HAPPENING 1 to 6 December 2026 | The 43rd WielerZesdaagse Rotterdam returns to Rotterdam Ahoy with six days of track cycling, from madison and derny racing to sprint and keirin. Harrie Lavreysen, Jeffrey Hoogland, Lindsay De Vylder and Jan-Willem van Schip are among the first confirmed riders, while Hetty van de Wouw and Emma Finucane headline the expanded women's sprint programme.
What to expect at the WielerZesdaagse Rotterdam
The WielerZesdaagse mixes endurance racing, sprinting and shorter tactical events on Ahoy's indoor track. The Elite WielerZesdaagse includes the koppelkoers, or madison, alongside points races, elimination races and derny-paced racing. Sprinters compete in the GPN/Provato Sprint Cup, which includes sprint and keirin, while the Dames Cup and Rotterdam Topsport Talents Cup bring women's racing and emerging riders into the programme.
The 2026 edition also adds a women's sprint competition. World champion Hetty van de Wouw and British sprint star Emma Finucane are confirmed to race against each other on Friday and Saturday.
Each day combines an opening or development programme with the main evening races. The complete timetable is now available on the official programme page, although the organiser notes that times remain subject to change.
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Riders to watch in 2026
The first confirmed Elite WielerZesdaagse riders include Lindsay De Vylder, Jan-Willem van Schip, Joeri Schaper, Tobias Aagaard Hansen, Moritz Augenstein and Peter Moore. De Vylder returns after several Rotterdam podium finishes and arrives as one of the established names in international track endurance racing.
The event will also be Jan-Willem van Schip's final appearance as a professional cyclist. The Dutch rider, a two-time world champion on the track, announced in October that he will end his professional career during the WielerZesdaagse in Ahoy.
In the sprint competition, Harrie Lavreysen and Jeffrey Hoogland are already confirmed. Lavreysen returns as defending GPN/Provato Sprint Cup winner and will also attempt to reclaim the Ahoy track record. The current record is 9.645 seconds, set by Matthew Richardson during the previous edition.
The organiser is still adding riders to the field, so check the current participant list closer to the event.
Programme and times
From Tuesday to Friday, Ahoy opens at 18:00 and the main race programme begins at 19:00. Saturday starts earlier, with doors opening at 15:00, a pre-programme from 15:30 and the main programme from 18:30. On Sunday, doors open at 12:15 and the final programme begins at 12:30, with the overall winners due to be honoured later that afternoon.
The programme includes the Elite WielerZesdaagse, GPN/Provato Sprint Cup, Houcon Derny Cup and Dames Cup. The Rotterdam Topsport Talents Cup runs through Saturday, while young riders also compete during Saturday's pre-programme.
Several business programmes run alongside the racing. Rotterdamplein returns on Tuesday 1 December, the AGF-tuinbouwplein takes place on Wednesday 2 December and the new Maritiem Plein brings together businesses from Rotterdam's maritime and logistics sectors on Friday 4 December.
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Tickets for the WielerZesdaagse Rotterdam
The organiser currently lists standard day tickets at €30 from Tuesday to Thursday, €40 on Friday and Saturday and €45 for Sunday's finale. Ticketmaster may show lower starting prices for particular ticket categories, so check the live booking page for the final price and availability.
A Family Fun Ticket for Sunday costs €90 and covers four people, with a maximum of two adults and at least one child under 12. A passe-partout covering all six days costs €150.
Tickets are sold through Ticketmaster. The organiser warns against unofficial resale channels and identifies Ticketmaster as its official ticket seller.
For current tickets and availability, visit the official WielerZesdaagse ticket page.
Getting to Rotterdam Ahoy
Rotterdam Ahoy is at Ahoyweg 10, 3084 BA Rotterdam, next to Zuidplein. The metro and bus station is around a five-minute walk from the arena.
If you are travelling by car, Ahoy has more than 2,500 parking spaces. Advance parking with a space guarantee currently costs €20, while the organiser lists €21 if you buy parking on location. A free unguarded bicycle parking area is available on Ahoy's forecourt.
Food and drinks are available inside the arena, and the first ring also hosts cycling-related stands that you can visit between races.
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