Brabantse Pijl: April 17th, 2019

[Pantani_lives]

After the cobblestones come the hilly classics. A different kind of rider can shine here, although some all-rounders can handle both. The race was held for the first time in 1961. Edwig Van Hooydonck holds the record with four wins. The race ends with four local laps of 23.4 km, containing five short climbs. The top of the Schavei lies 200 m before the finish.

Climbs in the four local laps:
1. Hagaard (21 km)
2. Hertstraat (17 km)
3. Holstheide (10 km)
4. IJskelderlaan (4 km)
5. Schavei (0.2 km)

Recent winners:
2009 Anthony Gheslin
2010 Sébastien Rosseler
2011 Philippe Gilbert
2012 Thomas Voeckler
2013 Peter Sagan
2014 Philippe Gilbert
2015 Ben Hermans
2016 Petr Vakoč
2017 Sonny Colbrelli
2018 Tim Wellens

 

[SafeBet]

Sonny hasn't looked himself the whole spring (what Bahrein rider has?), but this is his race. I'm confident.

 

[Max Rockatansky]

MvdP vs. Ala vs. Bettiol. Great stuff.

 

[Keram]

Race where Sagan schooled Gva and Gilbert in 2013. Sweet memories. He was unreal that day

 

[tobydawq]

Re:

Race where Sagan schooled Gva and Gilbert in 2013. Sweet memories. He was unreal that day

One of his best performances ever.

 

[Pantani_lives]

One of the finest semi-classics, with a strong line-up. VDP and Alaf have their uphill punch, but Matthews will be hard to get rid of. Wellens had a great win last year, but will face tougher competition.

 

[Anderis]

Really curious to see if Bettiol will be as competitive on hills as he was on cobbles.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

I can't remember the last time the field was stacked like this year. Alaphilippe, Wellens, van der Poel, Colbrelli, Bettiol, Matthews, Oomen, Vanendert, Teuns, Mohoric, Valgren, Lampaert...

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Yeah a weirdly stacked field for the Brabantse Pijl. Before I knew the exact field I thought this was the one for MvdP, but now not so sure.

 

[Bardamu]

Gonna be MvdP.

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Re:

Yeah a weirdly stacked field for the Brabantse Pijl. Before I knew the exact field I thought this was the one for MvdP, but now not so sure.

Yup. Same here. Last week i thought it would be a battle Wellens-Mathieu, which would obviously be in favor of Mathieu. But with Alaphilippe, Valgren, Bettiol... it won't be easy as i thought.

 

[tobydawq]

I know one rider who must be pretty bummed out over the amazing field.

I was listening to a podcast today with an interview with former Danish champion, Alexander Kamp. He is currently riding for Riwal but he really wants to go to the WorldTour. He has really sacrificed everything he possibly could this spring, even breaking up with his girlfriend to keep full focus on his cycling. And his biggest spring goal was the Brabantse Pijl which is the finest invitation they team has got. And he is suited to the race, but now it will be very difficult to go top 5, if not impossible.

 

[Leinster]

Re:

I know one rider who must be pretty bummed out over the amazing field.

I was listening to a podcast today with an interview with former Danish champion, Alexander Kamp. He is currently riding for Riwal but he really wants to go to the WorldTour. He has really sacrificed everything he possibly could this spring, even breaking up with his girlfriend to keep full focus on his cycling. And his biggest spring goal was the Brabantse Pijl which is the finest invitation they team has got. And he is suited to the race, but now it will be very difficult to go top 5, if not impossible.

The right people will be watching the race. They’ll know to distinguish between a top 10 in this field, vs a podium against the field from last year or the year before.

 

[Koronin]

This race should tell us how Alaphilippe has recovered from his abandoning Tour of Basque Country.

 

[Mavic]

I don't know about this one, so many contenders. It won't be easy for any of the (many) favorites to win imo. Mathieu is getting a lot of votes, which is understandable, but with Ala, Wellens, Bling, Bettiol it's gonna be a tall order. There isn't a clear-cut favorite as far as I'm concerned. I just hope for an exciting race :exclaim:

 

[Logic-is-your-friend]

Re:

I don't know about this one, so many contenders. It won't be easy for any of the (many) favorites to win imo. Mathieu is getting a lot of votes, which is understandable, but with Ala, Wellens, Bling, Bettiol it's gonna be a tall order. There isn't a clear-cut favorite as far as I'm concerned. I just hope for an exciting race :exclaim:

IMO:

van der Poel - Alaphilippe
Wellens - Bettiol - Colbrelli - Teuns
Matthews - Vanendert - Mohoric - Valgren - Lampaert

And after that, there are plenty of guys that are capable of taking the win as well.

 

[Mavic]

Re: Re:

I don't know about this one, so many contenders. It won't be easy for any of the (many) favorites to win imo. Mathieu is getting a lot of votes, which is understandable, but with Ala, Wellens, Bling, Bettiol it's gonna be a tall order. There isn't a clear-cut favorite as far as I'm concerned. I just hope for an exciting race :exclaim:

IMO:

van der Poel - Alaphilippe
Wellens - Bettiol - Colbrelli - Teuns
Matthews - Vanendert - Mohoric - Valgren - Lampaert

And after that, there are plenty of guys that are capable of taking the win as well.

I pretty much agree with that list tbh, though I think Wellens might deserve a spot next to Ala and Mathieu. We all know what Ala and Wellens can do in these types of races, we'll see if Mathieu can live up to the big expectations, though I'd never bet against him in any race. I can't wait for Wednesday.

 

[Oliver]

I don't think Valgren, Lampaert & Oomen are riding.

I think Alaphilippe vs Vd Poel.

 

[Tim Booth]

Re:

I don't think Valgren, Lampaert & Oomen are riding.

or Mohoric

 

[Mayomaniac]

Velasco to make an impressive long range attack.
Visconti is having some health issues, so he should be allowed to ride for himself.

 

[Bardamu]

Re:

I know one rider who must be pretty bummed out over the amazing field.

I was listening to a podcast today with an interview with former Danish champion, Alexander Kamp. He is currently riding for Riwal but he really wants to go to the WorldTour. He has really sacrificed everything he possibly could this spring, even breaking up with his girlfriend to keep full focus on his cycling. And his biggest spring goal was the Brabantse Pijl which is the finest invitation they team has got. And he is suited to the race, but now it will be very difficult to go top 5, if not impossible.

If I were him I should try to follow VdP when he does an early attack. Ride yourself in the picture.

 

[Mayomaniac]

Velasco to make an impressive long range attack.
Visconti has some health issues, so he should be allowed to ride for himself.

 

[Blanco]

I don't know, it depends on the race, how it will be ridden. If Van Der Poel or Wellens open things early, then everything is possible, but if they wait till the very end, it will be hard to drop Matthews and Colbrelli, and I doubt even Alaphilippe can beat these two on that final straight.

 

[Velolover2]

Re:

I don't think Valgren, Lampaert & Oomen are riding.

I think Alaphilippe vs Vd Poel.

Yeah. I can only really see one of those two winning tbh.

 

[tobydawq]

Re: Re:

I don't think Valgren, Lampaert & Oomen are riding.

I think Alaphilippe vs Vd Poel.

Yeah. I can only really see one of those two winning tbh.

Yeah, it is rare to have two winners of a race