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The 9 most anticipated head-to-heads to look forward to in 2026
CyclistThe 9 most anticipated head-to-heads to look forward to in 2026Now that the season is upon us, its time to get your calendar ready to book your spot on the sofa for the years biggest races. After combing through the schedules of pro cyclings top riders, Robyn picks out where the sports top names will be going head to head in clashes that are not to be missed.Omloop Nieuwsblad: Mathieu van der Poel vs Wout van Aert?Gaetan Flamme/SportPic_AgencyDutch dynamite Mathieu van der Poel typically starts his road campaign later than most in March to rest up after the cyclocross season. He is rumoured to be making his debut at Omloop Nieuwsblad in 2026, however, which would have him lining up earlier than usual on Saturday 28th February.Wout van Aert is currently set to make his road season opener at the same time. A crash at Exact Cross Mol saw him sustain a fractured ankle in January, but his recovery looks to be going well as he has already returned to the bike and recently logged a six-hour training ride to build up to the Classics.Tour of Flanders: Lotte Kopecky vs Pauline Ferrand-PrvotERIC LALMAND/Belga/AFP via Getty ImagesPauline Ferrand-Prvot will not defend her title at Paris-Roubaix this year, instead focussing her Classics campaign on the hills at Strade Bianche, the Tour of Flanders and Lige-Bastogne-Lige. Last season she finished third at Strade Bianche, then second to Lotte Kopecky in Flanders and its the Belgian who will likely be her biggest challenger in the Ronde this year.Kopecky had an uncharacteristically quiet year in 2025 with just three victories, Flanders being the high point of her injury-hit season. Shes looking to change that in 2026, ignoring the call of a potential GC bid at the Tour to prioritise the Classics. Flanders hilly parcours is always an area where she thrives, winning three of the last four editions, so it wont be easy to beat her. Related Posts UK stages for Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes Grand Dpart 2027 revealed Tour de France Femmes 2026 route revealed with Mont Ventoux, time-trial and hilly Nice finale Giro d'Italia 2026 to have Bulgaria start, Passo Giau Queen Stage and a lot less climbing: Full route breakdown Tour de France 2026 route revealed: Back-to-back Alpe d'Huez summit finishes, Barcelona TTT and Montmartre return Paris-Roubaix: Mathieu van der Poel vs Tadej PogaarXavier PereyronThe jewel in the crown of Classics season. Paris-Roubaix saw an electric showdown last year between three-time winner Van der Poel and debutant Tadej Pogaar. The race was eventually sealed after Pogaar came into a corner too hot and crashed, and he will be back for revenge on Sunday 12th April. Well see if these two heavyweights will be joined by any other protagonists its unlikely.Giro dItalia: Jonas Vingegaard vs Joo AlmeidaTim de Waele/Getty ImagesJonas Vingegaard is taking a different line of preparation for the Tour de France this year, heading to the Giro dItalia to try his hand at adding his name to a special club. If he wins, the Dane will join the ranks of only a few riders that have won all three Grand Tours.Hell face a strong challenge from UAE Team Emirates XRG though, with Joo Almeida taking sole leadership in both the Giro and Vuelta this year. Hell want to take the next step to the top spot after a third place at the Giro in 2023 and second at the Vuelta to Vingegaard in 2025.Tour de France: Tadej Pogaar vs Jonas VingegaardA.S.O./ Tony EsnaultPogaar and Vingegaard will once again battle for the maillot jaune in July. Pogaar has won four Tour titles and another would see him equal the record for most wins alongside Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurin. Pogaar beat Primo Rogli in 2020 before getting the better of Vingegaard in 2021, 2024 and 2025.Vingegaard came out on top in 2022 and 2023, on the other hand, so he knows its not impossible to crack his Slovenian foe, but he has been on the back foot in recent years, unable to match Pogaar in the big moments. Pivoting to Italy instead of shorter stage races like the Volta ao Algarve, Paris-Nice and Critrium du Dauphin might just be the something different he needs in 2026.Tour de France Femmes: Pauline Ferrand-Prvot vs Demi VolleringA.S.O./Pauline BalletFerrand-Prvot is aiming to defend her title at the Tour de France Femmes. Last season she was able to shrug off the peloton in the final two days in the mountains with Demi Vollering and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney completing the podium, but the pair were nowhere near the Frenchwoman on the climbs.This will be Vollerings second year with FDJ United-Suez and the squad is aiming to help her to her second maillot jaune after victory in 2023. Niewiadoma-Phinney reigned victorious in 2024 for Canyon-SRAM-Zondacrypto, and will be trying her best to repeat that feat in 2026.No one has won the Tour de France Femmes twice. Could 2026 be the year of the races first repeat victor?Vuelta a Espaa: Primo Rogli vs Joo AlmeidaUnipublic / CxclingPrimo Rogli is in the final year of his contract with Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe. Despite future GC stars coming to the fore such as Florian Lipowitz and Giulio Pellizzari as well as big new signing Remco Evenepoel, its hard to see past Rogli for the Vuelta. Already boasting four titles here, should he achieve the feat this season, the Slovenian will make history as the man to have won the race the most.Almeida has been granted leadership here for UAE Team Emirates XRG after finishing second to Vingegaard in 2025 his best result in a Grand Tour so far. Strong in the mountains and the ITT, itll be an exciting watch to see where the maillot rojo ends up. And who knows which other riders may be looking to a last gasp result late in the season.Il Lombardia: Tadej Pogaar vs the pelotonDario Belingheri/Getty ImagesIl Lombardia is nine months away but its impossible to look past Pogaar. The World Champion has perfected the art of this Monument, winning for the past five years to put him alongside Fausto Coppi in the record books with most victories. For anyone else to win, theyll have to team up and throw everything theyve got.Giro dItalia Women: TBDLuc Claessen via Getty ImagesMore information on GC contenders will come as schedules are announced, but the Giro dItalia Women threw up an almighty battle between Elisa Longo Borghini and Marlen Reusser last season as Sarah Gigante shone in the mountains. Only Longo Borghini is pencilled in so far, but the race is now a couple of weeks further away from the Tour de France Femmes and includes the mighty Colle delle Finestre, so expect a few more big names than usual on the start line.The post The 9 most anticipated head-to-heads to look forward to in 2026 appeared first on Cyclist.
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