Belgium • One-day Classic
A high-speed pursuit through the wind-scarred polders, where the North Sea's invisible hand threatens to tear the peloton asunder at any moment. The race is a nerve-shredding gauntlet through the De Moeren marshes, demanding tactical perfection and raw power before a thunderous seaside sprint into Koksijde.
| Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2026 |
Exposed polders prone to echelon-forming crosswinds, the legendary flat section of De Moeren, mid-race climbs in the Heuvelland including the Monteberg and Kemmelberg, and a fast finish on the Belgian coast.
The race is established as the Handzame Classic, originating as a spin-off from the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen.
The event is promoted to the UCI Europe Tour 1.HC category, attracting a deeper field of world-class sprinters.
The competition is rebranded as the Bredene Koksijde Classic, shifting the finish to the coastal town of Koksijde.
The race joins the UCI ProSeries, solidifying its status as a premier Belgian semi-classic.