Brabantse Pijl special race for Van Hooydonck
After the postponement of Paris-Roubaix, Team Jumbo-Visma will be at the departure of the Brabantse Pijl today with the classics team. The Belgian semi-classic starts in Leuven and ends in Overijse.
Part of the route will also be part of the World Road Cycling Championships later this year. The riders will have to tackle 26 climbs, including Moskesstraat four times and Hertstraat four times. The final stage of the race has three local laps of 21 kilometres each.
Wout van Aert will make his debut in this classic. Sports director Arthur van Dongen says this race is not just a way to fill the programme. “This race fits very well with the capabilities of Wout. The short climbs and beautiful new finish line are perfect for him. We want to go for the maximum again in this race.”
The Van Hooydonck family
In 1995 Edwig Van Hooydonck won the Brabantse Pijl for the fourth time. This makes him the record holder. Edwig is the uncle of current Team Jumbo-Visma rider Nathan Van Hooydonck. Nathan looks with great admiration at the achievements of his family member. “The fact that my uncle has won this race four times makes me very proud. The course back then was slightly different than the current one, which makes it difficult to compare both races. I don't talk to him about it very often, but I’ll definitely be riding around with the fact that he won four times here in the back of my mind.”
It was partly thanks to Edwig that Nathan developed a love for cycling when he was young. “And my father was also a professional cyclist. I used to play football, but it turned out that I wasn’t very talented at it. I soon lost the joy in that sport. The day I got a red card and was suspended for four matches, I stopped. From that moment on, I completely focused on cycling. Now, this Wednesday, I will be riding the Brabantse Pijl in my home country with one of the best cycling teams in the world. I think Uncle Edwig will be watching.”
"The fact that my uncle has won this race four times makes me very proud."
Nathan Van Hooydonck is looking forward to this Wednesday’s race with hope, a race that is sure to please him. “I have ridden this race twice before. I think it is a beautiful race. The mix of hill specialists and fans of the Flemish classics will bring a new dynamic to the race. We are at the start with Wout and I believe one hundred percent in my leader. I will push myself to the limit for him.”
