Brabantse Pijl 2026: Favourites
fotobureau Cor VosThe Brabantse Pijl is the link between the cobbled classics and the Ardennes classics. With former winners Tim Wellens and Benoît Cosnefroy plus Florian Vermeersch in their ranks, UAE Emirates are expected to dominate the race. Cyclingstage.com brings you the main contenders.
Published on 17 April 2026
It has already been five years since the route of the Brabantse Pijl was revamped. Since then, the finish has been located on a long false flat after the S-bend in Overijse. That produced victories for Pidcock, Sheffield, Godon, Cosnefroy and Evenepoel in succession.
The course is an exact replica of last year’s, but the outcome will be different. Simply because the riders who contested the finale then, Evenepoel and Van Aert, are both absent.
Sheffield’s victory came after a late attack from a small group. In all other cases it was a sprint from a select group. As mentioned, last year that group was extremely small, with just two riders. The same happened when Godon won, as the Frenchman beat Healy.
Two former winners are on the start list: Wellens (2018) and Cosnefroy (2024). The Belgian champion makes his return after suffering a complicated collarbone fracture in Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne.
With Wellens, Cosnefroy and Vermeersch at the start, UAE Emirates are the team to beat. For the two Flemish riders, the key will be to avoid a sprint finish. The aim for UAE will be to reach the finale with numerical superiority and wear down the competition by attacking in turns. And if Cosnefroy is still there, he can finish it off in the sprint if necessary.
Weather forecast:
The weather is unlikely to influence the race. It should be dry and sunny, while the south-westerly wind will increase during the day from force 1 to 3.
Favourites Brabantse Pijl 2026
*** Florian Vermeersch, Tim Wellens, Romain Grégoire
** Benoît Cosnefroy, Maximilian Schachmann, Tibor Del Grosso
* Mauro Schmid, Quinten Hermans, Alex Baudin, Brady Gilmore
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