The Brabantse Pijl is the perfect race for a transition from the real cobbled classics to the Ardennes classics. For some riders it meant an extension of their spring campaign after the cobbled classics, for others their spring campaign (re-)started.
Spanish champion Mavi Garcia attended an altitude camp with the Spanish national team and made her return to the peloton in the Brabantse Pijl. The Liv Racing TeqFind rider was attentive in the front of the bunch on the local circuit, after she was protected well by her team mates in the first half of the race and who brought her into position for the finale.
In the pouring rain and cold several riders tried their luck, but no attempt was successful till the final lap. Eventually a group of seven riders took off and wasn`t brought back before the finish. Garcia finished in the first group behind the leaders.
“The team really rode well today. Mavi was our leader and the team brought her into position at some crucial points. Mavi just came back from altitude, so the Belgian rain and cold were a little shock to her body. In the last local lap she really felt cold and couldn`t anticipate on the accelerations. It was also too bad Caroline crashed earlier in the race. She was riding strong and could have been a great help in the finale. Luckily Caroline wasn`t injured, she will recover for the next races. Overall I am satisfied with how the team raced. We were all committed to work for our leader. It gives confidence for the upcoming races”, sports director Giorgia Bronzini told after the race.