Belgian coastal one-day racing in the season's opening stretch
Bredene Koksijde Classic
A Belgian one-day race where positioning, wind, and late accelerations decide the outcome more often than pure power.
Next edition Mar 19, 2027
- Location
- 🇧🇪 Belgium
- When
- Third Friday in March
- Course
- One Day
- Most recent winner
- 🇳🇱 Dylan Groenewegen (2026)
- Also known as
- Handzame Classic (2011-2018)
- Category
- Men’s 1.Pro
About Bredene Koksijde Classic
Bredene Koksijde Classic is a men's one-day bike race on the ProSeries calendar, held each March along Belgium's North Sea coast. The route connects two coastal towns and typically features exposed roads, tight corners, and a finish that rewards sharp tactical racing.
Also known as: Handzame Classic (2011-2018)
This is Belgian one-day racing stripped to its essentials: wind off the North Sea, narrow roads through coastal towns, and a finale that punishes hesitation. The race sits early enough in the season that form is still uneven, which opens the door for opportunists and riders using it as a final tune-up before the bigger northern Classics. It rewards positioning instinct over raw watts, and the finish often comes down to a small group that survived the final accelerations rather than a mass sprint.
Bredene Koksijde Classic winners
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 🇳🇱Dylan Groenewegen |
| 2025 | 🇧🇪Edward Theuns |
| 2024 | 🇮🇹Luca Mozzato |
| 2023 | 🇧🇪Gerben Thijssen |
| 2022 | 🇩🇪Pascal Ackermann |
| 2021 | 🇧🇪Tim Merlier |
2027 edition
Mar 19, 2027. The Bredene Koksijde Classic 2027 is on Friday, March 19, in Belgium. Dylan Groenewegen won the 2026 race in a sprint in Koksijde, ahead of Pascal Ackermann and Pavel Bittner, after the last rider of the breakaway was caught 1,600 meters from the line.
Bredene Koksijde Classic route
The course runs between Bredene and Koksijde along Belgium's western coastline, where the North Sea wind is the most reliable feature. Expect exposed stretches, tight turns through coastal towns, and a finish that typically favors a reduced group rather than a full peloton. The race is usually decided by positioning in the final 20 kilometers, where crosswinds, short accelerations, and corner exits create selection. Riders who can read the wind, hold position through technical sections, and respond to late attacks have the advantage. It is not a pure sprinter's race, but it is not selective enough to suit pure climbers either. The winner is usually someone who can handle repeated surges and stay near the front when the group splinters.
What shapes the race
Belgian coastal flats
The race runs along the flat, wind-exposed Belgian coast between Bredene and Koksijde, where crosswinds off the North Sea can split the field.
Sprint finish
When the wind cooperates, the race produces a bunch sprint. When it does not, echelons and positioning battles decide the outcome.
Spring classics tune-up
Held in March, the race functions as a warm-up for the cobbled classics, attracting sprinters and Flemish specialists testing early-season form.
Signature landmarks
- Route section
Belgian coast
The North Sea coastline between Bredene and Koksijde provides the wind exposure that gives the race its tactical identity.
- Finish town
Koksijde
The coastal town finish, with flat, wide roads that suit a sprint when the field arrives together.
History
Iconic victories
Tim Merlier
Won in 2021 with the kind of sprint power that defines the race when the wind allows a bunch finish.
Mathieu van der Poel
Multiple podium finishes have confirmed the race attracts the best in Belgian cycling even at continental level.
Eras and records
A Belgian coastal sprint race that doubles as a spring classics tune-up, where the North Sea wind is often the most important factor.
Race evolution
Originally the Handzame Classic from 2011, the race was renamed and rerouted to the Belgian coast in 2019 as the Bredene Koksijde Classic.
Belgian sprint dominance
Belgian riders have won the majority of editions, reflecting the race identity as a domestic spring sprint event.