Who will succeed Godon and Persico in Overijse?
On Wednesday 10 April, De Brabantse Pijl, the traditional transition from the Flemish cobbled classics to the Ardennes hills will be taking place. As usual, the men start in Leuven, while the women will hear the starting shot in Lennik. In this press release, we share the provisional start lists for the upcoming edition.
As in previous years, the Men Elite’s race starts on Ladeuzeplein in Leuven. The riders will be presented starting at 10:55, after which the race begins at 12:35. The Women Elite start their race from Lennik at 10:50. The presentation of the teams at the Markt in Lennik starts at 9:30.
Course
From Lennik, the women first head towards Beersel where, after just 13 km, the first of a total of 20 climbs awaits. After a short loop through Walloon Brabant, they ride onto the local circuit in Overijse with some 75 km to go. There, a loop with Hertstraat, Moskesstraat, Holstheide and S-bend Overijse awaits them, which they will complete a total of 4 times. After 135 km, we will know the successor to Silvia Persico at around 14:15.
The men set off from Leuven, firstly towards Beersel and the Bruine Put. Then, like the women, they ride through Walloon Brabant to Overijse. At 75 km, they begin an identical finale to the women’s. Four rounds including Hertstraat, Moskesstraat, Holstheide and S-bend Overijse will decide who wins and who loses in this race of 195 km. We will be welcoming the successor to Dorian Godon at around 17:10 on Brusselsesteenweg.
Participants Women Elite
Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ) starts with bib number 1. To retain her title, she will have to beat Tour de France Femmes winner Vollering (Team SD - Worx Protime), among others. Last year, the Dutch rider was second behind Persico, but she won in 2022. She will start with European champion Bredewold and Hungarian Vas, among others.
The competition, as always, comes from Lidl - Trek who, with Longo Borghini and Van Anrooij, are bringing both the winner and the number three of the Tour of Flanders to the start. For AG Insurance - Soudal Team, look out for Belgium’s Ghekiere, who joins forces with Moolman-Pasio. Canyon//SRAM Racing are heading for Lennik with Cromwell. For Fenix-Deceuninck, Kastelijn will be wearing the team leader’s number.
The women's race can be followed thanks to Proximus via Pickx live (TV), the livestream on Pickx.be and in the Pickx app.
Participants Men Elite
Alongside the 2023 winner, Dorian Godon, we find Cosnefroy in the selection of Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale. The Frenchman has already appeared on the podium 3 times in Overijse. De Bondt also starts for the French formation. Barguil (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) and Matthews (Team Jayco AlUla) have also already made an appearance on the podium at the last of the Flemish spring classics. As has B. Hermans (Cofidis), who triumphed in 2015.
Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates) is also on the provisional start list, along with Politt and Morgado, third and fifth respectively in Flanders’ Finest. The revelation that is Van Gils (Lotto Dstny), third in the Strade Bianche, is also on the start list. The duo Q. Hermans - Kragh Andersen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Olympic champion Carapaz (EF Education-EasyPost) and last year’s number six, Kamp (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) are on the provisional list as well.
