The 2026 spring classics season has delivered one of the most dramatic and talent-stacked campaigns in recent memory. With the Tour of Flanders on April 6 and Paris-Roubaix on April 13 closing out the Monuments, it is time to assess who is flying, who is fading, and who has the form to win cycling’s two toughest one-day races.
Here are the definitive power rankings heading into the final fortnight of the spring, based on verified results, tactical patterns, and historical form.
1. Tadej Pogačar — The Unstoppable Force
Two Monuments won already (Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo), and his spring campaign has been nothing short of historic. Pogačar’s spring dominance has drawn comparisons to Eddy Merckx — the only other rider to win both Strade Bianche and Milan-San Remo in the same year before pivoting to the northern classics. His winning move at San Remo, edging Tom Pidcock by centimetres after a race-long battle, demonstrated that he has the tactical patience to match his explosive power.
The question is not whether Pogačar is the strongest rider in the peloton. He is. The question is whether the Tour of Flanders’ specific demands — repeated short, steep climbs on narrow roads where positioning is everything — can neutralize his raw superiority. History says the Ronde rewards the most tactically astute rider as much as the strongest, and Pogačar’s inexperience on Flemish climbs remains his only vulnerability.
2. Mathieu van der Poel — The Flandrien King
Van der Poel’s 40-kilometer solo ride at the E3 Saxo Classic was a statement of intent that echoed through the entire peloton. His third consecutive E3 victory was achieved with a breathtaking long-range attack that left every rival watching from behind, and it confirmed that his Flanders form is peaking at exactly the right moment.
Van der Poel’s record at Flanders is already legendary — he knows every cobbled climb, every gutter, every wind-exposed section. If Pogačar is the unstoppable force, Van der Poel is the immovable object on Flemish terrain. Their showdown on the Oude Kwaremont and Paterberg could define the 2026 season.
3. Wout Van Aert — The Complete Rider Returns
Van Aert finished third at Milan-San Remo, just four seconds behind Pogačar, and has been consistently present at the front of every major race this spring. He does not have a headline win yet, but his form trajectory is pointing upward at exactly the right time. Van Aert’s versatility — he can sprint, time trial, and climb short hills with the best — makes him the most dangerous wild card in both Flanders and Roubaix.
Paris-Roubaix may actually be his strongest target. His power output on the cobbles is elite-level, and his ability to ride at the front through the Arenberg Forest and Carrefour de l’Arbre sectors could prove decisive. Check our Paris-Roubaix route and favorites guide for a detailed breakdown of the key sectors.
4. Tom Pidcock — The Multi-Discipline Threat
Second at Milan-San Remo by centimetres, Pidcock has proven he belongs among the very best in the one-day races. His cyclocross background gives him exceptional bike handling on technical, slippery terrain — a significant advantage on the wet cobbles that Flanders and Roubaix can deliver in early April. If the weather turns nasty, Pidcock’s stock rises considerably.
5. Mads Pedersen — The Question Mark
The defending Gent-Wevelgem champion missed today’s race through illness, and his fitness heading into the final two Monuments is the biggest unknown of the spring. When healthy, Pedersen is among the strongest Classics riders in the peloton — his combination of sprint speed and climbing ability on short bergs is exceptional. But illness at this point in the season, with only a week until Flanders, raises serious questions about whether he can recover enough to be competitive.
6. Max Kanter — The Breakout Star
Today’s Gent-Wevelgem winner announced himself as a serious Classics contender. Kanter survived the Kemmelberg — repeatedly — and still had the legs to win the sprint. At 27, this is likely the beginning of a long career at the front of the spring calendar. Paris-Roubaix is probably too demanding for his profile in 2026, but a hilly Flanders could suit him if the race comes back together.
7. Matteo Jorgenson — The Stage Race Crossover
Jorgenson’s Paris-Nice title defense demonstrated extraordinary consistency and tactical intelligence. His profile suggests Roubaix more than Flanders — he has the sustained power for the cobbled sectors and the tactical patience to manage a six-hour race of attrition. Whether Visma-Lease a Bike deploy him as a protected rider or a super-domestique will determine his ceiling at the Monuments.
8-10. The Dark Horses
Laurenz Rex (second at Gent-Wevelgem), Jasper Stuyven, and Stefan Küng round out the top ten. Rex’s runner-up finish today confirms his emergence as a serious one-day rider. Stuyven’s experience at Flanders (he knows the Ronde parcours better than almost anyone) makes him a perennial threat for the podium. And Küng’s raw power makes him dangerous on the flat cobbled sectors of Roubaix, where time trialing ability translates directly into survival speed.
What to Watch For
The next two weeks will answer the biggest question of the 2026 spring: can Pogačar complete the clean sweep of all five early-season one-day classics? No rider has won Strade Bianche, Milan-San Remo, and the Tour of Flanders in the same year. If Pogačar adds Flanders and Roubaix, it would be the most dominant spring campaign in the history of the sport.
For the rest of us, these races are a masterclass in what cycling at the highest level looks like: unpredictable, brutally physical, and decided in split seconds after six hours of tactical warfare. If you are looking to bring some of that competitive edge to your own riding, the science of cycling training covers the zone-based periodization that WorldTour riders use to peak for these exact events.
Clear your schedule for April 6 and April 13. This spring is building toward a climax that could rewrite the record books.
