Abrahamsen keeps the peloton at bay and finishes solo in Brussels Cycling Classic
On Houba de Strooperlaan in Brussels, Jonas Abrahamsen secured his first-ever professional victory. He triumphed solo ahead of the fast-approaching peloton in which Girmay sprinted ahead of Groves to claim second place. Abrahamsen’s win also makes him the first Norwegian on the Brussels Cycling Classic’s honorary list.
After all the teams had been introduced one by one on the starting podium, the peloton set off at 10:00 in the Cinquantenaire Park, in the heart of Brussels. Awaiting the riders was a 218-kilometre course with start and finish in the Belgian capital. After about 15 kilometres, 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) created the first significant distance between themselves and the peloton. After Smeysberg, the first climb of the day, they were joined by Riccardo Lucca (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane'). The six leaders rode together towards the double passages over the Muur - Kapelmuur, Bosberg and Congoberg.
The pace was fast all day. After the first hour of the race, the leading group had covered 44.4 kilometres. The peloton ended up giving the six riders a little freedom. The leaders cycled their way together to a maximum lead of 5'11", but some 160 kilometres from the finish, the peloton stepped on the accelerator. At the foot of the first climb of the Muur - Kapelmuur, the breakaway riders still had a lead of 1'32". During that first climb, the peloton broke up into several different groups. Liam Slock (Lotto Dstny) attempted to join the leading group on his own.
The Belgian joined the leading group after the first climb of Congoberg, some 82 kilometres from the finish. In the peloton, meanwhile, calm had returned. Under the watchful eye of the Alpecin-Deceuninck riders, the gap with the peloton increased again to 1'53". On the second ascent of Muur - Kapelmuur, it was Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) who accelerated. An initial peloton of about 30 riders formed. The Norwegian Alexander Kristoff (Uno-X Mobility) had missed the boat.
(read more below the photo)
With 49 kilometres still to go, the story of the early escapees had come to an end. They were caught by the first peloton, with Switzerland’s Marc Hirschi (UAE Team Emirates) really stepping up the pace again on the Congoberg. The leaders came out on top with a one-minute lead over the second peloton, where TotalEnergies led the chase.
The second peloton approached to within 16 seconds, but on the cobblestones of the Rosweg the gap increased 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 also previously been part of the early breakaway. The two men rode into the final 5 kilometres with a 20-second lead.
Just over 4 kilometres from the line, Abrahamsen accelerated rapidly. He dashed away from Svrcek and very much appeared to be looking for a solo finish on Houba de Strooperlaan. The Norwegian just managed to keep the peloton at bay in the final uphill kilometre and secured victory after a 14-km attack in a thrilling finale. In the sprinting peloton, Girmay sped to second place, ahead of Groves. It was the first-ever professional victory for Abrahamsen, and he is also the first Norwegian to appear on the honorary list.