Each startlist of the major Classics this year has borne the promise of a showdown between greats. But each time, in one way or another, chaos has intervened: unexpected startline absences (Elisa Longo Borghini at Milan-Sanremo), followed by painfully avoidable mistakes (the race motorbike mishap that led Demi Vollering and Lotte Kopecky the wrong way at Strade Bianche), or horrifying crashes – like the brutal collision on the run in to the Poggio that seemed to mar that race entirely.
But finally, finally, it seems we might get what we were promised. Dwars door Vlaanderen is one day away (granted, a lot can happen in that time), but its star-studded line-up, boasting Lotte Kopecky, Demi Vollering, and Elisa Longo Borghini amongst others, makes this midweek Classic more than just a warm up for the main event that is Ronde van Vlaanderen.
Now in its 14th edition, Dwars door Vlaanderen’s roll of honour signals a race deserving of recognition in its own right: this year, it boasts Women’s WorldTour status for the first time.
The 128.9km loop route, which begins and ends in Waregem, features six cobbled sectors and eight sharp climbs, including a double ascent of the Nokereberg – demanding a sequence of efforts that can gradually take away control. The perfect Paterberg palate-cleanser.
Contenders
Elisa Longo Borghini
Chaotic bunch sprints; late attacks; short, controlled moves – of all the Classics action we’ve witnessed so far, there is one thing missing: a trademark Elisa Longo Borghini (Team UAE Emirates-ADQ) launch. The Italian champion returns to the race where last year she cruised to her 50th career victory, having gone clear of Marlene Reusser (Movistar) and Amber Kraak (FDJ United-Suez) over the Huisepontweg cobble sector with 30km to go.
An overall victory at the UAE Tour Women earlier this season confirmed that her engine remains as strong as ever. Her competitors breathed a sigh of relief at her illness-induced absence at Milano–Sanremo, a race where her instinct to attack over the Poggio could have reshaped the finale entirely. Dwars door Vlaanderen offers the exact terrain she thrives on: a long, attritional middle phase followed by a decisive window between 40 and 20 kilometres to go. If she senses even a moment of disorganisation behind, she will not wait.
Lotte Kopecky
Lotte Kopecky’s second place at Dwars door Vlaanderen last year, where she outpaced an disorganised chase group to settle for second behind Borghini, clearly left her hungry for more. That sprint finale set the SD Worx-Protime rider up for her third Tour of Flanders victory just days later, in which she opened up the sprint to power clear ahead of Liane Lippert and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot.
So when we saw similar scenes at this year’s Milan-Sanremo, where Kopecky’s win came from a selective 5-rider group after Puck Pieterse’s Poggio attack, the former world champion re-entered the fray in a scenario that so often presents itself at Dwars – preemptive of a result no doubt. Her combination of positioning, cobbled power, and fast legs after a tough course makes her perhaps the most complete rider here. If the race comes down to a small group, she is the clear favourite.
Demi Vollering
Demi Vollering (FDJ United-Suez) will arrive on the startline in search of a result to set her up for the Ardennes Classics triple — a feat which, as suggested by her spring-focused calendar, she aims to replicate this year. The Dutchwoman has not raced since early March, where early season Classics form shone through during her Omloop domination over Kasia Niewiadoma. While the European champion’s absence was felt at Milan Sanremo, her decision to skip that race in order to train at altitude forecasts just how competitive Vollering will be on Wednesday.
The 2023 edition saw Vollering win with a solo move on the cobbled ascents that come late on in the race, an attack magnified by Longo Borghini’s 30km effort last year. So while Vollering comes in fresh, Borghini will no doubt be able to match an attack to win without a sprint. If it comes down to the bunch, ex-teammate Kopecky will be her main rival. In that sense, Vollering’s task is clear: make the race hard before the final 20 kilometres, isolate the pure sprinters, and commit on the climbs rather than risk a tactical stalemate. If she can force a selective move over the likes of Eikenberg or Nokereberg, her climbing strength could prove decisive. Vollering will be supported by Elise Chabbey, who won from a selective front group in Strade Bianche Donne.
Marianne Vos
Marianne Vos (Team Visma-Lease a Bike) might have only raced on two occasions so far in 2026, but top 10 finishes at Strade Bianche Donne and Trofeo Alfredo Binda (where she fronted a chasing group and finished sixth, ahead of Kopecky) show the Dutchwoman to be in form. While recent times haven’t quite matched the Classics-winning status of her former years, the five-time La Flèche Wallonne Féminine winner has earmarked Flanders and Roubaix for results this season. Dwars van Vlaanderen will thus be the perfect opportunity for Vos to test her legs on the cobbles ahead of Roubaix, where she will take over leadership from teammate Ferrand-Prévot, who has chosen not to defend her title in order to focus on the Ardennes Classics instead.
Vos won the 2024 edition of Dwars door Vlaanderen by outsprinting Shirin van Anrooij. In a race that has previously been decided by hesitation, misjudged efforts, and disorganisation, her experience makes her a dangerous contender.
Other contenders
Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) has been one of the most aggressive riders of the spring, most notably launching the defining move on the Poggio at Milan-Sanremo en route to 4th place: proof of both her form and willingness to race on instinct. If the race opens up early, she is one of the most likely to force that selection.
Liane Lippert (Movistar) thrives in more attritional scenarios, and her consistency in one-day races with punchy climbs makes her a serious threat.
Kim Le Court (AG Insurance-Soudal) also looked dangerous at Sanremo, where she helped drive the front group before the terrifying crash that took out Kasia Niewiadoma disrupted the race. She now arrives looking for a response after that sadly missed opportunity.
Prediction
Kopecky's win at Milan-Sanremo came in the absense of Vollering or Longo Borghini. It'll be close on Wednesday, no doubt. But we believe the Belgian has what it takes to clinch victory.
