Middelkerke new start location for men's Gent-Wevelgem
This morning, Flanders Classics and the municipality of Middelkerke announced a partnership for the coming 10 years. From next year until 2035, Gent-Wevelgem Men Elite will be setting off from the Belgian coast: In Flanders Fields - from Middelkerke to Wevelgem. The women's race, run on the same day, starts and finishes in Wevelgem. The Youth Day, scheduled for May, remains in Ypres.
Earlier today, a symbolic handshake between mayor Jean-Marie Dedecker and CEO Tomas Van Den Spiegel sealed a new, ten year partnership between Middelkerke and cycling event organiser Flanders Classics. As from 2026, Middelkerke will host the start of the Men Elite’s cycling classic Gent-Wevelgem.
Mayor Jean-Marie Dedecker: "I am immensely proud that Middelkerke will be hosting the start of Gent-Wevelgem for the coming years. Just look at the history, the phenomenal list of winners and the extraordinary stories that make Gent-Wevelgem so special. For me, Gent-Wevelgem is the poetry of Jacques Brel coupled with the horsepower of our honorary citizen Freddy Maertens and the grit of Briek Schotte. Top sport at its finest if you ask me. Gent-Wevelgem has long been the embodiment of flesh-and-blood heroism, excitement and tragedy. It brings back wonderful memories of when we hosted the Belgian Championships here in 2022. With echelons forming almost constantly, we can promise a fierce prelude to the Moeren and the hill zone. Most of all, I am looking forward to joining the people of Middelkerke in offering cycling fans and riders a spectacular start to a true cycling celebration.”
Marc Descheemaecker, Alderman for Sport: "We are particularly grateful to the organisers for allowing us to add our own touch of colour to the start of this great classic. Gent-Wevelgem is the second most important race in Flanders. That really says it all. From a sporting point of view, I expect fireworks because, in recent years, only the very best have managed to win the race. But it is also a race packed with fantastic plot twists and unforgettable characters. Who can forget Paolini's finger, Vandenbroucke's ingenuity, Mattan's cunning. Gent-Wevelgem is cycling history that we all share. That Middelkerke will now be playing a leading role in that is simply fantastic."
Tomas Van Den Spiegel, CEO of Flanders Classics: "We are particularly pleased to announce the start of a long-term partnership here today. Sustainable partnerships are something we are very eager to invest in. The big change, a ten-year contract and a shared commitment have prompted us to give the race a new official name In Flanders Fields - from Middelkerke to Wevelgem. Naturally, Gent-Wevelgem will still be mentioned given its history, but in this way, we further highlight the unique DNA of this race. And so, a new chapter and one we are enthusiastically looking forward to."
Women in Wevelgem, youth in Ypres
As from 2026, the women's race will start and finish in Wevelgem. “The UCI sets maximum race distances for women’s events, and we are bound by those limits”, explains Van Den Spiegel. "That makes a start for the women in Middelkerke impossible. For many years, we have felt at home in Wevelgem and have built a strong, long-standing partnership with the mayor, the local council, and the local services. With the women now starting there, the town’s cycling celebration takes on an extra dimension.”
Since 2024, Flanders Classics has brought together the youth races for U17 (boys and girls), U19 (boys and girls) and U23 (boys) for a special Youth Day in May. "That Youth Day continues to have its home in Ypres", Van Den Spiegel confirmed. "We are particularly grateful for the support we have received from Ypres in the past years and for their ongoing commitment to nurturing the talents of tomorrow. And so, on Sunday, 10 May 2026, we will once again organise 5 youth races in the shadow of the Cloth Hall."
One thing is certain: the Great War will always remain deeply intertwined with this race. This race is steeped in world history, giving it a truly unmatched identity in the world of cycling. That is something we will keep building on.
A route steeped in World War I history
With Middelkerke as the new starting point for the men, the course will be getting a fresh new look. The Moeren, the Kemmelberg and the Plugstreets will, however, retain their familiar place in the race. "Work on how the final course will look is still very much ongoing. One thing is certain: the Great War will always remain deeply intertwined with this race. The aim is also to keep the passage through the centre of Ypres in the final part of the race. This race is steeped in world history, giving it a truly unmatched identity in the world of cycling. That is something we will keep building on", concludes Van Den Spiegel. The women’s route will also change, with both the start and finish in Wevelgem. More details about all the final routes will follow in the run-up to the races.
