Preview Brussels Cycling Classic 2023 | Battle between Merlier and Démare seems imminent!

The honor roll of the Brussels Cycling Classic, which is heading into its 103rd edition in 2023, is filled with big names. Looking at the winners of the past ten editions, we see riders like Remco Evenepoel, Caleb Ewan, Tom Boonen, Dylan Groenewegen and Tim Merlier have claimed victory in this race.

Robbie McEwen can rightfully be called the 'King of the Brussels Cycling Classic', as the Australian sprinter won the race - which, at the time, was still known as Paris-Brussels - a whopping five times. Last year, it was Taco van der Hoorn who sprinted to victory in the streets of the Belgian capital.

2022 Taco van der Hoorn
2021 Remco Evenepoel
2020 Tim Merlier
2019 Caleb Ewan
2018 Pascal Ackermann
2017 Arnaud Démare
2016 Tom Boonen
2015 Dylan Groenewegen
2014 André Greipel
2013 André Greipel

The day after the Heistse Pijl, which will be held mainly in the Antwerp region, the riders face a 208-kilometer course in and around Brussels. After a flat start of about fifty kilometers, the peloton tackles the first of ten climbs. However, the second half of the race looks particularly attractive, with double passages over the Congoberg, Muur van Geraardsbergen and Bosberg trio. The final climb of these three will take place more than forty kilometers from the finish.

At 14 kilometers from the finish, the final climb of the day awaits: the Heiligekruiswegstraat. From there, the route will continue on flat roads towards Brussels, with the finish line located on Houba de Strooperlaan, just a stone's throw away from the Atomium.

The gentlemen who will be competing in the race in the city also known as 'the political heart of Europe' will be treated to near-perfect racing weather. The temperature is expected to reach around 25 degrees Celsius, with almost no chance of rain. The wind is also unlikely to cause significant disruptions, making for ideal race conditions.

Times
Start: 10:15 a.m.
Finish: approximately 3:30 p.m.

Despite several challenging climbs in the course, the expectation is that a large group will sprint on Houba de Strooperlaan. After all, the hills where the sprinters could well be ridden off at a high pace are a considerable distance from the finish. Two fast riders stand out as top favorites for the race: Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) and Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ). Merlier has already celebrated a victory seven times this year. His most recent win was on May 21st, when he claimed the final stage of the Four Days of Dunkirk. In subsequent races, the Belgian secured a spot on the honor roll, including a second place in the Van Merksteijn Fences Classic and a fourth place in the Tour of Limburg. Merlier is undoubtedly the man to beat in the streets of Brussels!

The Flemish rider can expect strong competition, especially from Démare. The cheerful Frenchman from Groupama-FDJ didn't have the strongest start to 2023 but gradually regained his form. He ultimately secured a victory in the second stage of the Boucles de la Mayenne, marking his first win of the season. Démare seems to be getting in top shape just in time for the Tour de France. A victory in the Brussels Cycling Classic would give him an extra boost of confidence heading into 'La Grande Boucle,' so the rider from Beauvais will be eager for a top result in Brussels.

There are quite a few riders who can be labeled as outsiders. Some of the riders on that list do have an edge: either based on recent results or on their stature. Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) clearly leans towards the latter category. The Eritrean protégé of Hilaire Van der Schueren had high expectations for the spring season but ultimately failed to contend for victory in any classic. An underwhelming 18th place in Milan-Turin was his best result. Girmay will go from the Tour of Switzerland to the Tour de France, and he would certainly love to travel to the 'ever-neutral country' with a victory under his belt.

Stanisław Aniołkowski (Human Powered Health) is one of those typical riders who pops up in races such as the Brussels Cycling Classic. The fast Polish rider is usually a contender for a place in the top ranks but seems to be getting closer to a victory at the ProTour level in recent years. He demonstrated his good form with a third-place finish in the Tour of Limburg. Marius Mayrhofer (Team DSM) was one of the revelations of the Giro d'Italia. The German rider was involved in several bunch sprints and consistently finished in the top ten. In this field of participants, the 22-year-old sprinter has even more chances to contend for victory.

In the sprint, it's always worth keeping an eye on riders such as Axel Zingle (Cofidis) and Hugo Hofstetter (Arkéa Samsic). Both Frenchmen handle hills relatively well and possess a strong finishing kick. Zingle's 2023 season has been characterized by a series of places of honor, with occasional podium finishes. Although Hofstetter's season has been somewhat less successful, the tattooed pocket sprinter is always someone to watch out for. Other sprint contenders that have caught our eye are Casper van Uden and Tobias Lund Andresen (both from Team DSM). The latter demonstrated his good form in the Tour of Norway.

Lastly, we would like to mention a few names of riders who seem to only have a chance of victory if the race doesn't end in a sprint. We are talking about riders like Dries de Bondt (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Aaron Van Poucke (Team Flanders-Baloise) and Lionel Taminiaux, who can find success in multiple ways.

Top favorites: Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) and Arnaud Démare (Groupama-FDJ)
Outsiders: Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty), Marius Mayrhofer (Team DSM), Hugo Hofstetter (Arkéa Samsic), Axel Zingle (Cofidis), Stanisław Aniołkowski (Human Powered Healh)
Longshots: Casper van Uden (Team DSM), Dries De Bondt (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Tobias Lund Andresen (Team DSM), Aaron Van Poucke (Team Flanders-Baloise), Lionel Taminiaux (Alpecin-Deceuninck)

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Races in Belgium are always beautiful and often spectacular. This Brussels Cycling Classic certainly falls into that category. This 1.Pro race can once again count on a lot of interest from the big teams, which will influence the exciting course of the race. Eurosport and Sporza will broadcast this event live, starting from 1.30 p.m.