Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne

Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne is an annual single-day road cycling race in Belgium. It is held one day after Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, on the last Sunday of February or the first of March, and completes the opening weekend of the Belgian cycling season.[1] It was ranked a 1.HC event of the UCI Europe Tour before joining the UCI ProSeries in 2020. Tom Boonen holds the most wins with three victories.

Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne
Race details
DateLate February – Early March
RegionFlanders, Belgium
English nameKuurne–Brussels–Kuurne
Local name(s)Kuurne–Brussel–Kuurne (in Dutch)
Nickname(s)KBK
DisciplineRoad
CompetitionUCI ProSeries
TypeOne-day race
OrganiserSportingclub Kuurne
Race directorPeter Debaveye
Web sitewww.kuurne-brussel-kuurne.be
History
First edition1946 (1946)
Editions75 (as of 2023)
First winner Henri Delmuyle (BEL)
Most wins Tom Boonen (BEL) (3 wins)
Most recent Tiesj Benoot (BEL)

History

Early editions

First held in 1946, the race was run from Kuurne, a small town known for its textile industry, to the Belgian capital of Brussels and back. In the 1950s it served as the opening race of the Belgian cycling season. When Brussels was becoming inaccessible for a cycling event in the late 1960s, the race was rerouted towards the Flemish Ardennes and renamed "Omloop der beide Vlaanderen" ("Circuit of both Flanders").[N 1] In 1979 organizers decided to rename the event to Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne nonetheless.

Opening weekend

For many decades, Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne serves as the second race of the opening weekend in Belgium, after Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday, as well as the first weekend of racing in Northwestern Europe.[1] Although second after the Omloop, and considered the smaller of the two events, it holds significant prestige because of its calendar date. Since 2005 it is included in the UCI Europe Tour; in 2016 it was upgraded to a 1.HC event, the same ranking as Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, but Omloop was upgraded to UCI World Tour level in 2017. Despite tandeming with Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, no rider has ever won the Omloop and Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne on the same weekend.

Winter race

As it is run in late winter, Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne has often been affected by poor weather. The race had to be cancelled three times because of snow or frost – in 1986, 1993 and 2013. The 2010 event was run in extreme weather as the remnants of cyclone Xynthia hit Belgium, with strong winds and torrential rain ravaging the peloton.[2] The race had to be shortened by 20 km because a fallen tree obstructed the road.[3] The edition was won by Dutch outsider Bobbie Traksel; only 26 of 195 riders finished the race.[4][5] In 2004 Kuurne served as the opening race of the season, after Omloop Het Nieuwsblad was cancelled because of snow, before thaw set in on the night before the Sunday race.[6]

Route

Route of the 2015 edition

Despite its name, the route does not actually extend to Brussels. The race starts on the hippodrome of Kuurne, in the south of West Flanders, before heading east in the direction of Brussels, but its easternmost point is somewhere near Ninove, 23 km west of Brussels. After the turning point, the race addresses the Flemish Ardennes where a number of hills feature, before finishing in Kuurne after approximately 200 km. The route in the hill zone changes every year, but some of the regular climbs include Edelareberg, La Houppe, Kanarieberg, Kruisberg, Oude Kwaremont, Tiegemberg and Nokereberg.

With a long and flat run-in to the finish, the course is less selective than the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. The race ends with two local laps around Kortrijk and Kuurne.[7] With the last climb of the race coming at 53 km from the finish, Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne has established itself as something of a sprinters’ classic.[1]

List of winners

Podium of the 2015 race: Alexander Kristoff, Mark Cavendish and Elia Viviani
Year Country Rider Team
1946  Belgium Henri Delmuylle individual
1947  Belgium André Pieters Celta–Erka
1948  Belgium Achiel Buysse Thompson
1949  Belgium Albert Decin La Française–Dunlop
1950  Belgium Valère Ollivier Bertin–Wolber
1951  Belgium André Declerck Bertin–Wolber
1952  Belgium André Maelbrancke Devos Sport
1953  Belgium Leopold De Graeveleyn Mercier–Hutchinson
1954  Belgium Leon Vandaele Bertin–d'Alessandro
1955  Belgium Joseph Planckaert Elvé–Peugeot
1956  Belgium Henri Denijs Bertin–Huret
1957  Belgium Joseph Verhelts Faema–Guerra
1958  Belgium Gilbert Desmet Faema–Guerra
1959  Belgium Gentiel Saelens Flandria–Dr. Mann
1960  Belgium Joseph Planckaert Wiel's–Flandria
1961  Belgium Alfred De Bruyne (victory shared with Leon Vandaele) Baratti–Milano
1961  Belgium Leon Vandaele (victory shared with Alfred De Bruyne) Wiel's–Flandria
1962  Netherlands Piet Rentmeester Gitane–Leroux
1963  Belgium Noël Foré Faema–Flandria
1964  Belgium Arthur Decabooter Solo–Superia
1965  Belgium Guido Reybrouck Flandria–Romeo
1966  Belgium Gustaaf De Smet Wiel's–Groene Leeuw
1967  Belgium Daniel Van Rijckeghem Mann–Grundig
1968  Belgium Eric Leman Flandria–De Clerck
1969  Belgium Freddy Decloedt Pull Over Centrale–Tasmania
1970  Belgium Roger De Vlaeminck Flandria–Mars
1971  Belgium Roger De Vlaeminck Flandria–Mars
1972  Belgium Gustaaf Van Roosbroeck Watneys–Avia
1973  Belgium Walter Planckaert Watney–Maes
1974  Belgium Wilfried Wesemael MIC–Ludo–De Gribaldy
1975  Belgium Frans Verhaegen IJsboerke–Colner
1976  Belgium Frans Verhaegen Flandria–Velda–West Vlaams Vleesbedrijf
1977  Belgium Patrick Sercu Fiat France
1978  Belgium Patrick Lefevere Marc Zeepcentrale–Superia
1979  Belgium Walter Planckaert Mini Flat–V.D.B.
1980  Netherlands Jan Raas TI–Raleigh
1981  Belgium Jos Jacobs Capri Sonne
1982  West Germany Gregor Braun Capri Sonne
1983  Netherlands Jan Raas TI–Raleigh
1984  Netherlands Jos Lammertink Panasonic
1985  Belgium William Tackaert Fangio–Ecoturbo
1986 No race
1987  Belgium Ludo Peeters Superconfex–Yoko
1988  Belgium Hendrik Redant Isoglass–Robland
1989  Belgium Edwig Van Hooydonck Superconfex–Yoko
1990  Belgium Hendrik Redant Lotto-Super Club
1991  Belgium Johnny Dauwe Tulip Computers
1992  Germany Olaf Ludwig Panasonic–Sportlife
1993 No race
1994  Belgium Johan Museeuw GB–MG Maglificio
1995  France Frédéric Moncassin Novell
1996  Denmark Rolf Sørensen Rabobank
1997  Belgium Johan Museeuw Mapei–GB
1998  Belgium Andrei Tchmil Lotto–Mobistar
1999  Belgium Jo Planckaert Lotto–Mobistar
2000  Belgium Andrei Tchmil Lotto–Adecco
2001  Belgium Peter Van Petegem Mercury–Viatel
2002  Estonia Jaan Kirsipuu AG2R Prévoyance
2003  Netherlands Roy Sentjens Rabobank
2004  Netherlands Steven de Jongh Rabobank
2005  United States George Hincapie Discovery Channel
2006  Belgium Nick Nuyens Quick-Step–Innergetic
2007  Belgium Tom Boonen Quick-Step–Innergetic
2008  Netherlands Steven de Jongh Quick-Step
2009  Belgium Tom Boonen Quick-Step
2010  Netherlands Bobbie Traksel Vacansoleil
2011  Australia Christopher Sutton Team Sky
2012  Great Britain Mark Cavendish Team Sky
2013 No race due to snow[8]
2014  Belgium Tom Boonen Omega Pharma–Quick-Step
2015  Great Britain Mark Cavendish Etixx–Quick-Step
2016  Belgium Jasper Stuyven Trek–Segafredo
2017  Slovakia Peter Sagan Bora–Hansgrohe
2018  Netherlands Dylan Groenewegen LottoNL–Jumbo
2019  Luxembourg Bob Jungels Deceuninck–Quick-Step
2020  Denmark Kasper Asgreen Deceuninck–Quick-Step
2021  Denmark Mads Pedersen Trek–Segafredo
2022  Netherlands Fabio Jakobsen Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl Team
2023  Belgium Tiesj Benoot Team Jumbo–Visma

Wins per country

Wins Country
53 Belgium
10 Netherlands
3 Denmark
2 Germany (including  West Germany)
 Great Britain
1 Australia
 Estonia
 France
 Luxembourg
 Slovakia
 United States

Junior race

A junior version of the race has been held since 2000.

Winners

Year Winner Second Third
Kuurnse Leieomloop
2000Belgium Kevin De WeertBelgium Wim De VochtBelgium Jurgen Van den Broeck
2001Belgium Sven VervloetBelgium Giovanni PommelaereBelgium Joeri Clauwaert
2002Netherlands Jasper van HeeswijkNetherlands Stefan HuizingaBelgium Nick Ingels
2003United Kingdom Geraint ThomasFrance Jérémy BeyaertBelgium Bart Veyt
2004Belgium Stijn JosephBelgium Tim RoelsUnited Kingdom Ian Stannard
2005Belgium Frederiek NolfBelgium Toon DeclercqBelgium Jérôme Baugnies
2006Belgium Sven NooytensBelgium Jan GhyselinckFrance Ludovic Vasseur
2007United Kingdom Adam BlytheBelgium Nicolas VereeckenBelgium Kevin Lava
2008Netherlands Barry MarkusBelgium Nicolas VereeckenNetherlands Moreno Hofland
2009Netherlands Moreno HoflandNetherlands Rune van der MeijdenBelgium Jochen Deweer
2010Netherlands Paul MoerlandBelgium Frederik FrisonNetherlands Didier Caspers
2011Belgium Joachim VanreytenNetherlands Dylan GroenewegenFrance Yannis Yssaad
2012Belgium Niels VanderaerdenFrance Félix PouillyNetherlands Piotr Havik
2013No race
Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne Juniors
2014[9]United Kingdom James ShawBelgium Lionel TaminiauxBelgium Robbe Casier
2015[10]Netherlands Yannick DetantFrance Mathieu RigollotFrance Alan Riou
2016[11]United Kingdom Ethan HayterFrance Clément Bétouigt-SuireBelgium Jasper Philipsen
2017[12]Denmark Johan LangballeDenmark Peter HaslundFrance Rémi Huens
2018[13]Belgium Remco EvenepoelDenmark Jacob Hindsgaul MadsenUnited Kingdom Charley Calvert
2019[14] Netherlands Casper van Uden France Antonin Corvaisier Netherlands Bodi del Grosso
2020 Belgium Cian Uijtdebroeks Netherlands Pepijn Reinderink United Kingdom Jack Rootkin-Gray
2021No race
2022 Belgium Sente Sentjens Netherlands Vincent van Dorp France Thibaud Gruel
2023 Belgium Jarno Widar Slovenia Zak Erzen Belgium Steffen de Schuyteneer

Notes

  1. The race has not been in Brussels since 1968. Since then it is run in the provinces of West Flanders and East Flanders, the two westernmost provinces of Belgium.

References

  1. Wynn, Nigel. "Omloop Het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne 2016 preview". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  2. Benson, Daniel (March 2010). "Rollin thrives in bad weather in Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne. Canadian impervious to Belgian storms". cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  3. Decaluwé, Brecht (March 2010). "Peloton reacts to brutal battering at Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne". cyclingnews.com. Immediate Media Company. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  4. Decaluwé, Brecht (28 February 2010). "Relatively unknown Traksel rides to Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne win". Cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  5. O'Grady, Patrick. "Traksel takes Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne". velonews.competitor.com. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  6. Jones, Jeff. "De Jongh repeats Rabobank's success". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 25 February 2016.
  7. "Organisatoren hertekenen finale Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne". sporza.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
  8. "Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne afgelast door de sneeuwval" (in Dutch). Sporza. 24 February 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  9. James Odvart (2 March 2014). "Kuurne–Bruxelles–Kuurne Juniors : Classement". directvelo.com.
  10. James Odvart (1 March 2015). "Kuurne–Bruxelles–Kuurne Juniors : Classement". directvelo.com.
  11. Francis Spruyt (28 February 2016). "Kuurne–Bruxelles–Kuurne Juniors : Classement". directvelo.com.
  12. Frédéric Gachet (26 February 2017). "Kuurne–Bruxelles–Kuurne Juniors : Classement". directvelo.com.
  13. James Odvart (25 February 2018). "Kuurne–Bruxelles–Kuurne Juniors : Classement". directvelo.com.
  14. Francis Spruyt (3 March 2019). "Kuurne–Bruxelles–Kuurne Juniors : Classement". directvelo.com.
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