As it happened: Jayco AlUla pull off a surprise at the men's Brabantse Pijl

Hello and welcome to the Cyclingnews live coverage of the 2026 Brabantse Pijl men's race.

The men's race is due to start in 45 minutes and we will have full coverage of all the action, plus post race reaction and the best photographs.

The sun is out on the Belgian Ardennes. The race will start in Beersel, near the border between Flanders and south of Brussels.

The 2026 Brabantse Pijl is 162.6km long but includes 1727m of altitude gain as it loops around the Belgian countryside to the south and east of Brussels.

The race includes section of cobbles as well as climbs, making for a hard and usually spectacular race.

The finish remains in Overijse, with the S-bocht climb (1.3km at 3.7%) leading up the finish straight and often producing a thrilling finish.

The early part of the race route includes the short Alsemberg, Bruine Put and Sint-Pieters Leeuw climbs on a loop around Beersel

The route then heads to Overijse via the Rue François Dubois and Holstheide climbs to start the finishing circuits.

The riders climb up to Overijse for the first time with 60km to go and then the climbing and hard racing never stops.

The circuit includes the cobblestones of the Hertstraat climb (0.7km at 3.7%), the Holstheide climb (1km at 5%), the rough cobbles of the Moskesstraat (0.5 km at 7%), and the Overijse or S-bend climb up to the finish.

There are a total of 21 climbs in 162km of racing.

This is the official race map.

Remco Evenepoel beat compatriot Wout van Aert) to win the 2025 De Brabantse Pijl in his first race after a winter spent recovering from injury. António Morgado led the peloton to the line for third place 27 seconds behind the duo, who stole the headlines with some great racing.

Check out our full report from the 2025 race.

De Brabantse Pijl: Remco Evenepoel pulls knock-out punch in sprint win over Wout van Aert

Riders are signing on and signing autographs at the start. It's a lovely day for a bike race.

There are been some debate about the quality of the filed today in the absence of Evenepoel, Van Aert and others.

However the 128-start list includes Tibor Del Grosso, Jenno Berckmoes, Vito Braet, Romain Grégoire, Brady Gilmore, Mauro Schmid, Tim Wellens, Benoît Cosnefroy, Florian Vermeersch, Andreas Leknessund, Bryan Coquard, Quinten Hermans, and Clément Venturini.

Tim Wellens and Benoît Cosnefroy are both former winners.

This was Benoît Cosnefroy on the podium in 2024.

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There they go! The riders roll out of Beersel for a short neutralised sector.

The riders are tuck up tight to the bumnper of the race director's car. We're expecting immediate attacks.

Stefano Oldani of Caja Rural sparked a slight delay after he started without a race number.

The riders start the Alsemberg climnb and we have the first attack of the day.

There are six riders in the attack and they have 30 seconds.

This was the start of the men's race with a Flemish countdown.

We're interested to see what talented young Italian cyclocross rider Mattia Agostinacchio will do today.

These are our six attackers: Vojtěch Kmínek (Burgos Burpellet BH), Cedrik Bakke Christophersen (Unibet Rose Rockets), Fabrice Lefevre (Tarteletto-Isorex), Jonah Killy (Tarteletto-Isorex), Michiel Coppens (BEAT CC p/b Saxo), Bram Dissel (BEAT CC p/b Saxo).

Their lead is up to 1:25.

This is one of the first shots from our photographers out on the roads of Belgium.

145km to go

The six attackers have extended their gap to 2:45. For now, the peloton is not chasing at speed.

The women's Brabantse Pijl started before the men's race and the attacks are coming.

Join Dan Challis for our full live coverage.

Brabantse Pijl Women LIVE: The climbs are relentless as the peloton is takes on one-day race in Flanders and Wallonia

The riders are on the early circuits south of Brussels and the peloton finally seems to have awoken and pegged the attackers lead to 3:30.

It's great to see American rider Jonah Killy in the attack. He has lived in Ghent for several years and is riding for the Tarteletto-Isorex team this season.

As Sporza pointed out, Killy was also in the early break at Nokere Koerse and the Scheldeprijs.

This is a shot of Jonah Killy in the break today.

125km to go

The riders are returning to Beersel and then will head towards Overijse for the finishing circuits.

The UCI has asked for ideas and input for a reform process of the sport. We decided to anticipate the process with a special feature about what pro cycling could learn from other sports.

Have a read and let us know your opinion and ideas.

A billion-dollar business soon to be a relic? What pro cycling can learn from the blueprints of F1 and soccer

115km to go

The attackers have covered the first hour at 44.9km/h!

The peloton has started to reel the attackers back under control. The gap is down to 3:10 now,

Tim Wellens (UAE) is back racing after his crash in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and spoke to Sporza at the start.

"The first three weeks have been complicated. My team wanted to proceed very cautiously. I lost quite a bit of fitness, but I have been training well for three weeks now. I shouldn't complain too much," he said, true to character.

Wellens added: "There are question marks about my form. When I look at my values, I know I'm not in good shape.

"People perhaps don't know how good I am. They have more question marks than I do. Because I know what I've trained. But this race suits me, and I have often achieved a good result here. However, my role remains a question mark. I hope to be able to help the team and want to reach the final."

Mathieu van der Poel ended his spring campaign at Paris-Roubaix and so Tibor Del Grosso leads Alpecin-Premier Tech today. He could win it after his strong spring and success at the NXT Classic.

"Am I the big favorite? That is not for me to say, but I do understand it," he said.

Del Grosso sacrificed his chances on the cobbles to give his wheel to van der Poel

"Unfortunately, I wasn't able to show much in Roubaix. It's a shame that things went so wrong for our team in just one minute, but there's nothing we can do about it."

Del Grosso will also ride Sunday's Amstel Gold race but wants to take his chance today.

"My form is good and this race should suit me. Last year I rode well but I couldn't follow Evenepoel and Van Aert," he said.

"They are not in the race today, and that offers opportunities, but this broad field of contenders also makes it difficult. Every team is dangerous."

100km to go

The riders have covered 62km, with 100km left to race.

Mauro Schmid has enjoyed a successful start to 2026 and could be a contender today. However he told Sporza he is not so sure.

"I don't know," he said. "Based on the last few weeks, I stand a good chance, but I have never ridden here before."

"I have watched this race very often on TV, but that is the only experience I have. Hopefully, I know the course well enough, although I can also rely on the knowledge of my teammates."

Sporza suggested that Schmid was in his best ever shape.

"That was certainly the case at the start of the season. I hope that remains the case until the Ardennes," he said. Schmid wil pride all the Ardennes classics and then the Tour de Romandie in Switzerland.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG are leading the chase of the attack, with some help from Jayco. They are the world's most successful team and have Wellens, Florian Vermeersch and Benoît Cosnefroy leadership options.

90km to go

The UAE chase has reduced the gap to 2:00.

It's sunny and warm in Belgium today. There is some pollen in the air, confirming spring has sprung.

75km to go

The riders are powering towards Overijse to begin the hillier and cobbled finishnig circuit. The racing is about to get spicy.

The speed is high in the peloton, with no team able to lead the line. The gap to the break is below two minutes.

The riders will soon hit the Holstheide climb and then face the S-bocht climb to the finish area.

Attack! Louis Vervaeke (Soudal) is the first to surge away from the peloton. He is looking to spark a small counter-attack and get up the road.

The fight for position is on, with Alpecin dragging Tibo Del Grosso into position up front on the riders' left side of the road.

A slight 'hors course' moment for some of the breakaway.

The break passes through the finish area, leading Louis Vervaeke (Soudal) and Stefano Oldani (Caja Rural) by 1:10.

The peloton is at 1:40.

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55km to go

Bahrain start a power play with three riders as the peloton hit the Hertstraat.

Tim Wellens is also aggressive.

The speed is so high that a few riders are being spat out of the back. It's race on!

Next up is the Moskesstraat cobbled climb. It's short but the cobles are narrow and rough!

UAE want to race from the front.

50km to go

The Moskesstraat and the UAE surge has split the peloton and caught the break.

FDJ are also up front, riding for Cosnefroy. Mauro Schmid is also aggressive and no doubt looking for a selective race.

40km to go

The riders return to the S-bocht climb up to the finish. We can expect more attacks.

It's great to see Tim Wellens back in action, showing the Belgian national champion's jersey.

He's been super aggressive so far and seems to be working for his UAE teammates.

35km to go

FDJ are back on the front for Romain Grégoire. It could be his day today.

They will soon hit the Moskesstraat again. Get ready for more attacks.

Crash! The riders were squeezed as they entered the Moskesstraat cobbles.

Romain Grégoire is on the attack with Ramses Debruyne (Alpecin-Premier Tech). Other riders are chasing as the team strategies become clearer.

Other riders, including Wellens, was caught behind the crash.

Benoît Cosnefroy (UAE) launches a counter-attack. The 2024 winner knows he needs to be up front with Romain Grégoire.

Tibo Del Grosso made sure he was there too.

The peloton is spread out, down a long straight road. There is a high-speed, aerobic selection on every climb and corner.

The blast through the finish has allowed the attackers to extend their lead to 20 seconds.

They are commited to the attack.

Counter-attacks come from behind.

The race decisive attack has left the station, so it is time to get across.

15km to go

The attackers start the Hertstraat cobbled sector. The chasers can see them, they are at just 12 seconds.

The seven attackers are: Del Grosso, Debruyne, Grégoire, Cosnefroy, Charmig, Lanhove, and Johannink.

Behind NSN are chasing for Brady Gilmore.

The Overijse ias only 20km long and os the climbs and cobbles come fast. It's almost time for the Moskesstraat cobbled climb once again.

10km to go

The attack explodes on the Moskesstraat, as the peloton closes the gap to 12 seconds. What happens over the top will be decisive.

The chase group is big and so some riders ease up and look at others to do the work. That helps the break to stay clear and extend their ride to 15 seconds.

This is a very, very close race that couyld go any way.

Next up is the Holstheide climb and then the S-Bocht corner climb up to Overijse.

A TotalEnergies rider jumps from the peloton to try to cross to the attack. He neds to get on quickly to survive.

5km to go

Joris Delbove (TotalEnergies) appears to have blown-up, his effort ended by his lactic acid.

Alpecin are blocking for Del Grosso in the break.

It looks like this year's Brabantse Pijl will be decided on the final climb and sprint to the line.

Who is your pick for the win from the attackers? Del Grosso, Debruyne, Grégoire, Cosnefroy, Charmig or Lanhove?

EF are helping NSN with the chase in the peloton but they are running out of time and power.

On a long, straight road, the peloton can see and almost touch the attackers.

2km to go

It's now or never for the peloton as the S-bocht climb begins.

Here comes the peloton. The attackers have run out of legs at the foot of the climb!

At least the attackers are up front but do they have anything left?

Last KM!

The attacks are launched!

Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies) attacks alone.

Sprint!

Boom! Anders Foldager (Jayco AlUla) came out late and smashed the sprint.

That's a big win for the dane and for his team.

Quinten Hermans (Pinarello Q36.5) was second and Benoît Cosnefroy (UAE) was third.

Anders Foldager rode a perfect sprint, coming from behind to jump on Eduard Prades (Caja Rural). He then kicked at ther right time and nobody could pass him.

We have the first photos of the finish.

Anders Foldager celebrates victory

Anders Foldager hit the line first

Anders Foldager was happy and emotional after his win.

It was perfectly race for me, it's by far my biggest win. I also surprised myself," Foldager said.

The Dane talked about his sprint.

"I was maybe a little bit too far back at the bottom of the climb. Mauro Schmid did a perfect run in, closing the breakaway. Then I had to go really long, because they just opened up full from the bottom of the climb," he said.

"As I hit the front, there was nothing to do but just put the head down and sprint."

He knew the break could be caught.

"When we came into the long straight road with a headwind, I knew that it was possible, and with Mauro there, I knew it was possible," he said.

"This win means a lot. It's by far my biggest victory, and it proves to the team and to myself that I have the level to be in the top of this races."

Anders Foldager was emotional after his win.

Anders Foldager hit the line first

Anders Foldager realised he had won

Then it was time to celebrate as others bowed their heads

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It's been a busy day of racing, so check out the Cyclingnews home page for all our race reports and the other Live updates.

Here is our full report from the race.

De Brabantse Pijl Men: Anders Foldager stuns field with sprint victory

Thanks for joining us for our full Live coverage of the 2026 De Brabantse Pijl.

We'll be back on Sun day for full coverage of the men's and women's Amstel Gold Race.

Then next week we will have Live updates from the Ardennes Classics.