The Sparkassen Münsterland Giro is a classic 190-kilometre German one-day race running from Borken to Münster, featuring a hilly profile throughout before opening up to a flat finale in the city. The hills are testing enough to whittle down the field but rarely selective enough to prevent the fastest finishers from regrouping, making this a race that typically suits punchy, all-round riders who can also sprint. Held on 3 October 2026, it carries a 1.Pro classification and attracts a quality field of northern European classics specialists.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Matthew Brennan is in a form class of his own right now, with five wins recently on similar-profile hilly races including multiple Vuelta a España stages. His hills ability is among the finest in this field, and no other rider in the startlist combines his recent win rate with this level of course suitability. He is the heavy favourite.
Visma - Lease a Bike
Visma - Lease a Bike
Matthew Brennan is the standout favorite heading into this race, having won five times recently on similar hilly profiles — including stage 11, stage 5, and stage 2 of the Vuelta a España, plus stage 4 and stage 1 of the Vuelta a Burgos. His hills ability ranks among the very best in this field, and his current form is simply in a different class to the rest of the startlist.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Jasper Philipsen and Mads Pedersen form a formidable second tier. Philipsen's triple of Renewi Tour stage wins demonstrates he is peaking at exactly the right time, and his sprint is arguably the fastest in the race. Pedersen's deliberate targeting of this event — confirmed by his ProCyclingStats page — combined with a recent Tour de France stage win on a comparable parcours makes him a genuine co-favourite.
Alpecin-Premier Tech
Alpecin-Premier Tech
Jasper Philipsen arrives with three wins recently on comparable profiles — stage 5 and stage 4 of the Renewi Tour and stage 17 of the Tour de France — and he boasts elite sprint and hills stats to back a fast-finish scenario. He is the most dangerous wheel to follow at the line if a bunch sprint materialises.
Lidl-Trek
Lidl-Trek
Mads Pedersen is specifically listed on his ProCyclingStats page as targeting this race, a clear sign of motivated preparation. His win in stage 4 of the Tour de France and multiple top-ten finishes recently on hilly terrain confirm he has the all-round ability — hills, sprint, and cobbles — to contest the finish in Münster.
★★
Dark Horses
Olav Kooij, Tim Torn Teutenberg, and Marijn van den Berg all have recent wins on similar-profile races and enough hills ability to survive the selective sections before unleashing their sprint. Any of the three could emerge victorious if the frontrunners cancel each other out or if Brennan and Philipsen are marked too tightly.
EF - EasyPost
EF - EasyPost
Marijn van den Berg collected a win at stage 2 of the Tour de Luxembourg recently and has shown consistent top-five form on hilly finales. His hills and sprint combination makes him a credible dark horse for the Münster finale.
Decathlon CMA CGM
Decathlon CMA CGM
Olav Kooij brings a huge sprint and recently won stage 1 of the Grand Prix d'Isbergues - Pas de Calais, a race with a comparable hilly-then-flat profile. If the day ends in a bunch sprint, his finishing speed makes him one of the most dangerous men in the race.
Lidl-Trek
Lidl-Trek
Tim Torn Teutenberg is in fine form, having won stage 1 of the Philadelphia Cycling Class p/b AmeriGas ME recently and racking up multiple top-five and top-ten finishes on similar-profile races. He is well-suited to a race that blends hilly terrain with a flat finale.
★
Ones to Watch
Pavel Bittner, Jordi Meeus, Danny van Poppel, and Milan Fretin are all riders with recent top-results on comparable terrain who have the sprint to threaten on the flat Münster finish. Each carries some risk — whether in the form of question marks about their ability to come over the hardest hills or inconsistency in converting form into wins — but all four are capable of a top-ten or better on the right day.
Red Bull - BORA
Red Bull - BORA
Danny van Poppel has registered two top-three finishes recently on comparable hilly terrain and brings a strong sprint to the table. He is a reliable finisher who can emerge if his team sets up the right scenario.
Red Bull - BORA
Red Bull - BORA
Jordi Meeus has delivered three top-three finishes recently on similar-profile races without yet converting, pointing to consistent end-of-race presence. His powerful sprint could be a decisive weapon if he arrives at the finish with the leaders.
Cofidis
Cofidis
Milan Fretin won stage 4 of the Tour Poitou - Charentes recently and has shown he can deliver in bunch sprint situations following hilly terrain. His sprint punch and growing confidence make him an intriguing wildcard at long odds.
Picnic PostNL
Picnic PostNL
Pavel Bittner won stage 1 of Paris-Chauny recently and has shown he can compete at the sharp end of hilly one-day races with a sprint finish. His solid hills and strong sprint give him a genuine shot at a top result.
Verdict
Matthew Brennan stands out as the clear favourite given his exceptional recent form on hilly finishes, while Jasper Philipsen and Mads Pedersen represent the most credible threats — Philipsen for his sprint and Pedersen for his stated intent to peak for this very event.