Table of Contents

• Belgian Cycling Championship Heads to Binche: Sprinters Expected to Shine
  • Cobblestones: The Key Obstacle
  • Sprint or breakaway?
  • Key Course Features
  • The Enduring appeal of cycling Championships
  • Frequently Asked questions
    • Where is the Belgian Cycling Championship taking place in 2025?
    • When is the Belgian Cycling Championship scheduled?
    • What type of course can riders expect at the championship?
    • Who won the Belgian Cycling Championship when it was previously held in Binche?
    • What is the length of the local laps in Binche?
    • What is the main obstacle on the course?
    • Which teams are expected to play a key role in the race?

The Belgian Cycling Championship is coming to Binche on Friday, June 27, 2025, at 6:00 PM. Contrary to expectations of a challenging Ardennes-style course, the route appears favorable to sprinters, though cobblestone sections could introduce an element of surprise.

Former rider Sep Vanmarcke, who previewed the course, noted that while the final 1.5 kilometers are similar to the 2018 championship route, the rest is significantly different. In 2018, Yves Lampaert won the championship in Binche, with Philippe Gilbert finishing second and Vanmarcke in fifth place.

The race begins on BincheS Grand Place, followed by a 115-kilometer loop southward, nearing the French border. the elite men will then tackle seven local laps around Binche, while the women will complete one lap. Each lap spans 16.4 kilometers and, according to Vanmarcke, isn’t overly tough.

Cobblestones: The Key Obstacle

The primary challenge lies in the cobblestones of the Rue de la Pépinière, a well-known feature of the Binche-Chimay-Binche classic. This section begins with a steep incline on cobblestones, followed by a right turn approximately 400 meters from the finish. The route continues with a slight uphill grade and cobblestones on the grand Place for the final 200 meters, culminating in a sharp bend before the finish line.

“It is not a final kilometer that can always cause major differences,but one that thoroughly disrupts a possible sprint. It actually never gets steep,” says Vanmarcke after his exploration.

Did You Know? Cobblestone sections in cycling races can significantly impact tire pressure and bike handling, frequently enough requiring riders to adjust their equipment for optimal performance.

The local circuit in binche includes additional obstacles. “Where we instantly went climbing in the 2018 BK and Binche-Chimay-Binche, it now seems as if they wanted to exhaust every piece of cobblestones there. There are a total of 500 meters of cobblestones at the Binche station, spread over a few small strips and some technical turns.”

Following this,the course features long,wide roads with few turns for approximately ten kilometers,passing the buildings of Wanty,a major sponsor. A slightly uphill section 5.5 kilometers from the finish serves as a crucial benchmark for positioning before the final cobblestone climb.

Sprint or breakaway?

Vanmarcke suggests that the course presents only a three-kilometer challenge in central Binche.”All the rest is pretty well controllable, but that does not mean that you will just get a sprint. A BK is always a strange course.” He recalls the unpredictable nature of past championships, such as Antwerp in 2017 and Ingooigem in 2020, where expectations were defied.

“In theory it is a course for sprinters. physically you can certainly make a sprint of this.But you have to take a good look at the teams of the favorites.” He points to team compositions and potential strategies of teams like Soudal Rapid-Step, alpecin-DECEUNINCK, Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe, and Lotto Dstny as factors that could influence the race’s outcome.

Vanmarcke anticipates an exciting race, highlighting the presence of strong riders from Visma | Lease A Bike, and also individuals like Wout van Aert, Remco Evenepoel, Thibau Nys, Maxim van gils, Tim Wellens and Florian Vermeersch, who could initiate attacks. Though, he acknowledges that the dynamics of the race could shift if a major team misses a key move.

Pro Tip: Keep an eye on team tactics and rider positioning in the final kilometers, as these will be crucial in determining the winner.

The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) emphasizes fair play and safety in all cycling events, ensuring a level playing field for all competitors[[UCI Regulations ].

Key Course Features

What team strategy do you think will be most effective on this course? How will the cobblestones impact the race dynamics?