Anders Foldager beats Hermans in a slight uphill sprint in Overijse and wins the Brabantse Pijl by surprise, the classic that opens the week in the Ardennes: «This is by far the most important victory of my career». Last year Remco Evenepoel won ahead of Van Aert: today Foldager, 24 years old, a talent racing for the Australian team Jayco-AlUla, outsprints Belgian Quinten Hermans (Pinarello-Q36.5) and Frenchmen Benoît Cosnefroy (UAE Emirates) and Romain Grégoire (Groupama-FDJ).

«I knew I had the fitness level needed to win this type of race – explains an emotional Foldager -. Was I surprised? Yes and no. It's a race that suits me, with those short and tricky climbs and the uphill finish. But it's by far my most important victory, and it means a lot to me».

Foldager grew up in Italy in the Continental team Biesse Carrera of Marco Milesi, before making his WorldTour debut in 2024 with the team directed by Brent Copeland. For the Danish rider it's his second professional victory after a stage at the 2024 Tour of Slovakia. For the team a prestigious success just two days before the Amstel Gold Race in the Netherlands: the sixth victory of the season.

«Maybe I was a bit too far back at the foot of the "S" curve a kilometre from the finish – continues Foldager -. My teammate Mauro Schmid did fantastic work to close the gap, all the teammates gave their all from the foot of the final climb (1,300 metres at 3.8%), it was an incredible effort. Once I got to the front, there was nothing else to do but keep my head down and sprint. Maybe on Sunday at the Amstel we'll swap roles and I'll help Mauro win... I dream of a race like that too, but I don't think I have the level of some of the riders who will be there yet».

Yet at one point it seemed that Gregoire, Del Grosso and Cosnefroy's breakaway from the second of the three laps of the Overijse circuit could reach the finish. «It seemed impossible for us to catch this group, but there was a headwind on that long final uphill straight and at that point I understood we could make it», says Foldager again. The main group caught them at the "S" curve before the red triangle of the final kilometre and Foldager then surprisingly won the group sprint.