Sutton wins Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne

Chris Sutton (Team Sky) won the 64th edition of Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne after a perfect high-speed lead-out from teammates Juan Antonio Flecha and Edvald Boasson Hagen.

The 26-year-old Australian hit the front with 200 metres to go and had the speed to hold off Yauheni Hutarovich (FDJ), André Greipel (Omega Pharma-Lotto) and Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervélo). Sutton became the first Australian to win the Belgian race.

“I've won a stage in the Tour Down Under but for me this is pretty big. I've always wanted to win one of the classics and it's a nice way to start with Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne,” Sutton said happily.

“The boys were just incredible in the last 10 kilometres. I told the guys I was up for it. I was pretty confident in myself and the team put all their confidence in me. I just yelled: 'Go!' at 500 metres out. I then waited and waited. But at 200 metres I saw someone come up and knew I had to go. I then just went full gas.”

It was a surprising to see that Team Sky did not ride for Boasson Hagen in the sprint in Kuurne but the talented Norwegian quickly explained why the team choose to opt for Sutton.

“I did the race yesterday and he didn't so he was fresh. Everybody talked about me but we had another plan and it worked perfect. I'm really happy now,” Boasson Hagen told Cyclingnews.

Bigger-name sprinters of the calibre of Greipel and Farrar were unable to match Sutton’s fine burst of speed. Greipel blamed the lack of organization in his team. “The problem was that there was no train,” he told Cyclingnews.

Farrar admitted he made a mistake in the sprint. “I had bad luck but felt really good,” he said.

The climbs in the middle section of the race caused a lot of damage to the peloton but everything came back together in the flatter finale. Several breakaway attempts followed with Lars Ytting Bak (HTC-Highroad) making the most impressive move.

Tom Boonen (Quick-Step) also tried to avoid the sprint by joining a late attack with but the sprinters were hungry for success and pulled him back. Team Sky took control in the final two kilometres and Boasson Hagen gave Sutton a perfect lead out. The Australian then completed the job with a fine turn of speed to claim some big-name sprinter’s scalps and the biggest win of his career.

All the action

196 riders were at the start in the hippodrome in Kuurne, with only Joost Posthuma (Leopard-Trek) failing to start. After the rain on Saturday, the riders were happy to see dry roads but were worried about the strong winds.

A group of five riders escaped the peloton early on in an attempt to stay away at least until the television coverage started. The five were Edwig Cammaerts (Landbouwkrediet), Arnaud Coyot (Saur-Sojasun), Ramunas Navardauskas (Garmin-Cervélo), Arnaud van Groen (Veranda's Willems-Accent) and Andrew Fenn (An Post-Sean Kelly).

The lead quintet quickly opened a lead of seven minutes. Fenn was dropped and was waiting for the peloton but then there was suddenly confusion up front when the four remaining leaders sneaked through a railway crossing that was about to close. They were disqualified by race officials and were out of the race.

Matthieu Ladagnous (FDJ) and Sander Armee (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator) joined Fenn up front and a new break was formed. When they reaching the first climbs of the race, the three leaders had a lead of three minutes. On the day's third climb, the Kanarieberg, Mirko Selvaggi (Vacansoleil) and Anthony Ravard (AG2R La Mondiale) sparked a counter-attack and set off in pursuit. Up front Fenn was dropped from the lead group as the riders tackled the tough cobbled Kruisberg climb.

On the Oude Kwaremont the gap was down to 2:20 as Flecha lead the peloton on the long cobbled climb. Tom Boonen (Quick-Step), Wouter Weylandt (Leopard-Trek) and Mirko Selvaggi (Vacansoleil) followed the Spaniard, creating an interesting break. Weylandt quickly dropped back and at the end of the climb and Selvaggi was dropped as well but he caught up with Ian Stannard (Sky) who was the only rider to come up from behind. By the end of the Oude Kwaremont the two leaders had one and a half minute on four chasers: Flecha, Stannard, Boonen and Selvaggi. However, just before the Côte de Trieu the breakaway attempt was neutralized by Garmin-Cervélo, with Martijn Maaskant doing a lot of work. It was a very tactical race.

On the Trieu several attacks were launched and a group of seven leaders got away: Martin Velits (HTC-Highroad), Maxim Vantomme (Katusha), Thomas Voeckler (Europcar), Matthew Hayman (Sky), Jurgen Roelandts (Omega Pharma-Lotto), Sergey Lagutin (Vacansoleil) and Sébastien Minard (AG2R La Mondiale). Just before the penultimate climb of the day, the Tiegemberg, Ladagnous and Armee were caught by seven chasers, with the peloton at one and a half minute. In the reduced peloton Quick-Step and Rabobank took up the chase.

With 45km to go, on the Nokereberg, the last climb of the day, Maarten Wynants (Rabobank) and Weylandt put the hammer down and the duo powered away as the race took yet another twist. Quick-Step quickly neutralized this attempt as a second peloton bridged back up. A few kilometres later the breakaway group was caught as well, meaning the race was all back together.

Just before hitting the two finishing circuits around Kuurne, Lars Ytting Bak (HTC-Highroad) launched a solo attempt. The former Danish champion quickly opened a lead of half a minute but the bunch refused to let him go. A counter-attack of five men failed and another by Jimmy Engoulvent (Saur-Sojasun), Alessandro Proni (Acqua & Sapone) and Sébastien Hinault (AG2R La Mondiale) had a hard time closing the gap. With 17km to go Bak sat up and joined this breakaway group but the peloton kept them in sight.

At the start of the second and last lap, the peloton was lead by Omega Pharma-Lotto and Team Sky. They trailed the breakaway by 14 seconds but soon closed them down.

Engoulvent was the last survivor of the attack and he was surprised to suddenly find Boonen on his wheel after he jumped across the gap after a tight corner and a crash. The move from the two-time Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne winner made the finale even more exciting for a while but proved unsuccessful as it became clear a bunch sprint was unavoidable.

When Boonen and Engoulvent were caught with two kilometres remaining, Flecha led the peloton into the last kilometre, before Boasson Hagen took over. Everyone else was left fighting for the right wheel or right line, while Sutton was able to chose his moment and finish the job for Team Sky in great style.

 

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Full Results
1Christopher Sutton (Aus) Sky Procycling4:39:39
2Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) FDJRow 1 - Cell 2
3André Greipel (Ger) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 2 - Cell 2
4Tyler Farrar (USA) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 3 - Cell 2
5Jonas Vangenechten (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Credit AgricoleRow 4 - Cell 2
6Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 5 - Cell 2
7Anthony Ravard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 6 - Cell 2
8Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky ProcyclingRow 7 - Cell 2
9Adrien Petit (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 8 - Cell 2
10Kristof Goddaert (Bel) AG2R La MondialeRow 9 - Cell 2
11James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Veranda's Willems - AccentRow 10 - Cell 2
12Leif Hoste (Bel) Katusha TeamRow 11 - Cell 2
13Bobbie Traksel (Ned) LandbouwkredietRow 12 - Cell 2
14Stijn Neirynck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 13 - Cell 2
15Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Leopard TrekRow 14 - Cell 2
16Bert De Backer (Bel) Skil - ShimanoRow 15 - Cell 2
17Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 16 - Cell 2
18Saïd Haddou (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 17 - Cell 2
19Kurt Hovelynck (Bel) Donckers Koffie - Jelly BellyRow 18 - Cell 2
20Borut Bozic (Slo) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 19 - Cell 2
21Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 20 - Cell 2
22Matthew Brammeier (Irl) HTC-HighroadRow 21 - Cell 2
23Jarl Salomein (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 22 - Cell 2
24Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha TeamRow 23 - Cell 2
25Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 24 - Cell 2
26Gianni Meersman (Bel) FDJRow 25 - Cell 2
27Stéphane Poulhies (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 26 - Cell 2
28Tony Gallopin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 27 - Cell 2
29Romain Lemarchand (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 28 - Cell 2
30Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 29 - Cell 2
31Jimmy Casper (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 30 - Cell 2
32Gorik Gardeyn (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 31 - Cell 2
33Gediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) An Post - Sean KellyRow 32 - Cell 2
34Kevin Ista (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 33 - Cell 2
35Pieter Serry (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 34 - Cell 2
36Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 35 - Cell 2
37Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La MondialeRow 36 - Cell 2
38Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 37 - Cell 2
39Dominique Rollin (Can) FDJRow 38 - Cell 2
40Rob Ruijgh (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 39 - Cell 2
41Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 40 - Cell 2
42Alessandro Donati (Ita) Acqua & SaponeRow 41 - Cell 2
43Renaud Dion (Fra) Bretagne - SchullerRow 42 - Cell 2
44Gatis Smukulis (Lat) HTC-HighroadRow 43 - Cell 2
45Maxime Vantomme (Bel) Katusha TeamRow 44 - Cell 2
46Mathew Hayman (Aus) Sky ProcyclingRow 45 - Cell 2
47Lars Ytting Bak (Den) HTC-HighroadRow 46 - Cell 2
48Bram Tankink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 47 - Cell 2
49Jens Keukeleire (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 48 - Cell 2
50Gilles Devillers (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Credit AgricoleRow 49 - Cell 2
51Pieter Jacobs (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 50 - Cell 2
52Gert Steegmans (Bel) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 51 - Cell 2
53Rony Martias (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 52 - Cell 2
54Ludovic Mottet (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Credit AgricoleRow 53 - Cell 2
55Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 54 - Cell 2
56Jos Van Emden (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 55 - Cell 2
57Anthony Delaplace (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 56 - Cell 2
58Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 57 - Cell 2
59Yuriy Krivtsov (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 58 - Cell 2
60Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 59 - Cell 2
61Mathieu Claude (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 60 - Cell 2
62Klaas Lodewyck (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 61 - Cell 2
63Robin Steenuit (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Credit AgricoleRow 62 - Cell 2
64Frédéric Guesdon (Fra) FDJRow 63 - Cell 2
65Mickaël Delage (Fra) FDJRow 64 - Cell 2
66Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 65 - Cell 2
67Arnaud Labbe (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 66 - Cell 2
68Travis Meyer (Aus) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 67 - Cell 2
69Staf Scheirlinckx (Bel) Veranda's Willems - AccentRow 68 - Cell 2
70Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky ProcyclingRow 69 - Cell 2
71Wim De Vocht (Bel) Veranda's Willems - AccentRow 70 - Cell 2
72Aliaksandr Kuchynski (Blr) Katusha TeamRow 71 - Cell 2
73Koen De Kort (Ned) Skil - ShimanoRow 72 - Cell 2
74Sander Armee (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 73 - Cell 2
75Egidijus Juodvalkis (Ltu) LandbouwkredietRow 74 - Cell 2
76Mark Cassidy (Irl) An Post - Sean KellyRow 75 - Cell 2
77Huub Duyn (Ned) Donckers Koffie - Jelly BellyRow 76 - Cell 2
78Johan Coenen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 77 - Cell 2
79Bert Scheirlinckx (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 78 - Cell 2
80Tristan Valentin (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 79 - Cell 2
81Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 80 - Cell 2
82Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky ProcyclingRow 81 - Cell 2
83Nikolas Maes (Bel) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 82 - Cell 2
84Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 83 - Cell 2
85Davide Vigano (Ita) Leopard TrekRow 84 - Cell 2
86Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 85 - Cell 2
87Jan Ghyselinck (Bel) HTC-HighroadRow 86 - Cell 2
88Sébastien Minard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 87 - Cell 2
89Danny Pate (USA) HTC-HighroadRow 88 - Cell 2
90Geert Verheyen (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 89 - Cell 2
91Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 90 - Cell 2
92Olivier Pardini (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Credit AgricoleRow 91 - Cell 2
93Sebastian Lang (Ger) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 92 - Cell 2
94Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 93 - Cell 2
95David Veilleux (Can) Team EuropcarRow 94 - Cell 2
96Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Donckers Koffie - Jelly BellyRow 95 - Cell 2
97Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Sky ProcyclingRow 96 - Cell 2
98Maarten Wynants (Bel) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 97 - Cell 2
99Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Katusha TeamRow 98 - Cell 2
100Karsten Kroon (Ned) BMC Racing TeamRow 99 - Cell 2
101Tom Boonen (Bel) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 100 - Cell 2
102Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Team Garmin-CerveloRow 101 - Cell 2
103Marco Bandiera (Ita) Quickstep Cycling TeamRow 102 - Cell 2
104Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJRow 103 - Cell 2
105Martin Velits (Svk) HTC-HighroadRow 104 - Cell 2
106Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 105 - Cell 2
107Damien Gaudin (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 106 - Cell 2
108Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 107 - Cell 2
109Martin Reimer (Ger) Skil - Shimano0:00:21
110Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 109 - Cell 2
111Joost Van Leijen (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 110 - Cell 2
112Dominic Klemme (Ger) Leopard Trek0:00:24
113Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Sky Procycling0:00:52
114Robin Chaigneau (Ned) Skil - Shimano0:01:06
115Robert Wagner (Ger) Leopard Trek0:01:20
116Alessandro Proni (Ita) Acqua & Sapone0:01:33
117Sjef De Wilde (Bel) Veranda's Willems - AccentRow 116 - Cell 2
118Anthony Geslin (Fra) FDJ0:01:40
119Frederik Willems (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:01:57
120Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:02:44
121Thomas Leezer (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team0:02:54
122Vicente Reynes Mimo (Spa) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:03:35

 

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