De Brabantse Pijl 2026 preview, profiles, favourites & predictions - Can Tim Wellens win his comeback race?
Cycling
De Brabantse Pijl is one of the most iconic and prestigious one-day races in Belgium, perfectly fit between the cobbled and Ardennes classics. It is the classic that makes the transition between phases, which is set to take place on the 17th of April. We take a look at its profile, with the race estimated to start and finish at 13:30 and 17:05CET.
The first edition of the race took place in 1961 and was won by the legendary Pino Cermani. This is a race that has accumulated an enviable list of winners including Eddy Merckx, Roger de Vlaeminck, Johan Museeuws and Philippe Gilbert some of Belgium's most notable icons. Amongst the list are many other World Champions including those of the 21st century such as Óscar Freire, Peter Sagan, Mathieu van der Poel and Julian Alaphilippe.
This decade we've seen Alaphilippe, Tom Pidcock, Magnus Sheffield, Dorian Godon, Benoît Cosnefroy and most recently Remco Evenepoel take the wins. 12 months ago the Belgian took the win over Wout Van Aert in the final sprint.
Profile: Beersel - Overijse
Beersel - Overijse, 162.5 kilometers
The 162.5-kilometer race fits the puncheurs and cobbled classics specialists, featuring very explosive terrain with climbs both on tarmac and cobbled terrain, different types of obstacles which suit different riders.
The race revolves around it's final circuit in Overijse, where in 20 kilometers the riders find four ascents, two of them cobbled, and one corresponding to the finish. The Moskesstraat (500 meters at 8%, cobbled) is the main feature and the climb where usually the biggest differences can be created, and ends with 10.5 kilometers to go.
However the slight finale makes it very tactical, as saving energy is always a major requirement, and even those with a strong sprint can't depend on it at the end of it - and also such a difficult race. It's a highly explosive route which is very hard to control and very often leads to exciting and dramatic racing.
Prediction De Brabantse Pijl 2026:
** Tim Wellens, Florian Vermeersch, Quinten Hermans
* Edoardo Zambanini, Fredrik Dversnes, Anthon Charmig, Brady Gilmore, Tibor del Grosso, Dylan Teuns, Alex Baudin, Jenno Berckmoes, Toon Aerts, Max Schachmann, Benoît Cosnefroy, Valentin Madouas, Ewen Costiou
Pick: Mauro Schmid
How: Small group sprint.
Original: Rúben Silva
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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- for what?frieders311-11-2026
- Blah blah blah!frieders311-11-2026
- Where Merckx just rode every single race he could and won all the time, Hinault won less often (percentage wise) because he was more judicious in what he raced. His palmares are nuts. He had amazing rivals, one to start his career and another to end it in the grand tours. His classics were solid. What sets him apart from Merckx and Pogačar are that he basically dabbled in the classics while the other two love(d) them. I used to compare Pogačar to Hinault for his grand tour record and occasional classics win, until I realized that the comparison was wrong. Pogačar loves the classics - ah, the memory of his reaction to finishing fourth in a 2 person sprint in Flanders in ‘22: utter domination in any one day race since then, even when he doesn’t win. Hinault lived for the grand tours and I don’t think anyone else will ever reach his record. 10 wins in 13 attempts? Good lord. An amazing rider. Wish there was more footage to watch.RidesHills11-11-2026
- I had no idea about that either.
santiagobenites10-11-2026 - great analysis thanks! appreciate you posting this. I didn't realize CX had a different standard for deviation. this is even more egregious it seems.mij10-11-2026
- As he isn't currently with Red Bull, I guess if he want to race for one more year he needs to find a team. He's 37 so this will be his last year I would guess, unless he wants to race for almost nothing like Froome did.awp10-11-2026
- I think some are making much ado about nothing. Even though Jonas is getting older, before his crash in the Tour, he looked like a solid 2nd all the way home. No one can really climb with Tadej until this year, Eric Mas showed himself which I think was a one off year for him and Paul Seixas has been able to be pretty close to him. Whatever stage race Jonas enters as long as Tadej is not there he is a favorite to win.awp10-11-2026
- Giro or not Giro, he won't win the Tour!MajorPayne10-11-2026
- Very true.awp10-11-2026
- Ciccone had a very strong end of season. Consistently attacking and livening up races. Hope he makes that last leap in progress and starts notching some significant wins. Great rider to watch.Occam10-11-2026
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