Tough competition for Sheffield in De Brabantse Pijl

On Wednesday 12 April, we close the Flemish cycling spring season with De Brabantse Pijl. Ineos Grenadiers won the previous two editions and the team brings title defender Magnus Sheffield to the start in Leuven once again this year. The American will be taking on the likes of Powless, Cosnefroy and De Lie.

Magnus Sheffield was able to celebrate victory in Overijse last year after a late explosion. This year, the American may pin the number one on his jersey. He gets support from his young British teammates Ben Tulett and Ethan Hayter. In 2015 the victory went to Ben Hermans. The Belgian from Israel - Premier Tech joins Dylan Teuns at the start in Leuven this year.

Matteo Trentin, third in 2021, defends the colours of UAE Team Emirates. Alessandro Covi and Marc Hirschi flank the Italian. Benoit Cosnefroy is also no stranger to the podium in Overijse. The Frenchman from AG2R Citroën Team came third in 2020 and second in 2022. He is joined by his Belgian teammates Naesen, Van Avermaet and Dewulf. With Warren Barguil, there was another Frenchman on the podium last year. His name has also been put forward this year by Team Arkéa - Samsic.

Soudal Quick-Step will be relying on Andrea Bagioli, seventh in 2020. Cavagna, Devenyns and Serry accompany the Italian. The latter finished as runner-up in De Brabantse Pijl in 2012. More Belgian talent can be found at Lotto Dstny who relies on Arnaud De Lie. He will be setting off together with Kron, Van Gils and Florian Vermeersch. Alpecin-Deceuninck are sending Quinten Hermans. He forms a duo with Søren Kragh Andersen.

Trek-Segafredo also brings a strong block to the start of De Brabantse Pijl. With Simmons, Skujins and Theuns, the American team has multiple assets. The same goes for the Bahrain - Victorious team that descends on Leuven with Poels and Wright. Finally, EF Education - EasyPost is hoping for a good performance from Neilson Powless. We can also find the names of Bryan Coquard (Cofidis), Gianluca Brambilla (Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) and Tobias Halland Johannessen (Uno-X Pro Cycling Team) on the provisional start list.

We will find out who the successor is to Magnus Sheffield on Wednesday 12 April at around 17:25 on the Brusselsesteenweg in Overijse. Discover the provisional start list here.