Sunday 14 June marked the 10th edition of the BXL Tour, Brussels’ must-ride cycling event. And when you put cycling and Brussels together, you inevitably get the Brussels Big Brackets!
Text by Arnaud Pinxteren / Maxime Willocx / Lizet Ramirez
Nicolas Brookes
UNITED BY THE RIDE
More than 6,000 riders set off on the 40-kilometre course through the city’s streets and boulevards, all closed to traffic for the occasion. Just over an hour of racing—almost like the pros.
On the starting line, concentration is at its peak and the tension is palpable. As soon as the line is crossed, the brightly coloured pack surges forward. The city’s silence is broken only by the hum of the peloton and the symphony of shifting gears.
Kilometre after kilometre, legs loosen up and nerves fade away, giving way to intense effort and, above all, the sheer joy of claiming urban space through the power of our pedals. Thrilled by the speed and exhilarated by the wind, we are carried along by the slipstream of hundreds of cyclists.
Groups form, pelotons organize themselves, and everywhere BBB jerseys can be spotted. It is a chance to test your limits—and preferably push beyond them—to gain a minute, to hold the wheel ahead, to keep going.
Hanging on is the goal; coming together afterwards is the reward. Beneath the Atomium, we celebrated the joy of shared effort. Once again, we felt—and demonstrated—that cycling is, above all, a team sport.
A MASTERCLASS OF OUR YOUNG GUNS
What a great sense of satisfaction after this 10th edition of the BXL Tour! Not only because of Guillaume Rouvroy’s victory, as he stamped his authority on the race against the winner of the previous two editions, but also because of the collective spirit shown by our riders throughout the day.
Our Elite 2, U23 and Elite 3 riders joined forces in pursuit of a victory that means a great deal to us as a Brussels-based club. As sports director, I am used to following races either from the team car or from the roadside, so I particularly appreciated experiencing this event from within the peloton, alongside the riders, and seeing firsthand how much they worked for one another!
BBB WOMEN: MANY ROOTS, ONE TEAM, ONE VICTORY!
One of our members had the vision to extend the BBB Racing Team to women. While it’s a long-term project, the BXL Tour 2026 was one of the races where we planted that seed—and together, we made it flourish.
Sunday 14 June, we brought together riders with Italian, Eritrean, German, Belgian, and Mexican roots, a true reflection of Brussels itself. Different stories, one passion, one team.
This victory wouldn’t have been possible without the BBB community. Many club members helped us navigate the pelotons at different speeds, whether for the full race or sections of it. We faced challenges and adapted as the race unfolded,from safety concerns to mechanicals and dropped chains, but kept moving forward together.
The result? Not only did BBB Women secure first place in the overall team classification, but several riders also topped their age groups. More importantly, this success marks the beginning of a new chapter, inspiring more women to join this beautiful sport and race in the years to come.
A very Brussels victory, built on teamwork, resilience and diversity.
