Brabantse Pijl
De Brabantse Pijl (The Brabantian Arrow) is a one-day hilly Classic in Flemish Brabant, Belgium, organized by Flanders Classics. The 2026 men's edition runs 162.5km from Beersel to Overijse on April 17, signalling the transition from the cobbled Flemish Classics to the Ardennes week. The route tackles a rolling parcours south of Brussels, featuring a heavy concentration of short, punchy climbs on narrow roads. The finale consists of three laps of a local circuit around Overijse that includes the iconic S-bend climb of the Schavei and the S-bend into the finish, with the last kilometre a slight drag that suits puncheurs rather than pure sprinters.
Where to watch
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Brabantse Pijl
Where the race is made
Who to watch
Narratives to watch
- The hinge race between Flanders cobbles and Ardennes hills - who transitions best?
- Flemish home crowd racing with Amstel Gold just two days away
- Short, repeated climbs reward punch and positioning over pure power
- Moskesstraat and Schavei on the final circuit traditionally decide the race
Form book & lore
First held in 1961, De Brabantse Pijl has grown from a regional race into a key pre-Ardennes classic. Past winners include Eddy Merckx, Johan Museeuw, Philippe Gilbert, Julian Alaphilippe, Wout van Aert and Remco Evenepoel, confirming its status as a race for the best one-day riders. Since Flanders Classics took over organisation it has settled into a late-week slot before the Ardennes triple.
When to tune in
Small climbs come thick and fast - don't expect big gaps early. The race typically comes alive on the second of three finishing laps. The Schavei inside 3km to go and the technical run-in to Overijse reward riders with classics instinct. Watch for Ardennes specialists using this as their final sharpener before Amstel, Flèche and Liège.