Cavendish wins in Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne

 Mark Cavendish claimed a straightforward victory in Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne, delivered to the line perfectly by his Sky teammates.

Resplendent in his world champion's jersey, the Manxman took victory by a decisive margin over FDJ-BigMat rider Yauheni Hutarovich. Vacansoleil-DCM's Kenny Van Hummel was two lengths back in third, while world under 23 champion Arnaud Démare (FDJ-BigMat) was a fine fourth.

Cavendish had suffered with illness earlier in the race, but his Sky team set about bringing the race back together for a bunch finish on the flat run-in to the finish in Kuurne. In the finishing straight, CJ Sutton piloted Cavendish to victory.

“After the cobbles I told CJ that I didn’t feel so good,” Cavendish said afterwards. “Once we took control it got better although I was still vomiting. It’s incredible. I don’t know if I can take any credit for this win. The whole day they looked after me. I was never in the win and always in the front of the peloton. It’s a great win.”

Coming into the final kilometre, the stage appeared set for a duel between Cavendish and his great rival André Greipel (Lotto Belisol) but the German found himself boxed in and faded in the final meters, finishing tenth.

“At 300m from the finish line I was confident that I could not lose the sprint. Then Van Hummel swerved from right to left and there was no more space for me. I should’ve gone earlier,” a clearly disappointed Greipel said.

A fast start

In a quick and nervous first hour at 50km/h no attacks proved successful. After a collective stop at a railway crossing a group powered away.

Seven riders made the day's early breakaway: Greg Van Avermaet (BMC), Niko Eeckhout (An Post-Sean Kelly), Jérôme Baugnies (Team Netapp), Koen Barbé (Landbouwkrediet-Euphony), Gilles Devillers (Landbouwkrediet-Euphony), Justin Van Hoecke (Wallonie Bruxelles-Credit Agricole) and Julien Fouchard (Cofidis, le credit en ligne).

At the fourth climb of the day the seven had a gap of four minutes on a peloton led by the Sky team. By the time they reached the Oude Kwaremont, the gap was down to three minutes. Van Avermaet set the pace up front, dropping all his companions except for 41 year-old Eeckhout. At the top of the long cobbled helling another half a minute was whittled off the gap thanks to the efforts from Maarten Wynants (Rabobank) at the front of the peloton.

The selective climb caused some damage and the peloton split in several groups. A first group of about twenty-five riders including fast men Tom Boonen (Omega Pharma-Quickstep), Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Barracuda) and John Degenkolb (Project 1t4i) quickly picked up half a minute on a sprinter-studded peloton where Lotto-Belisol did the work.

With seventy kilometers to go Eeckhout and Van Avermaet were re-joined by Barbé, Fouchard and Baugnies. They had 1:30 on the Boonen group, with the peloton trailing by fifty more seconds, but efforts from the Vancansoleil-DCM team, Lotto-Belisol and Europcar closed first the gap to the Boonen group, and then the fate of the seven up front was sealed.

Eeckhout’s effort

As his group was being brought back, Eeckhout attacked and was followed by Wouter Mol (Vacancoleil-DCM), and was later joined by Aliaksandr Kuchynski (Katusha), Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma-Quickstep), Jimmy Engoulvent (Saur-Sojasun), Jan Ghyselinck (Cofidis) and Sébastien Delfosse (Landbouwkrediet-Euphony).

With Sky content to let a group dangle just within their reach, the new escape quickly picked up half a minute at 40km from the finish line. When approaching the finish line a first time, having two more local circuits of 16km ahead of them, the gap ran up to a minute.

The Sky train was in full control, however, and one lap later half a minute was gone from that gap. At 10km from the finish line there were only 10 seconds left and a bunch sprint seemed unavoidable.

Once more it was Eeckhout who was the last man standing, having attacked his companions as the peloton was nipping on their heels, and had a brief foray with a Engoulvent before the high pace of the Sky-led group sped past.

With four men ahead of Cavendish, Sky hurtled into the finishing chute at such a pace that no rider stood a chance at coming around the world champion. Only Hutarovich could get close to his wheel, while Van Hummel looked glued to the tarmac as he struggled over the final meters to claim third.

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Mark Cavendish (GBr) Sky Procycling4:27:30
2Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) FDJ-Big MatRow 1 - Cell 2
3Kenny Robert Van Hummel (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 2 - Cell 2
4Arnaud Demare (Fra) FDJ-Big MatRow 3 - Cell 2
5Alexander Serebryakov (Rus) Team Type 1 - SanofiRow 4 - Cell 2
6Tom Veelers (Ned) Project 1t4iRow 5 - Cell 2
7Sébastien Chavanel (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 6 - Cell 2
8Stefan Van Dijk (Ned) Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda'sRow 7 - Cell 2
9Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha TeamRow 8 - Cell 2
10André Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 9 - Cell 2
11Guillaume Boivin (Can) Spidertech p/b C10Row 10 - Cell 2
12Aidis Kruopis (Ltu) GreenEdge Cycling TeamRow 11 - Cell 2
13Manuel Belletti (Ita) AG2R La MondialeRow 12 - Cell 2
14Adrien Petit (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 13 - Cell 2
15Mark Renshaw (Aus) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 14 - Cell 2
16Adam Blythe (GBr) BMC Racing TeamRow 15 - Cell 2
17Guillaume Blot (Fra) Bretagne - SchullerRow 16 - Cell 2
18Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin-CerveloRow 17 - Cell 2
19Luca Paolini (Ita) Katusha TeamRow 18 - Cell 2
20Leif Hoste (Bel) Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda'sRow 19 - Cell 2
21Alessandro Bazzana (Ita) Team Type 1 - SanofiRow 20 - Cell 2
22Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda'sRow 21 - Cell 2
23Michaël Van Staeyen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 22 - Cell 2
24Romain Feillu (Fra) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 23 - Cell 2
25Steven Caethoven (Bel) Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda'sRow 24 - Cell 2
26Alexander Porsev (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 25 - Cell 2
27Davy Commeyne (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 26 - Cell 2
28Gert Steegmans (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepRow 27 - Cell 2
29Pier Paolo De Negri (Ita) Farnese Vini - Selle ItaliaRow 28 - Cell 2
30Martin Gilbert (Can) Spidertech p/b C10Row 29 - Cell 2
31Baptiste Planckaert (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 30 - Cell 2
32Timon Seubert (Ger) Team NetAppRow 31 - Cell 2
33Laurens De Vreese (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 32 - Cell 2
34Thomas Leezer (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 33 - Cell 2
35Gediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) An Post - Sean KellyRow 34 - Cell 2
36Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 35 - Cell 2
37Yukiya Arashiro (Jpn) Team EuropcarRow 36 - Cell 2
38Robin Stenuit (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Credit AgricoleRow 37 - Cell 2
39Rony Martias (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 38 - Cell 2
40Jens Keukeleire (Bel) GreenEdge Cycling TeamRow 39 - Cell 2
41Christopher Sutton (Aus) Sky ProcyclingRow 40 - Cell 2
42Tom Boonen (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepRow 41 - Cell 2
43Kevin Lacombe (Can) Spidertech p/b C10Row 42 - Cell 2
44James Vanlandschoot (Bel) Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda'sRow 43 - Cell 2
45Fabio Polazzi (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Credit AgricoleRow 44 - Cell 2
46Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 45 - Cell 2
47Edwig Cammaerts (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 46 - Cell 2
48Sven Vandousselaere (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 47 - Cell 2
49Grischa Janorschke (Ger) Team NetAppRow 48 - Cell 2
50Maxime Vantomme (Bel) Katusha TeamRow 49 - Cell 2
51Jean-Lou Paiani (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 50 - Cell 2
52Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 51 - Cell 2
53Kris Boeckmans (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 52 - Cell 2
54Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Garmin-CerveloRow 53 - Cell 2
55Christophe Laborie (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 54 - Cell 2
56Niels Wytinck (Bel) An Post - Sean KellyRow 55 - Cell 2
57Nikolas Maes (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepRow 56 - Cell 2
58Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel) An Post - Sean KellyRow 57 - Cell 2
59Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 58 - Cell 2
60Renaud Dion (Fra) Bretagne - SchullerRow 59 - Cell 2
61Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepRow 60 - Cell 2
62Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 61 - Cell 2
63Klaas Lodewyck (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 62 - Cell 2
64Egidijus Juodvalkis (Ltu) LandbouwkredietRow 63 - Cell 2
65Alexey Tsatevitch (Rus) Katusha TeamRow 64 - Cell 2
66Stijn Neirynck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen - MercatorRow 65 - Cell 2
67Roy Curvers (Ned) Project 1t4iRow 66 - Cell 2
68David Boucher (Fra) FDJ-Big MatRow 67 - Cell 2
69Taylor Phinney (USA) BMC Racing TeamRow 68 - Cell 2
70Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Farnese Vini - Selle ItaliaRow 69 - Cell 2
71Johan Le Bon (Fra) Bretagne - SchullerRow 70 - Cell 2
72Florent Barle (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 71 - Cell 2
73Markus Eichler (Ger) Team NetAppRow 72 - Cell 2
74Vicente Reynes Mimo (Spa) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 73 - Cell 2
75Matti Helminen (Fin) LandbouwkredietRow 74 - Cell 2
76Philippe Legrand (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Credit AgricoleRow 75 - Cell 2
77Hugo Houle (Can) Spidertech p/b C10Row 76 - Cell 2
78Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 77 - Cell 2
79Stijn Ennekens (Bel) An Post - Sean KellyRow 78 - Cell 2
80Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky ProcyclingRow 79 - Cell 2
81Jack Bauer (NZl) Garmin-CerveloRow 80 - Cell 2
82Travis Meyer (Aus) GreenEdge Cycling TeamRow 81 - Cell 2
83Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor) Team Type 1 - SanofiRow 82 - Cell 2
84Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 83 - Cell 2
85Martin Mortensen (Den) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 84 - Cell 2
86Romain Lemarchand (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 85 - Cell 2
87Vincent Jerome (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 86 - Cell 2
88Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 87 - Cell 2
89Juan Antonio Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky ProcyclingRow 88 - Cell 2
90Jonas Van Genechten (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 89 - Cell 2
91Laszlo Bodrogi (Fra) Team Type 1 - SanofiRow 90 - Cell 2
92Mathew Hayman (Aus) Sky ProcyclingRow 91 - Cell 2
93Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 92 - Cell 2
94Greg Henderson (NZl) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 93 - Cell 2
95Stijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Omega Pharma-QuickstepRow 94 - Cell 2
96Johan Vansummeren (Bel) Garmin-CerveloRow 95 - Cell 2
97Ole Gabriel Rasch (Nor) FDJ-Big MatRow 96 - Cell 2
98Mark Mcnally (GBr) An Post - Sean KellyRow 97 - Cell 2
99Laurent Evrard (Bel) Wallonie Bruxelles - Credit AgricoleRow 98 - Cell 2
100Maarten Wynants (Bel) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 99 - Cell 2
101Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 100 - Cell 2
102Jérémie Galland (Fra) Saur - SojasunRow 101 - Cell 2
103Steve Houanard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 102 - Cell 2
104Jetse Bol (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 103 - Cell 2
105Stijn Devolder (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 104 - Cell 2
106Koen Barbe (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 105 - Cell 2
107Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 106 - Cell 2
108Marco Haller (Aut) Katusha TeamRow 107 - Cell 2
109Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La MondialeRow 108 - Cell 2
110Luca Mazzanti (Ita) Farnese Vini - Selle ItaliaRow 109 - Cell 2
111Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing Team0:00:20
112Alessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 111 - Cell 2
113Frederik Willems (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team0:00:29
114Dennis Van Winden (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team0:00:35
115Jens Debusschere (Bel) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 114 - Cell 2
116Dominique Rollin (Can) FDJ-Big MatRow 115 - Cell 2
117William Bonnet (Fra) FDJ-Big MatRow 116 - Cell 2
118Egoitz Garcia Echeguibel (Spa) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne0:00:40
119Wouter Mol (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 118 - Cell 2
120Niko Eeckhout (Bel) An Post - Sean KellyRow 119 - Cell 2
121Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto Belisol TeamRow 120 - Cell 2
122Jeremy Hunt (GBr) Sky Procycling0:01:30
123Matti Breschel (Den) Rabobank Cycling Team0:01:46
124John Degenkolb (Ger) Project 1t4i0:01:54
125Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Omega Pharma-QuickstepRow 124 - Cell 2
126Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat0:02:08
127Sébastien Delfosse (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 126 - Cell 2
128Aliaksandr Kuschynski (Blr) Katusha Team0:02:12
129Kristof Goddaert (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale0:02:19
130Jan Ghyselinck (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit En LigneRow 129 - Cell 2
131Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Team EuropcarRow 130 - Cell 2
132Alex Dowsett (GBr) Sky Procycling0:03:05
133Bernard Eisel (Aut) Sky ProcyclingRow 132 - Cell 2
134Jimmy Casper (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale0:03:31
135Martijn Verschoor (Ned) Team Type 1 - SanofiRow 134 - Cell 2
136Jérôme Baugnies (Bel) Team NetApp0:04:52
137Tom Stamsnijder (Ned) Project 1t4i0:05:25
138Oscar Gatto (Ita) Farnese Vini - Selle ItaliaRow 137 - Cell 2
139Matthew Wilson (Aus) GreenEdge Cycling TeamRow 138 - Cell 2

 

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