The 9th edition of the BXL Tour, a 40-kilometre amateur cycling race through the streets of Brussels, kicked off at 9:00 from Place des Palais with Johan Museeuw, the new patron of the event, taking charge; about 6,000 participants joined this year.
The urban race, open to semi-professionals and amateurs alike, covers eight Brussels municipalities, including Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, Auderghem, Watermael-Boitsfort, Ixelles, Etterbeek, Schaerbeek, and Laeken, before concluding in style under the Atomium.
Four categories were available to cycling enthusiasts, based on difficulty levels. Participants could choose “master” for seasoned cyclists aged 19 and over, “cyclo” for enthusiasts aged 12 and over, or “ride”—a more accessible 32-kilometre route. A “paracycling” category was available for participants with reduced mobility.
In the “master” category, Eleonore Hiller was the fastest woman, completing the race in 53 minutes and 48 seconds, while Kamiel Notebaert was the fastest man, finishing in 52 minutes and 45 seconds. The official finish is scheduled for 13:00, followed by a prize-giving ceremony.
“The BXL Tour embodies the cycling spirit of Brussels: a unique race that brings together seasoned cyclists and amateurs in a sporting and friendly atmosphere,” remarked Florence Frelinx, the first alderwoman of the City of Brussels responsible for Sports. It is an opportunity to “(re)discover the city differently, combining self-challenge and the pleasure of two-wheeled travel.”
Several key roads were closed to traffic between 7:00 and 13:00, including Place des Palais, Rue Ducale, Rue Belliard (and the Belliard tunnel), and Avenue de Tervuren. Additionally, Avenue Van Praet, Avenue du Parc Royal, Boulevards du Souverain, Général Jacques, Auguste Reyers, Lambermont, the Esplanade, and exits from the A12 motorway into Brussels were temporarily closed.
