The Brabantse Pijl is the final race of six that comprise the Flanders Classics. Traditionally, Brabantse Pijl is the Wednesday before Amstel Gold but this year it will fall during the week of Paris-Roubaix due to the French Election. Brabantse Pijl marks a transition from the cobbled classics to the hillier Ardennes. 

Elite Men’s Race

The men will race a 205-kilometer route which features 25 hills, 20 of which occur in the final 85 kilometers.

Expect to see the decisive moves of the race play out on the four finishing circuits. 

The 2021 edition was won by Tom Pidcock, who beat out Wout van Aert and Matteo Trentin. 

Elite Women’s Race

The women will race a 140-kilometer course, which like the men’s, finishises in Overijse. 

Despite a shorter course, the women will still tackle 24 climbs including the infamous Moskesstraat and Brusselsesteenweg, which one might remember from the 2021 UCI Road World Championships. 

In 2021 Ruth Winder beat out SD Worx’ Demi Vollering by mere millimeters.   

Riders To Watch

Tom Pidcock will look to repeat his victory, but expect QuickStep-AlphaVinyl’s Julian Alaphilippe to try and give his team a Classics redemption after the team has failed to produce a win or even a podium spot this spring. Unfortunately, Wout van Aert won’t be racing as he is still unfit after recovering from COVID-19 and Mathieu van der Poel will be taking the week to prepare for the weekend’s Paris-Roubaix.

On the women’s side, Human Powered Health will bring a young, excited team to race, including Americans Kaia Schmid and Makayla MacPherson. SD Worx’ will protect and race for Demi Vollering. Trek-Segafredo will field American Leah Thomas and current UCI Road World Champion Elisa Balsamo.