Brabantse Pijl 2020: The Route

The riders click into their pedals in Leuven, which will be the hub of the 2021 World Champonships, and set off for a zigzag journey through Flemish Brabant and Walloon Brabant. None of the hills are hard in itself, but the ceaseless succession is definitely going to wear the riders out.

Smeysberg gives a first taste of what’s in store. The ‘helling’ appears at kilometre 12.5, but the real action begins after 50 kilometres on the Chaussée d’Alsemberg. After this ascent the route tackles another hill every 5 kilometres or so. Following climbs up Alsemberg, Bruine Put, Menisberg, Lotsestraat, Bruine Put, Menisberg, Lotsestraat, Eigenbrakelsesteenweg, Rue Pierre Flamand, Rue Francois Dubois, Hertstraat, Holstheide and Schavei the riders cross the finish line for the first time with 133 kilometres done.

Still three laps of more than 20 kilometres laps to go. With the bell still ringing in their ears the riders tackle the Hagaard climb before continuing to the Hertstraat. The first lap also takes in the Holstheide and Schavei, while the last two rounds offer the steep and cobbled Moskestraat ahead of those two.

Last year’s race came down to a clash of pre-race favourites with Mathieu van der Poel outsprinting Julian Alaphilippe, Tim Wellens and Michael Matthews on the line.

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