Foldager times it to perfection to win Brabantse Pijl after late breakaway catch

Anders Foldager (Jayco AlUla) sprinted to victory at Brabantse Pijl after a dangerous breakaway was caught with just over a kilometre to go. 

What initially looked to be the decisive selection formed on the penultimate ascent of the Moskesstraat with 31km to go when Grégoire went clear alongside Rasmes Debruyne (Alpecin-Premier Tech).

Over the next couple of kilometres, the duo would be joined by Benoit Cosnefroy (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), Anthon Charmig (Uno-X Mobility), Tibor Del Grosso (Alpecin-Premier Tech), Milan Lanhove (Flanders-Baloise) and Jelle Johannik (Unibet Rose Rockets). 

The peloton managed to form a strong chase in the closing kilometres to catch the front group just before the final ascent to the finish up the S-Bocht climb. 

In the sprint that followed, it was Jayco AlUla’s Dane Foldager, who had the most power and speed in reserve, to hit the front just in time for the finish to claim the biggest win of his career. 

Quinten Hermans (Pinarello-Q36.5) was the closest challenger, taking 2nd, while Cosnefroy still managed to sprint for 3rd despite having been out in front. 

For Foldager, it marks the second victory of his professional career following a stage of the Tour de Slovakia in 2024, and builds on a promising 4th place at the NXT Classic earlier in April.

Following the start in Beersel, a six-man breakaway formed that included Cedrik Bakke Christophersen (Unibet Rose Rockets), Michiel Coppens and Bram Dissel (Beat CC p/b Saxo). Vojtěch Kmínek (Burgos Burpellet BH), Jonah Killy and Fabrice Lefevre (Tarteletto-Isorex). 

On his return to racing, Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) attacked with 55km remaining, stretching out the peloton, setting up a counterattack for his teammate and compatriot Florian Vermeersch (UAE Team Emirates-XRG). Neither move stuck, but from here on in, the race never really settled, and there were plenty of opportunistic attacks.

Groupama-FDJ were well positioned towards the front on the run-in to the Moskesstraat with little over 30km to go. There was a crash just before the approach featuring Aaron Dockx (Alpecin-Premier Tech), which held up plenty in the peloton.

Grégoire was piloted to the foot of the cobbled climb with 31km remaining and instantly launched an acceleration. The Frenchman would be joined by Ramses Debruyne, and the duo quickly opened a solid advantage as the peloton sort themselves out for the chase.

A counterattack from the peloton with 28km remaining from former winner Benoît Cosnefroy (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) forced a selection from the peloton. Cosnefroy managed to ditch his companions and bridge solo across to the front duo.

An attack from the peloton by Anthon Charmig (Uno-X Mobility) with 24km remaining would draw out Tibor Del Grosso (Alpecin-Premier Tech) and Milan Lanhove (Flanders-Baloise), and the trio would work well together to join the front group, leaving six riders in the lead with 15 seconds over the peloton as they hit the bell lap with 20km remaining. 

Over the finish line with a lap to go, Jelle Johannik (Unibet Rose Rockets) jumped across from the peloton, making it seven in front. Over the Hertstraat and the run-in to the final ascent of the Moskesstraat, the front group cooperated well and made it to the climb ahead of the peloton. 

Lanhove pushed the pace on the Moskesstraat, which distanced Johannik. Meanwhile, there were attacks in the peloton, but a lull over the crest allowed the front group to maintain their advantage.

On the Holstheide with 8km remaining, Joris Delbove (TotalEnergies) attacked from the peloton and looked to be on his way to the front of the race. 

However, the Frenchman ran out of road before the summit as the front group continued their effort over the top, illustrating that a concerted chase would be needed from the peloton to contend for the win.

Inside 5km to go, the peloton’s level of cooperation had increased, with the gap still just 15 seconds, and the catch was made at the foot of the S-Bocht climb with just over 1km to go. 

Mathieu Burgaudeau (TotalEnergies) launched the first attack from the peloton, and the Frenchman opened a brief gap, but was caught in the closing metres. In the end, it was Foldager who timed his sprint to perfection.