter Jonathan Milan. Who’s left? Fast riders like Max Walscheid, Jakob Soderqvist, Hector Alvarez, and Mathias Vacek, who could already make a difference on day one in the time trial. Walscheid is also fast.
The Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe team features four Dutch riders: Mick and Tim van Dijke on their training routes, rising star Michiel Mouris, and the speedy Danny van Poppel, who shares that role with Alessio Magagnotti and Arne Marit.
Visma | Lease a Bike is counting on former U23 world champion Niklas Behrens and the speedy Henry Hobbs, while Picnic PostNL has Nils Eekhoff and Frits Biesterbos in its ranks. The ProContinental Unibet Rose Rockets will compete without Dylan Groenewegen, but with time trialists Niklas Larsen and Wessel Mouris.
Also worth watching are Thibault Guernalec and Anthony Turgis of XDS-Astana, as well as brothers Axel and Danny van der Tuuk riding for Euskaltel-Euskadi. Lotto-Intermarché will field Mathieu Kockelmann.
IDL Pro Cycling top picks for the ZLM Tour
Top Favorite: Max Walscheid (Lidl-Trek)
Dark horses: Jakob Soderqvist, Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek), Tim van Dijke and Mick van Dijke (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Long shots: Niklas Behrens (Visma | Lease a Bike), Nils Eekhoff (Picnic PostNL), Wessel Mouris, Niklas Larsen (Unibet Rose Rockets), Danny van Poppel, Alessio Magagnotti (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Hector Alvarez (Lidl-Trek), and Axel van der Tuuk (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
Dark horses: Jakob Soderqvist, Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek), Tim van Dijke and Mick van Dijke (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe)
Long shots: Niklas Behrens (Visma | Lease a Bike), Nils Eekhoff (Picnic PostNL), Wessel Mouris, Niklas Larsen (Unibet Rose Rockets), Danny van Poppel, Alessio Magagnotti (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe), Hector Alvarez (Lidl-Trek), and Axel van der Tuuk (Euskaltel-Euskadi)
How to watch the 2026 ZLM Tour on TV
You can watch the ZLM Tour live this week in English on Eurosport+ and TNT Sports. The broadcasts begin daily at 2:30 p.m CET.
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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Latest Comments
- - Pedersen’s engine usually purrs on these power finishes; being 163rd says the virus is still in him. Aguanta un poco, Mads—mejor cuidarte para Montreal.robert6501-09-2026
- - Great call by Lidl-Trek to let Nys sprint for third. Under normal circumstances this is Mads’ terrain, but adapting mid-race is what top squads do. Tronchon’s win was wild—who had that on their bingo card?davidm01-09-2026
- - Can someone explain why he’d stay in the race if he’s poorly? Doesn’t that make the World Championships prep worse, not better?velodromevirtuoso101-09-2026
- - Is a sore throat really enough to lose 12 minutes, though? Wonder if there’s more going on than the team’s letting on. Feels a bit glossed over.lindae01-09-2026
- - Tough break for Mads. You could see from Stage 8 he still had the kick, but Stage 10 looked like the illness really bit. Smart to prioritise Montreal if the throat doesn’t clear—no point burying himself in the Vuelta.sprocketspiny01-09-2026
- Yes, Pogi has won five Tour de France's. He won in 2020/21/24/25/26. Jonas has won two in 2022/23. Pogi also has 13 monuments he has won. Details on a quick Google search or go to procyclingstats.com.qpshealing01-09-2026
- - Great read, but the article mixes up the Worlds timeline a tad. MvdP beat Wout in Glasgow; Pog was third. He hasn’t won the last two road worlds—did you mean GP Montréal twice? Clarify please. Still, allez Mathieu! Vamos!raceready701-09-2026
- - People forget MvdP’s MTB grid spots always hamstring him; it’s not like he lost pure legs. Start loop chaos decides half the race in Val di Sole. Bring on skinny tyres—defending champ vibes in Canada, even if it’s a different profile than Glasgow.pedalpowe2901-09-2026
- - Hoping Pog is okay—collarbone plus a vertebra and a concussion is no joke. Even if he lines up, hard to see him at 100%. GP Montréal history says he loves that parcours though.michael5401-09-2026
- - Wait, if Pogačar won the last two Worlds “by a wide margin,” were those road worlds or something else? I thought Glasgow 2023 was MvdP’s rainbow jersey on the road. Bit confused there.patriciaw01-09-2026
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