Presentation of Route and Favorites Brussels Cycling Classic 2024

Sunday 2 June you run there Brussels Cycling Classic 2024. The Belgian classic is part of the UCI Pro.Series racing calendar and represents an important event for riders looking for an important success to put on their trophy case. The race, which has a hundred-year history behind it, has transformed over the years from a finish line reserved for sprinters to a race open to multiple solutions, as evidenced by the recent Roll of Honor. In action there will be nine WorldTour teams and 12 Professional category teams, including the Italian VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè.

DEPARTURE TIME: 10:05
ARRIVAL TIME (EXPECTED): 3.13pm-3.42pm
LIVE TV AND STREAMING: 1.35pm-4pm Eurosport, Discovery+
OFFICIAL HASHTAG: #BCC24

Recent Brussels Cycling Classic roll of honour

2023 DÉMARE Arnaud
2022 VAN DER HOORN Taco
2021 EVENEPOEL Remco
2020 MERLIER Tim
2019 EWAN Caleb
2018 ACKERMANN Pascal
2017 DEMARE Arnaud
2016 BOONEN Tom
2015 GROENEWEGEN Dylan
2014 GREIPEL André

Brussels Cycling Classic 2024 route

Brussels – Brussels (218.4 km)

The route remains designed along the lines of the latest editions. We start from the capital Brussels (Brussels in French) and we initially set course towards the east, where the first climb of the day is located, the Smeysberg, located 21 kilometers from the start. The race will then go south along a sector in which the runners will find the short bumps typical of this region under their wheels. At the halfway point of the race, you will face the tear of Zavelstraatwhich will act as a starter for a short but very intense ring, which will have to be covered twice.

The circuit, which represents the true heart of Belgian racing, consists of the rise to the legendary Kapelmuur, the one equally well known Bosberg and the attack also on the Congoberg, all within a short distance of each other. The last rough patch of the ring will be faced just under 50 kilometers from the finish line. Before returning to the town of Brussels, the runners will also have to ride down the cobbled section Rosweg and the tearing of Heiligekruiswegstraat, located just under 15 kilometers from the finish line. The arrival is located on the long avenue Houba de Stroopin the immediate vicinity of the Roi Baudouin stadium.

Favorites Brussels Cycling Classic 2024

Click here for the startlist

With a track like this the race therefore seems open to multiple solutions, but the most likely one would be a sprint by a group of 20-30 riders, as also happened last year. In this case, those sprinters with a certain resistance and good knowledge of these roads should be the ones to compete for the victory, starting from Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility), who appears to be in excellent shape given that in the last month he has raised his arms to the sky four times, the last one at the Heistse Pijl, and who in the past has always placed among the first in this race, despite never managing to win it.

Among the fast resistant wheels we cannot fail to mention Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty), recently returned to success by imposing itself in the Franco-Belge Circuit. Last year, the Eritrean finished the race in fourth place in the sprint after trying to move from afar, a solution that the 24-year-old could try again this year, therefore not waiting for a possible sprint in which he would not start out beaten given his tip of speed, but where the team could also try to play the card Madis Mihkels. Sprint which he should prefer instead Jordi Meeus (Bora-hansgrohe), who in any case proved to cope quite well even on routes with different roughness, finishing for example in third place on the last Ghent-Wevelgem.

In great shape this time too Casper Van Uden (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL), which after its first victory among professionals at the beginning of the season has experienced a few more difficult months, but in recent weeks it has emerged with arrogance by triumphing in the Rund um Koln and finishing second in the Heistse Pijl. A complete sprinter, the 22-year-old will have a highly experienced rider alongside him John Degenkolb, ready to sacrifice himself for him again. Attention even to the most experienced Amaury Capiot (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) who will have the difficult task of not making people regret too much the absence of the injured Arnaud Démare, the defending champion. He will also be in the team with him Daniel McLaypossible alternative to Belgian, e Matis Louvelwhich still make the transalpine team fearsome.

Undoubtedly among the most anticipated too Kaden Groves, who after coming away empty-handed from the Giro d’Italia could find a good opportunity for redemption here, in which he can make his excellent skills in demanding races count. Absent at the end is Laurence Pithie, another veteran from the Corsa Rosa, Groupama-FDJ will probably focus on the returner Paul Penhoetan emerging element of a team that will also have in Lewis Askey And Marc Sarreau interesting pieces. Staying on the subject of “tadpoles”, you could also try to have your say Filippo Fiorelli (VF Group – Bardiani CSF – Faizanè), which, especially in the case of a more demanding race, could have its say, possibly leaving Luca Colnaghi the task of playing his cards in a more traditional sprint.

Among the numerous sprinters present, there is also room for one Pascal Ackermann (Israel-Premier Tech) who so far is still revolving around his first success with the Israeli team, but who sees his form clearly growing in the approach to the Tour de France. Interesting alternative will be a leathery runner like Tom Van Asbroeck, who knows how to leave his mark on the roads at home. Two weight cards also for the Q36.5 Pro Cycling, which with Matteo Moschetti And Giacomo Nizzolo he has two quality sprinters, both of whom can realistically aim for success. The first perhaps will run more from the throw-in for a purer sprint, while the second could also try to follow some interesting movements.

More players, as often happens, also at UAE Team Emirates. Juan Sebastian Molano he will presumably be the man who will be called upon for a sprint in which he could have his say too Alvaro Hodegbut it cannot be ruled out that the team will feel something thanks to men like Filippo Baroncini, Sjoerd Bax And Alessandro Coviall fast and resistant, without obviously forgetting Marc Hirschi, who could be among the most feared attackers of the day. Hard running scenario might also like Axel Zingle (Cofidis), who is not a pure sprinter, despite being equipped with an excellent quick start, but who will be able to tactically try to play his cards alternating with two other resistant and fast runners like Milan Fretin And Piet Allegaert.

Potential outsiders for a sprint will be Iuri Leitao (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Jenno Berckmoes And Lionel Taminiaux (Dstny Lot), Maurice Ballerstedt (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Davide Bomboi (TDT-Unibet), Andrea Peron (Team Novo Nordisk), Jason Tesson And Lorenzo Manzin (TotalEnergies), without forgetting Emilien Jeannièrea little-known rider but who in his latest outings has shown great solidity and continuity, also achieving a good success at the Boucles de la Mayenne, collecting 13 top-10s this year, with a good sixth place at Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne, but also ninth at Bruges-De Panne, a WorldTour level race.

However, there is no shortage of those who would like to avoid the sprint and as the latest editions demonstrate, it is not impossible, although obviously very difficult. In addition to many of the men already mentioned, there will presumably also be runners like Yves Lampaertdesignated leader of a Soudal Quick-Step without major references to sprinting, Eduard Prades (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), which to assert its speed requires a smaller group, the generous Riley Sheehan (Israel-Premier Tech), who last year surprised the powerful player with a long-range action Alec Segaert (Lotto Dstny), but also Rasmus Tiller (Uno-X Mobility), Pau Miquel (Equipo Kern Pharma) e Luca Van Boven (Bingoal WB), as well as they could try to launch some offensive too Francesco Busatto And Laurenz Rex (Intermarché-Wanty), although obviously most of the riders mentioned have excellent sprinters on whom they can rely in the team, so tactics could be decided during the race, based on the specific situation.

Brussels Cycling Classic 2024 Favourites

***** Alexander Kristoff
**** Biniam Girmay, Jordi Meeus
*** Kaden Groves, Paul Penhoët, Axel Zingle
** Amaury Capiot, Marc Hirschi, Rasmus Tiller, Casper Van Uden
* Jenno Berckmoes, Milan Fretin, Emilien Jeannière, Yves Lampaert, Juan Sebastian Molano