Jayco AlUla
Groenewegen's first big spring sprint
Bruges was Groenewegen's first major spring win. The team's calendar through the cobbled block had been thin; this was the strongest opening day.
No/Spoiler
Cycling Results · Post-Race Analysis · Édition 2026
Cycling Results · Post-Race Analysis · Édition 2026
§ R · 1.UWT · Belgium
Ronde Van Brugge
2026
Dylan Groenewegen won the flat, wind-exposed Tour of Bruges (the successor to Classic Brugge-De Panne) ahead of Philipsen and Max Kanter — a pure sprinters' result on a course designed for it. Limited tactical narrative beyond the bunch sprint outcome.
§ · Riders we're tracking
Tracked riders in this race
§ 01 · The race in 90 seconds
Groenewegen takes the Bruges bunch sprint
OPENINGFlat coastal Belgian route. The race is the successor to Classic Brugge-De Panne; the format and the field both designed for sprinters.
UNFOLDSStandard bunch-sprint Classics pattern. No major selection, no major splits in available coverage.
DECIDEDSprint.
FINALEGroenewegen took the line ahead of Philipsen and Kanter.
§ 03 · Team-by-team
Who pressed, who missed
Alpecin-Premier Tech
Philipsen 2nd — sprint card runner-up
Philipsen was the favourite and finished second behind Groenewegen — clean second-place for the team's sprint card.
Riders: PHILIPSEN Jasper
§ 04 · Rider-by-rider · tracked riders only
How each story played out
LEADER
P2
n/a
Second to Groenewegen in a flat coastal bunch sprint. Won Gent-Wevelgem four days later from the same kind of finish.
§ 06 · Aftermath
Sprint
Tour of Bruges is the most reliable bunch-sprint day on the spring Belgian calendar. Groenewegen, Philipsen, Kanter is the kind of finish line you'd predict before the start.
§ X · Sources
Where this analysis comes from
- 🇬🇧 ProCyclingStats — Ronde Van Brugge 2026 result