Roeselare (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The 15th Grand Prix Jean-Pierre Monsere will be held on March 22, 2026, in Roeselare with a new finish line at Koning Albert I-laan. Co-organiser Stijn De Zaeytijd highlights safety, spectator views, and extended partnerships with Ichtegem (3 years) and Roeselare (6 years).
As VRT News reported, the 15th Grand Prix Jean-Pierre Monsere will take place on Sunday, March 22nd, 2026, in Roeselare. This is about 2 weeks later than its usual early March date. For the 15th edition, the organisers are introducing new features to enhance the event.
“That’s on the eve of Flemish Cycling Week,”
explains co-organiser Stijn De Zaeytijd,
“when several well-known cycling teams are already in the country. Naturally, they’ll want to race, which makes it easier for us to negotiate starting rights and attract bigger names.”
What’s new in the 15th Grand Prix Jean-Pierre Monsere in Roeselare?
The Grand Prix Jean-Pierre Monsere will see a key change in its route for the next edition. The finish line will be moved to Koning Albert I-laan, close to the centre of Roeselare.
“We’ll have a long, one-kilometre stretch there where the riders can launch their final sprint,” De Zaeytijd explains. “Previously, they had to make a few turns at the end, which wasn’t ideal from a safety perspective. It will also be more fun for the spectators to see the participants coming from far away.”
Organisers say the new location will make the final stretch more visible and accessible for spectators. The start and main finish areas will remain the same.
“Ichtegem has extended the agreement for three years,”
says De Zaeytijd,
“and Roeselare for six years. We’re pleased to be able to continue this collaboration for a while longer, as it has always run smoothly.”
The Grand Prix Jean-Pierre Monsere was first held in 2012 in Roeselare to honour Jean-Pierre “Jempi” Monsere, a young Belgian cyclist. Monsere was born in 1950 and died at the age of 22 in the early 1970s after a fatal accident during a kermis race in Retie. Since its first edition, the one-day race has become an important event on the early-season cycling calendar. It attracts both professional and emerging riders.
