A new name on the race calendar: the Brabantse Pijl. The following WaowDeals Pro Cycling riders start on Wednesday noon (11 April): Pauliena Rooijakkers, Monique van de Ree, Yara Kastelijn, Rotem Gafinovitz, Marianne Vos and Sabrina Stultiens.

The Brabantse Pijl may be new on the agenda, the race itself is certainly not unknown. This Flanders Classics race is a continuation of the Pajot Hills Classic which has been on our programme for the past two years and which was won by Marianne Vos in 2016. The starting gun will be fired in Gooik at 12.15 for a race of well over 136 kilometres.

Climbs and cobbles
The riders will cross the heart of the Pajottenland in the Brabantse Pijl, firstly covering a short lap (21 kilometres), followed by a bigger one (56.4 kilometres) and finally 3 short loops (19.8 kilometres each). The bigger lap consists of different climbs: the Bosberg, the Onkerzeleberg and the Congoberg (twice). In the 3 short laps, the riders will have to overcome a series of cobbles (the Schavoliestraat, 1.600 metres; the Schavolieberg, 350 metres; the Opperstebosstraat, 1.100 metres).

“We have a strong team on paper with quite some individual qualities. Hopefully, one of our riders can spring a surprise”, says sports director Jeroen Blijlevens who also remains realistic. “Yara makes a re-entry following some physical complaints. Also, as Sabrina’s season has only just started, she will have to find out where she stands. Sabrina completed a successful training in Mallorca.”