In search of the successors to Remco Evenepoel and Elisa Longo Borghini
De Brabantse Pijl once again marks the transition from the Flemish cobbled climbs to the longer ascents. On Friday, April 17, the men will start in Beersel and the women in Lennik, heading towards the Druivenstreek. The successors to Remco Evenepoel and Elisa Longo Borghini will once again be crowned after several local laps in and around Overijse, finishing on the Brusselsesteenweg.
After the team presentation, the men will start at 13:30 near Provinciedomein Huizingen for a 162 km ride through the Druivenstreek. No fewer than 21 climbs await along the way, with Alsemberg already featuring as the first after just 6 km. After Bruineput, the peloton will head towards Lennik and then follow the same course as the women. Before riding towards the Druivenstreek, the race first returns to Beersel for the Beerselberg – Bruineput combination.
The start of the women’s race will be given in Lennik, this year at 11:25. The women’s De Brabantse Pijl covers 125 km and features 19 climbs, a route identical to the final 125 km of the men’s race. After conquering Beerselberg and Bruineput, three more climbs await on the way to Overijse: Eigenbrakelsesteenweg, Chemin dit le Bois, and Rue François Dubois.
After a first ascent of Holstheide and S-Bocht Overijse, both pelotons will begin three local laps of around 20 km, each featuring the quartet of climbs Hertstraat, Moskesstraat, Holstheide, and S-Bocht Overijse. At around 14:37, we will discover the successor to Elisa Longo Borghini on the Brusselsesteenweg. The winner of the men’s race will cross the finish line at approximately 17:10.
Teams
Ten men's UCI WorldTeams will line up at the start in Beersel. They will be joined by seven UCI ProTeams: Burgos-Burpellet-BH, Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, Cofidis, Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team, Team Flanders – Baloise, TotalEnergies, and Unibet Rose Rockets. UCI Continental Teams Beat Cycling Club and Tarteletto – Isorex complete the peloton. Former winners Tim Wellens and Benoît Cosnefroy (UAE Team Emirates XRG) already confirmed their presence, as well as Tom Pidcock (Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team). Two-time runner-up Michael Matthews (Team Jayco AlUla) has also confirmed his participation.
In the women’s race, ten UCI Women’s WorldTeams will line up at the start in Lennik. They will be joined by three UCI Women’s ProTeams (Lotto Intermarché Ladies, Mayenne Monbana My Pie, VolkerWessels Cycling Team) and eleven UCI Women’s Continental Teams. Among those confirmed are Belgian champion Justine Ghekiere (AG Insurance - Soudal Team) and the Team SD Worx - Protime duo Mischa Bredewold and Anna van der Breggen.
