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2024 Brussels Cycling Classic (1.Pro)
Formerly Paris-Brussels/Paris-Bruxelles

104th edition: Sunday, June 2, 2024

Brussels Cycling Classic podium history | 2023 edition | Course map & profile | Start list

Brussels - Brussels, 218.2 km

Jonas Abrahamsen wins. Photo: Anouk Fleischer

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Weather at the start/finish city of Brussels at 1:50 PM, local time: 16C (61F), cloudy, with the wind from the north at 16 km/hr (10 mph). There is just a 1% chance of rain.

The race: Alessando Covi (UAE Team Emirates) & Tomas Barta (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) did not start. Early in the race Nils Eekhoff (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) abandoned.

Here's the organizer's race summary:

On Houba de Strooperlaan in Brussels, Jonas Abrahamsen achieved his very first professional victory. He won solo ahead of the charging peloton, where Girmay sprinted to second place ahead of Groves. With his victory, Abrahamsen also becomes the first Norwegian to feature on the honor roll of the Brussels Cycling Classic.

Before the start Team Soudal Quick-Step is presented.

After all teams were introduced one by one on the starting podium, the peloton set off at 10:00 in the Jubelpark, in the heart of Brussels. The riders faced a journey of 218 kilometers with the start and finish in the Belgian capital. After about fifteen kilometers, the breakaway of the day formed. Alexis Gougeard (Cofidis), Thibaud Gruel (Groupama-FDJ), Martin Svrcek (Soudal Quick-Step), Ceriel Desal (Bingoal WB), and Kamiel Bonneu (Team Flanders-Baloise) quickly established a significant gap. After the Smeysberg, the first climb of the day, they were joined by Riccardo Lucca (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane'). The six riders rode together towards the double passages over Muur – Kapelmuur, Bosberg, and Congoberg.

The pace remained high throughout the day. After the first hour of racing, the leading group had covered 44.4 kilometers. The peloton eventually gave the six riders some freedom. The leaders built up a maximum advantage of 5’11”, but around 160 kilometers from the finish, the peloton started to push the pace. At the foot of the first ascent of the Muur – Kapelmuur, the breakaway still had 1’32” left. During this first climb, the peloton split into several groups. Liam Slock (Lotto Dstny) attempted to bridge the gap to the leading group alone.

After the first ascent of the Congoberg, approximately 82 kilometers from the finish, the Belgian managed to join the leading group. Meanwhile, the peloton had regained its composure. Under the watchful eye of the Alpecin-Deceuninck riders, the peloton's deficit increased again to 1’53”. During the second ascent of the Muur – Kapelmuur, it was Biniam Girmay (Intermarché - Wanty) who accelerated. A first peloton of around thirty riders formed. The Norwegian Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility) missed the move.

With 49 kilometers to go, the story of the early breakaway was over. They were caught by the first peloton, where Swiss rider Marc Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates) ramped up the pace on the Congoberg. The leaders crested the summit with a one-minute lead over the second peloton, led by TotalEnergies.

The second peloton closed in to sixteen seconds, but on the cobbles of the Rosweg, the gap widened again. The Heiligekruiswegstraat, the final climb of the day, tempted Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno-X Mobility) to attack. He was joined by Martin Svrcek, who had been part of the early breakaway. The two riders held a 20-second advantage as they approached the final 5 kilometers.

With just over 4 kilometers to go, Abrahamsen made his move. He surged ahead of Svrcek and seemed destined for a solo finish on the Houba de Strooperlaan. The Norwegian managed to hold off the peloton in the final uphill kilometer and celebrated victory after a 14-kilometer attack in the closing stages. In the sprinting peloton, Girmay claimed second place ahead of Groves. For Abrahamsen, it was his first professional victory, making him the first Norwegian on the honorary list.

Complete results:

218.2 kilometers raced at an average speed of 44.624 km/hr

Course map & profile:

Course map

Course profile

Start list with back numbers, June 1, 2024: