2014 Brabantse Pijl, 200km, April 16th (HC)

[Lexman]

So after the cobbles we shift to the Ardennes classics and this 54th edition of the Brabantse Pijl marks the startof the campaign.

http://www.debrabantsepijl.be/nl

Sagan doesn't particpate, Cannondale as a team doesn't participate...

Curious to see how Gilbert does, Voeckler maybe again?

 

[Netserk]

Startlist

Europcar (Voeckler)
BMC (Gilbert, GVA)
Garmin (Martin, Slagter)
Lotto (JVDB, Vanendert)
OP-QS (Poels)
Orica (Gerrans, Weening)
Giant (Geschke)
Katusha
Trek (Devolder)
Androni (Hoogerland)
Bardiani (Colbrelli)
CCC (Rebellin)
Cofidis
Colombia (Duarte)
IAM
MTN Qhubeka (Ciolek)
Neri Sottoli aka. Yellow Fluo (Chicchi)
Rusvelo
NetApp Endura (Huzarski)
Novo Nordisk
Topsport
United Healthcare
Wanty (Leukemans)

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

They changed the parcours of the finishing circuit last year, because of some roadworks in the centre of Overijsse. Now, I haven't been in Overijsse for a while, but last time I was there, they were still working on the road, so I guess that's why they still have the changed parcours this year. It includes some more relatively big flat straight roads, which makes an organised chase easier, compared to for instance when Voeckler won after an impressive solo.

Also, this is kind off my home race, but I never got to watch it in Overijsse, because I'm always away when they have the race.

The climbs on the finishing circuit are:
Hagaard 660m @ 5.3% max 13%
Hertstraat 760m @ 3.7% max 10%
Holstheide 955m @ 5.4% max ?? (not very steep)
IJskelderlaan 440m @7.3% max 12%
Schavei 720m @ 5.4% max 11%

Some of them have cobbles, but not really in a way that will influence the race.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

This race rarely fails to deliver great action.

This man:

will crush the Gilbert/GVA two pronged attack machine.

 

[SafeBet]

Orica has an interesting team for such a race. They should try to ride aggresively, put a couple of riders in early breaks. Is Weening in shape?

 

[Lexman]

Orica has an interesting team for such a race. They should try to ride aggresively, put a couple of riders in early breaks. Is Weening in shape?

he showed himself in attacks in Pais Vasco last week...

 

[search]

They changed the parcours of the finishing circuit last year, because of some roadworks in the centre of Overijsse. Now, I haven't been in Overijsse for a while, but last time I was there, they were still working on the road, so I guess that's why they still have the changed parcours this year. It includes some more relatively big flat straight roads, which makes an organised chase easier, compared to for instance when Voeckler won after an impressive solo.

looks like it's the same course as last year, yep

 

[Wallenquist]

Stybar is on the startlist but i doubt he will ride. Good race to get some confidence before Ardennes for Slagter.

 

[Netserk]

Stybar is on the startlist but i doubt he will ride. Good race to get some confidence before Ardennes for Slagter.

He is on as reserve, not as a participant.

 

[SKSemtex]

This was for me one of the most interesting races last years. Multiplied attacks on Sagan in his peak form.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzmyE4Wkl9o

With this performance he finally has got his place in clinic section of this forum.. What a pity he is not riding this one. We could compare his form at least, because frankly speaking I have no idea whether is or is not worse than last year.

 

[Oliver]

They changed the parcours of the finishing circuit last year, because of some roadworks in the centre of Overijsse. Now, I haven't been in Overijsse for a while, but last time I was there, they were still working on the road, so I guess that's why they still have the changed parcours this year. It includes some more relatively big flat straight roads, which makes an organised chase easier, compared to for instance when Voeckler won after an impressive solo.

Also, this is kind off my home race, but I never got to watch it in Overijsse, because I'm always away when they have the race.

The climbs on the finishing circuit are:
Hagaard 660m @ 5.3% max 13%
Hertstraat 760m @ 3.7% max 10%
Holstheide 955m @ 5.4% max ?? (not very steep)
IJskelderlaan 440m @7.3% max 12%
Schavei 720m @ 5.4% max 11%

Some of them have cobbles, but not really in a way that will influence the race.

Holstheide = max 12%

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Holstheide = max 12%

Ah, maybe for a few meters. I know internet will tell you it has a steep section like that, but when you ride it, you don't feel any 12% section at all.

By the standards according to which Holstheide has a 12% section, Hagaard and IJskelderlaan should be quite a bit steeper than 12 or 13% as well, more like 17% or something.

But thanks for the info anyway!

Anyway, this is a very nice race, usually delivers. Hoping Voeckler has good legs again.

 

[Netserk]

How long is the max% stretches? 10m, 20m or 50m?

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

For the ones I listed it's maybe like 100m. Although Hertstraat should probably be lower if it's supposed to be steepest 100m. Hertstraat is more like 300 meters at a steady 8% + some false flat. But you know, the numbers on the internet are usually kind of inaccurate for these types of short climbs.

I think the ones I listed were what I got last year from a Dutch site that doesn't exist anymore. But for instance climbbybike says Hagaard is 230m @ 15%.

At least Hagaard, IJskelderlaan and Schavei have sections of maybe 200m that are 10% or more. In the case of Hagaard and IJskelderlaan it might be quite a bit more if you look at steepest 50m or something.

 

[VeloHuman]

I like Slagter for Amstel; will be nice to get a glimpse of him here before that race on Sunday, albeit against less daunting competition.

Stybar is apparently a go for Amstel:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/stybar-needs-five-more-years-to-win-paris-roubaix

 

[Libertine Seguros]

If he were on his pre-RVV form I'd say Devolder, not too dissimilar from the course he won his champions' jersey on. However I have no idea how he is after the 2584 crashes in de Ronde, so I'll suggest Leukemans to finish on the podium at least.

Edit, I'm wrong, last year was the La-Roche-en-Ardenne nationals. I was thinking of the Habay ones in 2010 I think.

 

[rghysens]

If he were on his pre-RVV form I'd say Devolder, not too dissimilar from the course he won his champions' jersey on. However I have no idea how he is after the 2584 crashes in de Ronde, so I'll suggest Leukemans to finish on the podium at least.

Edit, I'm wrong, last year was the La-Roche-en-Ardenne nationals. I was thinking of the Habay ones in 2010 I think.

The one in Ronse had the Nieuwe Kwaremont and Kruisberg, so Flemish climbs, but without cobbles and on wide, straight roads instead of the narrow, twisty ones we know from the classics. The one in Leuven (although near Overijse) had more false flat sections than short punchy climbs and last years NC was on an Ardennes parcours.

 

[Petr_H.s.k.]

I like Slagter for Amstel; will be nice to get a glimpse of him here before that race on Sunday, albeit against less daunting competition.

Stybar is apparently a go for Amstel:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/stybar-needs-five-more-years-to-win-paris-roubaix

Actually, the same article says, the he would be attending the Brabantse Pilj as well...

 

[Libertine Seguros]

The one in Ronse had the Nieuwe Kwaremont and Kruisberg, so Flemish climbs, but without cobbles and on wide, straight roads instead of the narrow, twisty ones we know from the classics. The one in Leuven (although near Overijse) had more false flat sections than short punchy climbs and last years NC was on an Ardennes parcours.

Ah, it's the one in Leuven I'm thinking of. I remember thinking "could have sworn Leuven was one of them" when I looked up his nationals wins, forgot Belgian TT champs (Habay 2010) weren't at the same time as the RR (Leuven 2010).

Anyhow, while that wasn't quite the same in the respect of the number of punchy climbs as the Overijse circuit here, it did have Wilseleberg and Wijnpersstraat at least iirc. Although bearing in mind how many details I've already flubbed on this, my recollections could definitely still be wrong.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

Ah, it's the one in Leuven I'm thinking of. I remember thinking "could have sworn Leuven was one of them" when I looked up his nationals wins, forgot Belgian TT champs (Habay 2010) weren't at the same time as the RR (Leuven 2010).

Anyhow, while that wasn't quite the same in the respect of the number of punchy climbs as the Overijse circuit here, it did have Wilseleberg and Wijnpersstraat at least iirc. Although bearing in mind how many details I've already flubbed on this, my recollections could definitely still be wrong.

Lol do you know all climbs in area's where there are bicycle races?

I didn't have a clue what Wilsele was, until you mentioned it now. Though I do know the climb, but in my head it was designated as "that road up to the Keizersberg abbey" and I didn't have a clue that the place where the top is, is called Wilsele. So maybe you know more about climbs in Leuven than me, despite the fact that I live in Leuven?

Wijnpersstraat is a nice climb though, somewhat similar to the ones in the Overijse circuit I guess.

 

[Echoes]

Also, this is kind off my home race, but I never got to watch it in Overijsse, because I'm always away when they have the race.

What about this year?

Overijse is a couple of k's away from where I live.
Last time I've been there was for the cyclocross, though, but I didn't notice any roadwork (though the town is rather large).

 

[Oliver]

For the ones I listed it's maybe like 100m. Although Hertstraat should probably be lower if it's supposed to be steepest 100m. Hertstraat is more like 300 meters at a steady 8% + some false flat. But you know, the numbers on the internet are usually kind of inaccurate for these types of short climbs.

I think the ones I listed were what I got last year from a Dutch site that doesn't exist anymore. But for instance climbbybike says Hagaard is 230m @ 15%.

At least Hagaard, IJskelderlaan and Schavei have sections of maybe 200m that are 10% or more. In the case of Hagaard and IJskelderlaan it might be quite a bit more if you look at steepest 50m or something.

15% as max for Hagaard could be right but it's not really 15% in 230m! Climmybike must be wrong there!
Holsteide steepest point is a few meters.
I rode Brabantse Pijl last weekend, some of them are new for me but I was surprised they are really very very short! Actually I was disappointed about a few hills, like for example Hagaard.

 

[Maaaaaaaarten]

What about this year?

Nope, I'll miss it again, because I'm in the Netherlands with my family during the Easter holiday.

15% as max for Hagaard could be right but it's not really 15% in 230m! Climmybike must be wrong there!
Holsteide steepest point is a few meters.
I rode Brabantse Pijl last weekend, some of them are new for me but I was surprised they are really very very short! Actually I was disappointed about a few hills, like for example Hagaard.

Yeah I was suprised by climbbybike as well. For sure Hagaard is steep, but not 15% for 230m. More like 10-12% for 200m with maybe a peak at 15% + some false flat before and after the climb.

And yes they are all very short. It's not so much about climbing as it is about intervals I guess. One of the reasons these 'climbs' cause some selection is also because of the narrow twisty roads, which favour attackers because it makes an organised chase very difficult. This circuit is really the most difficult thing this area has to offer I guess. There are a few climbs that are just a bit more difficult in Brabant, but they can't be put on a nice circuit like this.

This circuit doesn't give a lot of nice climbing, but it does give a nice race!

 

[ILovecycling]

Slagter or Poels ftw.

 

[personal]

...Cannondale as a team doesn't participate...

Why not?