Preview - De Brabantse Pijl - La Flèche Brabançonne

Three former winners, Oscar Freire (Rabobank), Sylvain Chavanel (Quickstep) and Antony Geslin (FDJ) will line up for the 51st edition of the Brabantse Pijl, the traditional precursor to the Ardennes classics, but there is plenty of room for a new winner in 2011. A hilly 201.1 km Belgian course gives both the puncheurs and the sprinters a chance in what is often a very unpredictable race.

Alex Hinds, Production Editor

Sydney, Australia

Alex Hinds is a graduate of Economics and Political Science from Sydney University. Growing up in the metropolitan area of the city he quickly became a bike junkie, dabbling in mountain and road riding. Alex raced on the road in his late teens, but with the time demands of work and university proving too much, decided not to further pursue full-time riding.

If he was going to be involved in cycling in another way the media seemed the next best bet and jumped at the opportunity to work in the Sydney office of Cyclingnews when an offer arose in early 2011.

Though the WorldTour is of course a huge point of focus throughout the year, Alex also takes a keen interest in the domestic racing scene with a view to helping foster the careers of the next generation of cycling.

When not writing for Cyclingnews Alex is a strong proponent of the awareness of cyclists on the road in Sydney having had a few close run-ins with city traffic in the past.

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