As it happened: Jayco AlUla pull off a surprise at the men's Brabantse Pijl

Anders Foldager of Jayco AlUla pulled off a remarkable upset by winning the 2026 men’s Brabantse Pijl in a thrilling sprint finish. The Danish rider emerged victorious after a tense finale, outpacing strong contenders including Quinten Hermans of Pinarello-Q36.5 and Benoît Cosnefroy of UAE Team Emirates. Foldager’s victory marked the biggest win of his career to date, highlighting his growing potential in the classic one-day races. The race unfolded with a series of aggressive attacks and a breakaway group that kept the peloton on edge throughout the final kilometres. Despite the efforts of several riders to maintain a lead, the decisive moment came on the last climb and the subsequent sprint to the line. Foldager timed his sprint perfectly, coming from behind and overtaking Eduard Prades of Caja Rural before powering to the finish line. His teammate Mauro Schmid played a crucial role in positioning him well for the final burst. After crossing the line, Foldager expressed his emotions and satisfaction with the win, acknowledging the significance of the victory for both himself and his team. He admitted to initially being a little too far back on the climb but credited Schmid’s support for setting him up ideally. The Dane emphasised that this triumph proves he has the calibre to compete at the highest level in these challenging races. The outcome of Brabantse Pijl has implications for the upcoming Ardennes Classics, signalling Jayco AlUla’s rising prominence and Foldager’s potential to be a key player in the season’s spring classics. With the Amstel Gold Race and other major events on the horizon, this victory could serve as a confidence boost and a statement of intent from the young Dane and his squad. Fans and competitors alike will be watching closely to see if Foldager can build on this breakthrough performance.