The women's GP Sven Nys has opened the calendar year in Baal since 2012, when Daphny van den Brand won the first edition. It uses the same course around the Balenberg, the short, steep hill climbed several times a lap, along with stairs, flyovers and a steep descent, and the slopes are often slippery in winter. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado won in 2020 and 2021, and Fem van Empel then won three years running from 2023 to 2025, with Lucinda Brand, the 2022 winner, second behind her each time. In 2026 Brand took over from Jolanda Neff early and rode alone for about 35 minutes, while Puck Pieterse, who stumbled on the stairs on the first lap, chased back to within 12 seconds by the finish. The win also secured Brand the overall Trofee with two rounds to spare. It is the race that ends the Christmas block.