The opening of the Ardennes classics starts with De Brabantse Pijl, and for me personally the start of finally seeing Evenepoel race again in 2025.
Course
In addition to a new place on the calendar, De Brabantse Pijl now also has a new starting point, at least for the men. The starting shot will sound in Beersel on Friday 18 April, and that will also be the case for the next 4 years. The race will start at 13:10 in the beautiful setting of the Provincial Domain Huizingen, where the riders will begin a 175 km ride with a total of 22 climbs.
(It's actually 162.6km, so not sure whey their official communique is saying 175km)
With a start in the middle of the Pajottenland, there will not be a long wait for the first climb. After 6 km, the peloton will climb for the first time on Beersel territory. The Alsemberg, followed by the Bruine Put, are on the menu first. The riders then head to Lennik, where a passage on the Markt awaits around 13:50. After that, they will head back to Beersel once more, this time for the combination of Beerselberg and Bruine Put.
In previous editions, the peloton headed towards Beersel after the start in Leuven to seek out the slopes of the Pajottenland. The crossing to the Druivensteek will be similar in 2025 and will again take place via the climbs of the Eigenbrakelsesteenweg, Rue de Nivelles and Rue François Dubois. With around 75 km to go, the peloton will reach the finish in Overijse for the first time after a first passage on the Hertstraat, Holstheide and S-bend.
Then three traditional local laps await in Overijse. Each lap is about 20 km long and consists of the climbs of Hertstraat, Moskesstraat, Holstheide and S-bend Overijse. Around 17:15 the successor of Benoit Cosnefroy should be known.
Profile
Hertstraat
Moskesstraat
Holstheide
S-bend Overijse
Top Competitors
Besides the return of Evenepoel and Pidcock there are also many youngsters to keep an eye on. Jan Christen, Per Strand Hagenes and Joseph Blackmore are racing too.
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