Anna Vanderaerden announced herself in style on Saturday, taking victory at the 2026 NXT Classic after proving fastest in a reduced sprint in Eijsden. The 20-year-old Fenix-Premier Tech Development Team rider beat Femke Markus, racing for the Dutch national team, with Amalie Dideriksen of Cofidis completing the podium after a selective but ultimately controlled 116.1km edition of the Dutch one-day race.
For Vanderaerden, it was a breakthrough result and the biggest win of her young career, coming after previous standout rides such as 2nd at Grote Prijs CHW Beveren in 2024 and 8th at Trofee Maarten Wynants in 2025.
A controlled race builds towards a selective finish
The women’s NXT Classic did not explode into long-range chaos, but it still wore the field down enough to leave only a select group to fight for the win on the uphill finishing straight in Eijsden. Much of the race remained relatively closed, with the main favourites still together deep into the finale rather than being split apart by a decisive solo move or a late attack sticking clear.
That meant the race gradually turned into a test of positioning and finishing speed rather than one of pure attrition. Markus, a previous winner and one of the clear favourites on the start line, made it into the front selection as expected and looked well placed to add another victory here. Dideriksen also survived the selective run-in, giving Cofidis a strong card for the finish.
But when the sprint opened on the rising final metres, it was Vanderaerden who delivered the sharpest acceleration.
Vanderaerden takes her biggest win so far
The uphill run to the line suited riders who could still produce a hard effort after a demanding day, and Vanderaerden judged it best. She came through to beat Markus, with Dideriksen taking third from the same finishing group.
It is the kind of result that should bring her to a much wider audience. Vanderaerden rides for the Fenix-Premier Tech development set-up and comes from a family with deep cycling roots. She is the niece of former Tour of Flanders winner Eric Vanderaerden, while her father Gert also rode professionally in the late 1990s for the Belgian Palmans team.
That background naturally draws attention, but this win stood on its own merit. She did not inherit the result. She earned it on the road, against a field that included established riders and several strong development talents.
Markus and Dideriksen round out the podium
Markus had to settle for second despite starting as one of the race’s headline names. Racing in Dutch national colours under coach Laurens ten Dam, she was beaten only by Vanderaerden on the line and finished on the same time.
Dideriksen took third for Cofidis, also on the winner’s time, underlining how tight the front group remained after the race failed to fully split apart before Eijsden.
Behind the podium, Nina Lavenu of AG Insurance-Soudal Devo Team finished 4th, with Erja Bianchi in 5th. The top 10 was completed by Amber Van Der Hulst, Erin Boothman, Eilidh Shaw, Jasmin Liechti and Andrea Casagranda.
A new name steps forward
NXT Classic often offers younger riders the chance to show themselves against stronger opposition, and this edition did exactly that. Vanderaerden came into the race with some encouraging results already on her record, but this was the performance that should change how she is viewed.
Winning from a select group, against a rider of Markus’ calibre and a finisher like Dideriksen, is a significant step. It also makes her the successor to Femke Gerritse, who won this race in 2025.
NXT Classic 2026 Result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: Cor Vos
