Looking for Tim Merlier’s successor
Brussels will once again host both the start and finish of a new edition of the Brussels Cycling Classic on Sunday 7 June. The hilly course is set to create an intriguing battle between the fast men and the classics specialists on the provisional start list. Among those aiming for a first victory in the race are Jordi Meeus, Biniam Girmay and Milan Fretin.
After their victory last year, Soudal Quick-Step will rely on Alberto Dainese for this edition. The Italian will be joined by Yves Lampaert. The strongest team on the provisional start list is without doubt Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe, counting on the fast finish of Jordi Meeus (3rd in 2023). He will be supported by Arne Marit, racing on home roads, and Laurence Pithie.
Three former winners will line up at Cinquantenaire Park. Jonas Abrahamsen won the race in 2024 and will join forces at Uno-X Mobility with Søren Wærenskjold. Two years earlier, in 2022, Taco van der Hoorn claimed victory. The Dutch rider from Lotto - Intermarché will start alongside Milan Menten and Toon Aerts. In 2018, German rider Pascal Ackermann claimed victory. With Dries De Bondt and Anders Foldager, winner of De Brabantse Pijl, Team Jayco AlUla has two other strong cards to play.
Alexis Renard (Cofidis) and Biniam Girmay (NSN Cycling Team) had to settle for second place in 2025 and 2024 respectively. Both riders will once again be part of the peloton this year. Cofidis also has a second fast finisher in its ranks with Milan Fretin. Davide Ballerini (XDS Astana Team), Aimé De Gendt (Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) and John Degenkolb (Team Picnic PostNL) also know what it feels like to finish runner-up in the Brussels Cycling Classic. The latter achieved that result no fewer than 13 years ago and is expected to ride in support of Pavel Bittner this year.
Further down the provisional start list we also find the names of Simon Dehairs (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Paul Penhoët (Groupama-FDJ), Marijn van den Berg (EF Education-EasyPost), Fernando Gaviria (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA), Tom Crabbe (Team Flanders - Baloise), Émilien Jeannière (TotalEnergies), as well as the Tudor Pro Cycling Team duo of Arvid de Kleijn and Rick Pluimers.
