​In the pouring rain on the 191-kilometre course around Diest in Belgium, the Italian champion had a clear run 200 metres from the finish. Kooij, who only emerged from the 25-year-old’s slipstream halfway through the remaining distance, made up a fair amount of ground, but would have needed a few more metres to take the win. Merlier and Philipsen finished in second and third places respectively, having started from unfavourable positions and trailing by a considerable margin.

It was by no means certain for a long time that there would even be a bunch sprint for the win. A five-man breakaway group still had a 20-second lead with two kilometres to go, but they were unable to work together in the final stretch and were eventually caught.

“We only just managed to catch up with them,” Milan also said after the race. “It was very difficult today in these conditions,” said the man from Tolmezzo. A crash ten kilometres from the finish had also further complicated matters for the riders at the back, as it tore the peloton apart and meant they were only able to close the gaps late on. “It wasn’t easy to stay together, so thanks to the team for making it work in the end.”

Milan: “Kooij was right in front of me, just past the line”

It wasn’t until well after crossing the finish line that Milan realised he had actually secured his twelfth win of the season. “I wasn’t sure right up until the very end, because Kooij was already ahead of me immediately after the line. But I’m very happy with this win. In a sprint against all these big names, I can always give it my all.”

The next battle amongst the sprint elite is set to take place as early as tomorrow. The second stage is as flat as a pancake and, under normal circumstances, should also end in a bunch sprint.

Renewi Tour 2026 – Results of Stage 1

Here’s how the first stage of the 2026 Renewi Tour went

Attacks were launched straight from the start of the stage, but the initial attempts were countered. It was only the five-man group that formed after around 20 kilometres that finally managed to break away from the peloton for good. The group included Dries De Bondt (Team Jayco AlUla), Timo Kielich (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Quinten Hermans (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team), Lionel Taminiaux (Lotto Intermarché) and Carl-Frederik Bévort (Uno-X Mobility). Their maximum lead was around two minutes.

In the persistent Belgian rain, Red Bull – BORA – hansgrohe in particular were very active in the chase and had reduced the gap to under a minute with 60 kilometres to go. However, after the German WorldTour team had dropped back from the front of the peloton and Soudal Quick-Step had to take over, the gap widened again to one and a half minutes 20 kilometres later.

The breakaway riders then headed into the final 16-kilometre lap with a lead of just under 60 seconds. By the final climb, ten kilometres from the finish, only a fraction of that lead remained. However, a crash at the front of the peloton changed the situation once again. Tudor professional Arvid de Kleijn crashed whilst accelerating out of a bend whilst in the leading positions, causing the peloton to split.

At the front was a group of six riders, including three Red Bull professionals and Arnaud De Lie (Lotto - Intermarché), who were ahead of de Kleijn. Initially, Milan tried to close the gap on his own. But eventually, the Italian waited for the chasing group, which included Kooij and Merlier as well as a few domestiques from the three sprinters’ teams. As a result, a good 20 riders were able to catch up again.

A third group led by Philipsen only managed to catch up after the four-kilometre mark. Even then, it still looked as though the leading group would decide the race amongst themselves. However, they started taking risks too early and were eventually caught 800 metres from the finish.