The Ronde van Limburg (Dutch for “Tour of Limburg”) is a one‑day professional road cycling race held in the Belgian province of Limburg. Established in 1919, the event traditionally took place in and around the city of Sint‑Truiden before being discontinued after the 1994 edition. After a 17‑year hiatus, the race was revived in 2012 with a new start‑finish location in Tongeren.
Since its reinstatement, the Ronde van Limburg has been part of the UCI Europe Tour. It was classified as a 1.2 event in 2012 and was upgraded to a 1.1 category from 2014 onward, indicating a higher level of competition and a greater allocation of UCI points. The race is typically scheduled for mid‑May and covers a distance of roughly 175–180 km, featuring a mixture of flat sections, rolling terrain, and occasional short climbs characteristic of the Limburg region.
Historical overview
| Year (first edition) | 1919 |
|---|---|
| Original host city | Sint‑Truiden |
| Revival host city | Tongeren (from 2012) |
| UCI classification (as of 2014) | 1.1 (UCI Europe Tour) |
| Number of editions (through 2026) | 78 |
Notable winners
The race has been won by a range of Belgian and Dutch riders, with several cyclists achieving two victories—the most any rider has won. Belgian riders with two wins include Jozef Abelshausen, Ernest Sterckx, Guido Van Sweevelt, Eric Vanderaerden, Willy Vannetsen, and Tim Merlier. Dutch riders with two wins are Mathieu van der Poel and Peter Post. The most recent winner, as of the 2026 edition, is Tim Merlier of Belgium.
Race characteristics
- Discipline: Road
- Type: Single‑day classic
- Region: Limburg, Belgium
- Organizer: Ronde van Limburg (official website: www.rondevanlimburg.be)
- Typical route: Starts and finishes in Tongeren, traverses the rolling Limburg landscape, includes cobbled sections and short, steep climbs such as the Keiberg.
Recent developments
The race was not held in 2020 due to the COVID‑19 pandemic. Since its return, it has attracted both domestic teams and international professional squads, contributing to the early‑season European racing calendar and serving as a preparatory event for larger classics.
References
- Official website of the Ronde van Limburg.
- UCI Europe Tour race calendar and classification documents.
- Historical winner lists compiled by cycling statistics databases (e.g., FirstCycling, ProCyclingStats).