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Belgium 03 May 2026 Class 1.1 – 1 day – Class 1
Website http://famenneardenneclassic.be/
Ardenne Classic One Day Race
Data powered by FirstCycling.com
The 2026 Lotto Famenne Ardenne Classic is scheduled for Sunday, May 3, 2026 . As a UCI 1.1 category race, it is a one-day event on the professional calendar .
Here is a detailed overview of the confirmed program and key details for this year’s edition.
📅 Event Overview at a Glance
🗺️ 2026 Route and Profile
The 2026 edition will retain the same route as the previous year, featuring a demanding profile that often leads to a reduced-bunch sprint .
- Course Layout: Riders will face a hilly course with multiple categorized climbs. After an opening section of approximately 70 km, the race enters a final 24 km circuit that is tackled four times .
- Key Climbs: The early part of the race includes the Côte du Crawy (2 km at 6.8%), Côte de Nassogne (4 km at 4.5%), and Côte de Waharday (3 km at 5%). The decisive phase centers on the Côte de Roy (2.3 km at 4.8%), which is climbed a total of five times, with the final ascent located 16 km from the finish line .
- Finish: The race concludes with a slightly uphill finish in Marche-en-Famenne .
⭐ Notable Participants
While a full start list is not yet available, one major contender has confirmed his participation:
- Arnaud De Lie: The Belgian sprinter, a two-time winner of this event (2023, 2024), will return for the 2026 edition. He will use this race as a key part of his preparation leading into the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France .
📺 How to Follow the Race
You can follow the 2026 Lotto Famenne Ardenne Classic through the following channels:
Start List & Live Stats: ProCyclingStats.com will have the official start list and live timing updates on race day .
Live Broadcast: FloBikes will provide live coverage of the race .
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
The Lotto Famenne Ardenne Classic is a young race on the professional calendar that quickly established itself as a key one-day event in the Belgian Ardennes. Held in the province of Luxembourg, it is known for its hilly, demanding route, which has often led to exciting, reduced-bunch sprints. The 2026 edition will be the tenth running of the race.
📜 A Brief History
The race was first organized in 2017 by the Belgian newspaper La Dernière Heure to serve as a season-closer in Wallonia.
- Early Years: The first three editions (2017-2019) were held in early October. The winners included Moreno Hofland (2017), Guillaume Boivin (2018), and Dimitri Claeys (2019).
- Cancellations: The 2020 and 2021 editions were not held due to the rescheduling of major races like Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Paris-Roubaix, which created conflicts on the calendar.
- Modern Era: Since returning in 2022, the race has grown in prestige. In 2024, it moved from its original October date to a new spring slot in late April/early May, becoming a key part of the run-in to the Grand Tours.
🏆 List of Winners (Palmarès)
🥇 Notable Winning Feats
- Arnaud De Lie: The Belgian sprinter is the most successful rider in the race’s short history. He is a two-time winner (2023, 2024) and announced he will return for the 2026 edition. His 2023 victory was highly memorable as he won the sprint after his right foot unclipped from the pedal, forcing him to pedal with one leg over the final meters.
