From the cobbles of Flanders to the Ardennes hills
De Brabantse Pijl - La Flèche Brabançonne takes place next Wednesday, three days after Paris-Roubaix and four before Amstel Gold Race. Although it is a race of the second division of world cycling (both the women's and men's races are 1.Pro category), the event serves as the perfect transition between the cobbled classics of Flanders and the hilly races of the Ardennes, because of its place in the calendar and the profile of the race.
The Route
Both the women's and men's races finish with four laps on a final circuit around the town of Overijse, which includes two cobbled sections and the climbs of Hertstraat (0.7 km at 4.6%), Moskestraat (0.5 km at 7%), Holstheide (1 km at 5%), and the finish line located at S-Bocht (1.3 km at 3.8%). The women's race covers a total of 134 km while the men's race, 195 km.
Women's Race: The Favorites
Demi Vollering (1200), Elisa Longo Borghini (1000), Silvia Persico (1000), Shirin Van Anrooij (600), Mavi Garcia (800), Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (1000), Grace Brown (800), Alexandra Manly (800), Mischa Bredewold (600), Ruby Roseman-Gannon (600), or Yara Kastelijn (400) are some of the main favorites.
Men's Race: The Favorites
Dorian Godon (200), Quinten Hermans (400), Søren Kragh Andersen (400), Michael Matthews (800), Tobias Halland Johannessen (600), Marc Hirschi (600), Andreas Kron (600), Dylan Teuns (600), Warren Barguil (600), Benoît Cosnefroy (400), Kaden Groves (800), Stefen Williams (200), Axel Laurance (200), or Anthony Turgis (200) are some of the most prominent cyclists in the start list of the men's race.
Photo : © Flanders Classics