Magnus Sheffield wins Brabantse Pijl with solo attack

INEOS Grenadiers have taken another successful win at the Ardennes as Magnus Sheffield conquered Brabantse Pijl with another strong collective performance.

The breakaway of the day consisted of Ander Okamika (Burgos-BH), Ludovic Robeet (Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB) and Aaron van Poucke (Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise). The trio never got much of a gap, and with the action kicking off early on in the race with 80 kilometers to go. The survivors were caught with 63 kilometers to go, with the action already on in the peloton.

Evenepoel was an ever-aggressive figure in the peloton, making a move with 73 kilometers to go but these were cancelled by the peloton as the splits were closed by voluminous groups. It was with 53 kilometers to go that the decisive group was created as Ben Turner and later Evenepoel launched a move in a slight hilltop, dragging along a 10-rider group.

Teuns punctured, Stannard and Campenaerts cracked, and so a group containing Evenepoel, Wellens, Turner, Sheffield, Pidcock, Cosnefroy and Barguil went on to fight for the win. Plenty times attacks came and some would drop, however there was a big balance in the group with every move matched.

The decisive attack was made with less than four kilometers to go as Sheffield went off the front of the group. With two teammates blocking moves behind, he went on to take the win solo with a strong performance.

Benoît Cosnefroy took second place winning the sprint in the front group, and Warren Barguil completed the podium, after Tim Wellens was relegated due to an irregular sprint.