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Belgium 22 Mar 2026 Class 1.1 – 1 day – Class 1
Website www.midwestcycling.be
Data powered by FirstCycling.com
The Midwest Cycling Classic 2026 is a Belgian one-day professional women’s road race.
- Date: Sunday, March 22, 2026
- UCI Category: 1.1 (Women Elite)
- Start Location: Tielt
- Finish Location: Oostrozebeke
- Total Distance: 135.84 km
- Elevation Gain: +531 m
Participating Teams
The race features a mix of UCI Women’s ProTeams, Continental Teams, and selected Club teams. Notable entrants include:
- ProTeams: VolkerWessels, Cofidis, Laboral Kutxa-Fundación Euskadi, Lotto-Intermarché Ladies.
- Continental & Development: UAE Development Team, AG Insurance-Soudal Devo, Fenix-Premier Tech Development, Canyon//Sram Zondacrypto Generation.
- Defending Champion: Scarlett Souren (VolkerWessels), who won the inaugural 2025 edition, is expected to be a key contender.
Course Profile
The route is largely flat to undulating, typical of West Flanders. It is expected to suit strong sprinters or those capable of a late solo attack, with the following characteristics:
- Key Sectors: The race concludes in Oostrozebeke, which often involves local circuits before the final sprint.
- Conditions: Current forecasts for the region suggest clear weather with light winds, which may reduce the chance of echelons but keeps the pace high.
How to Follow
- Official Website: midwestcycling.be
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Despite its traditional-sounding name, the Midwest Cycling Classic is a very recent addition to the Belgian cycling calendar. Its “history” is still being written, as it was established to provide more professional opportunities for women in the heartland of Flemish cycling.
Origins and Inaugural Edition (2025)
The race was founded by the Midwest Cycling organization and held its first edition on March 23, 2025. It was created to bridge the gap between amateur club racing and the top-tier WorldTour events, starting as a UCI Category 1.2 race.
- The Route: The first edition started on the outskirts of Ghent and finished in Oostrozebeke. The course was designed to be a “mini-classic,” featuring narrow roads, sharp corners, and the Ketelberg (a short 31m climb) to test the riders’ positioning and resilience.
- The First Winner: The inaugural title was won by the Dutch sprinter Scarlett Souren (VolkerWessels Women’s Pro Cycling Team), who triumphed in a large group sprint after 135.6 km of racing.
- The Experience: Despite being a new race, it immediately gained a reputation for the “chaos” typical of Belgian spring classics, with crashes and tactical battles on narrow farm roads defining the day.
Evolution to 2026
Following the success of the first year, the race saw a significant upgrade for its second edition:
- UCI Status: For 2026, the UCI upgraded the race from 1.2 to 1.1 status. This elevation allows for a higher caliber of teams (including more UCI Women’s ProTeams) and offers more UCI points, making it a more prestigious fixture on the spring calendar.
- Route Change: The 2026 edition moved its start from Ghent to Tielt, keeping the traditional finish in Oostrozebeke. This shift solidified its identity as a race central to the “Midwest” region of West Flanders.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
| First Edition | March 23, 2025 |
| Founding Location | Ghent to Oostrozebeke |
| Most Wins | Scarlett Souren (1) |
| Current UCI Class | 1.1 (since 2026) |
The race is positioned as a key “rehearsal” or warm-up for the larger classics like the Tour of Flanders or Gent-Wevelgem, providing younger riders and continental teams a chance to compete against seasoned pros on Flemish terrain.
