June 4, 2023
Brussels Cycling Classic 2023 – Brussels – Brussels : 207,1 km
The Brussels Cycling Classic, formerly known as Paris-Brussels, is one of the oldest one-day races on the international cycling calendar. The first edition was held back in 1893 as an amateur race, running for a colossal distance of 397km. Despite attracting some of the strongest riders of the time, the race really struggled to establish itself and it wasn’t until 1906 that it held its second edition. The route is also now entirely contained within Belgium, with the riders undertaking an intrepid tour of the Walloon and Flemish Brabant regions before a long, flat run-in to the finish in Brussels. Along the way, the riders face several famous cobbled climbs, including the Kapelmuur and the Bosberg.
Arnaud Demare (Groupama-FDJ) won the 103rd edition of the Brussels Cycling Classic, winning a close sprint after a large break of 23 riders held off the peloton.
Kelland O’Brian (Jayco-AlUla) made a late solo attack but was pulled back by Lewis Askey for his Groupama-FDJ teammate.
Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Circus-Wanty) opened up the sprint down the middle of the road but was passed by several other sprinters.
20-year-old Dane Tobias Lund Andresen (Team DSM) appeared to get ahead of Demare but the French rider kept his speed and won with a bike throw.
Jordi Meeus (Bora-Hansgrohe) was third and Girmay fourth.
Derek Gee (Israel-Premier Tech) raced in Belgium just a week after finishing the Giro d’Italia. The Canadian made several attacks, made the select front group and finished tenth.
Results :